Google rolled out its first public beta/development release of the upcoming Android Q, which will officially be released in the second half of 2019. Android Q is introducing new privacy protections, new foldable screen support given the recent wave of foldable devices, the ability to share shortcuts, improved peer-to-peer/internet connectivity, new WiFi performance and low latency modes, support for the AV1 video codec, support for audio encoding using Opus, a native MIDI API, and other enhancements.
The first beta of Android Q is currently available for any Pixel device, including the first-gen Pixel and Pixel XL. According to Google, this support has stretched out to devices in high demand. You should first learn about it completely before you decide to download it on your primary device.
Though other announcements are yet to be made by Google, the early preview still gives us a valuable look at what Google is updating with Android Q. The company has changed how Android handles split-screen applications to improve their usability on folding devices. Google also says it plans to integrate support for folding displays in the Android Emulator for developers soon.
Google says that the Android Q will come with greater control and features over location data. For now, users can decide when apps can get access to this particular data and when they cannot.
In this new Android Q, a user gets to decide which downloaded files can be accessed by an app and which cannot. Additionally, Android Q will prevent apps from launching an activity while in the background. On the other hand, Google will restrict app access to non-resettable device identifiers; these include details like device IMEI, serial number, etc. Android Q will also randomize the device’s MAC address when connected to different Wi-Fi networks by default.
Google says Android Q will help ameliorate the privacy and security of Bluetooth, Cellular, and WiFi by requiring apps instead of the COARSE location permission. Taking the FINE location permission, it delivers a better and more accurate location as it gives authority for both GPS and Network provider location.
With the Android Q Beta, apps will also be able to take an image at Dynamic Depth, where the smartphones create a shallow depth of field, either by relying on software or using the secondary sensor, which is referred to as Bokeh. These comprise JPEG and XMP metadata that is associated with depth-related elements. Many phones offer these pictures in ‘Portrait mode.’
Android Q users will also be enabled to stream high-quality video content using less bandwidth with support for open source video codec AV1. Android Q also brings HDR10+ support for high dynamic range video on devices that offers high kind of recording.
