Google has given us a glimpse at what’s coming within the subsequent main model of Android. The first preview launch for Android 16 is offered for builders beginning in the present day, which expands the photograph library and medical data-sharing capabilities in apps. A change shifting Android’s launch timeline ahead was introduced final month, which might assist third-party Android telephones launched in 2025 keep away from ready months to obtain the most recent main updates.
Android Developer head Matthew McCullough says, “This is the beginning of Android having extra frequent API releases as a part of our effort to drive sooner innovation in apps and units.”
The preview out there in the present day permits builders to embed Android’s photograph picker — the menu that lets customers choose particular pictures and movies they wish to share — instantly into their apps. This ought to make sharing media with apps extra seamless with out granting them entry to your complete gadget or cloud storage library. It additionally consists of the most recent model of Privacy Sandbox, Google’s in-development alternative for Android’s promoting ID.
A preview of the Health Connect app “incorporates an early model of APIs supporting well being information” that “permits apps to learn and write medical information in FHIR format,” in accordance with Google. This might let apps and medical units share info and medical information (with specific consent from the person) the way in which wearables and health trackers already do, mirroring an analogous Apple Health function on iPhones.
Judging by Google’s projected launch timeline, the primary public beta for Android 16 shall be out there in January 2025. A last public launch is anticipated someday after April, seemingly lining up with Google’s annual I/O occasion (which was held on May 14th this 12 months), the place the corporate often publicizes its newest Android updates and product options.
