Google released the first developer preview version of Android 12 yesterday. This version focuses on various functions and APIs used by developers. They include a unified API that can receive content from any source. And it can automatically install Convert HEVC and HDR videos to AVC. It supports AVIF image format and produce tactile effects on the device based on sound. It can be installed on the Pixel 3/3 XL, Pixel 3a/3a XL, Pixel 4/4 XL, Pixel 4a/4a 5G And Pixel 5 and other Pixel devices.
According to Google’s plan, following the release of the Android 12 developer preview version in February, the beta version will be released in mid-April, and the platform will reach the stable stage in mid-July. The official version is expected to be released in September. The goal of the first developer preview version is to invite developers to test various new APIs of Android 12, experience platform changes and provide feedback.
In view of the popularity of HEVC hardware encoders on mobile devices, there are more and more camera programs that shoot HEVC format videos, greatly improving the image and compression quality. Google believes that most programs should support HEVC. If not, Android 12 will provide a compatible media conversion function. It allows programs that do not support HEVC to automatically convert files to compatible AVC through the platform. But it may take a while. For example, to convert 1 minute of 30fps 1080p video on the Pixel 4 will take about 9 seconds.
Android 12 also supports AV1 Image File Format (AVIF), which is a container format encoded with AV1. It utilizes the intra-encoded content of image compression. Compared with the old image formats such as JPEG, when the file size is the same, it can greatly improve the image quality.
Other APIs
In order to help developers embed content from different sources in the program, Android 12 provides a unified API. It can be used to accept content entered from the clipboard, keyboard, etc. It also uses the smartphone’s vibrator to generate tactile sensations with sound effects. For example, a video program sets unique ringtones for different friends. These ringtones also have corresponding tactile feedback. Therefore, as long as the user feels the vibration, the user can know the identity of the caller.
Other improvements or new features of Android 12 include the optimization of foreground services, simplified gesture operations in immersive mode, and faster and more feature-rich notifications. In addition, Google has also added Android Runtime (ART) modules on Android 12. In order to simplify the update process, you only need to update the core runtime and library when performing the update, instead of updating the entire system.