Tag: Android

As they did with the release of Android Oreo, we now have a rough timeline of the scheduled releases of Android P.  First, the not-so-shocking news.  It is going to be Q3 of this year before the public release of Android P happens. That falls right in line with previous Android releases and fits with the expected release of the next generation of Pixel phones.

With the release of the first developer preview today, it looks like the next one isn’t going to drop until early in May.  That, again, isn’t shocking.  Google’s developer conference, Google I/O, happens the first week in May.  When DP2 gets here, it is expected to be available to the Android Beta program for registered and supported devices.

In a somewhat unexpected move, Google has released the first Developer Preview of Android P, the next major version of the platform.  While it was expected to be released this month, perhaps even on 3/14 (Pi… get it?), it seems that the wait for this alpha build was much shorter than expected.

Before going into the details of what is new in this build, let me first be very clear.  This build is alpha.  It is not going to be stable and, in fact, is not even supported in the Android beta program.  In order to get it, you have to side-load it so it is really intended for app developers only.  If you really, really, really want to download it, you can do so here but brace yourself.  It is not going to be a smooth experience.  Also, keep in mind that this alpha build is only available for the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

A new update of Chrome for Android has been released to the Play Store, bringing the mobile browser up to Chrome 65 along with a few new features.  The new version is build 65.0.3325.109 for those keeping score at home.  It will take several weeks to reach everyone.

This Chrome 65-based build has been through four beta builds in that version of the browser, with the last one coming just last week.  That build from last week is the exact same build that has now been promoted to the stable version for everyone.

An interesting new commit has been found in the Android code review Gerrit that could allow your phone to become a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse for your computer.  There commit has two parts to it.  The first enables the HID (Human Interface Device) Profile in the Bluetooth stack while the second adds Profile Proxy to the HID stack.

In theory, by enabling these features, your Android phone becomes another HID and allows it to perform functions of those devices.  Any Bluetooth keyboard, mouse or trackpad that you connect to your computer or phone is a HID.  This commit turns your phone into one.

A new update to Google Gboard is rolling out over the next few days that will bring support for 20 new languages to the keyboard.  Those language additions include two of the most requested of Google:  Korean and Chinese, both traditional and simplified.  The addition of the languages brings the total languages supported by the app to over 300, covering 74% of all of the world’s languages according to Google.

Google has a comprehensive list of all of the languages supported by Gboard.  You will note in the list that there a few that do not have an available dictionary to download.

After the latest Chrome 64-based build of Chrome OS rolled out last week to the majority of Chromebooks, several of them picked up Android app support in the Stable Channel.  This means that owners of these Chromebooks no longer have to live in the Beta or Dev channels to have Android apps run, providing a more stable and robust experience.

Here are the Chromebooks that added Android support in the Stable Channel:

• Acer Chromebook 15 (CB5-571 / C910)
• CTL J5 Convertible Chromebook
• eduGear CMT Chromebook
• Haier Chromebook 11 C
• PCMerge Chromebook PCM-116T-432B
• Prowise Chromebook Proline
• Viglen Chromebook 360

In the case of all of these Chromebooks, Android app support worked on them in the Beta channel previously.