Our test of Android 11, aka Android R: the analysis of the news

Our test of Android 11, aka Android R: the analysis of the news

One of the most electrifying moments in the smartphone world is certainly the release of the first Developer Preview of a new version of Android. It is a “magical” day, in which developers and enthusiasts spend the night every year “flash” the Factory Image released by Google, in search of the innovations introduced.
This year Big G wanted to make a “gift” to insiders, releasing the first preliminary version of Android 11 (also known internally as Android R) a little surprise and in advance of the usual “roadmap” ). Obviously, we catapulted to try it.

The first step towards the stable version of Android 11

Before going to see in detail the main innovations that we have found, it is good to make a premise. It is indeed important to specify that Google wanted to release the first Developer Preview mainly to give way to the developers of become familiar with the API now (Application programming interface). Put simply, we are talking about programming tools that will allow developers to implement new features in their applications and make the most of the operating system in general. In short, we are still in the first preliminary phase and do not expect to see something revolutionary.
To make you understand, before the release of the stable version, there will be two more Developer Preview and three Beta versions, so there is plenty of time to implement other features and put your hand to the graphical interface and other aspects of the OS.

In particular, Google has already announced the timing expected for the release of the operating system. The second Developer Preview will arrive in March 2020, while the third will arrive in the hands of developers and enthusiasts in April. The first Beta version will be released in May, while in June there will be the second. Here there will be a fundamental step, that is the start of the final tests related to the compatibility of the applications.
The third Beta will therefore arrive in Q3 2020 and thereafter all the necessary refinements will be made, up to the release of the stable version of Android 11 which Google plans to always launch in Q3 2020. In short, according to what is expected by the company Californian, the major release of the green robot should be available for compatible devices by the end of the year.

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At the moment, however, the first Developer Preview is installable only via manual flash. Supported smartphones are Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. Google explained that in the coming weeks it will also start the registrations for the Beta program, but for the moment it has wanted to give the opportunity to test the operating system only to the most experienced and is inviting everyone else to wait, as it is not yet about a build suitable for daily use.

But what are the news already present in the first Developer Preview of Android 11 (or Android R, as described by Google itself in the Settings of this build)? Well, the first thing you notice is the presence of a Screen Recorder among the features that can be activated via the quick menu linked to the notification dropdown. In fact, by pressing the pencil icon you can add the “Screen recording” icon. By pressing on it, the user will be asked for authorization and registration will start.

The latter can be stopped by means of a specific notification and at the top right there is an icon that allows the user to understand if the recording is active or not. The video is then saved in the device memory and is accessible through a common File Manager (such as the “File” application pre-installed on the Pixels). This feature seems to work well and has all the conditions to satisfy those who need to quickly record the screen. The quality is excellent and Google is doing a good job from this point of view.

Another interesting feature is the one related to “bubble” notifications. By holding down on a notification of an application like Telegram, you can now select the item “Exhibition in the form of a speech bubble“and quickly open the application in a sort of” Picture-in-picture “mode designed to respond quickly to messages, without even having to pause what was being done.

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Later, a “bubble” can be used to open the conversation window whenever you want. A possibility similar to that which already exists for Facebook Messenger. However, here we are talking about a system-level feature that aims to extend “fast responses” to all instant messaging applications. In short, definitely not bad.
It must be said that, at the moment, this possibility does not always work as it should, presenting some bugs. This is however understandable, since it is a preliminary version. Note also the fact that a section of the notification curtain called “Conversations” has been introduced (it has not been translated and therefore it is “Conversations”), which includes all the instant messaging applications.

For the rest, we can consider the other features introduced as “secondary”. However, it is worth mentioning i Dark Mode improvements. In fact, the latter can now be set to automatically activate / deactivate at sunset and sunrise. Of course, this is a possibility that we have already seen in third-party customizations, but so far it had not yet arrived on Android stock. Of course, there are also other “minor” innovations, such as an option for developers able to show the current refresh rate of the screen and the possibility of guaranteeing “temporary” authorizations to applications, linked to the most sensitive information (microphone, position and similar).

In fact, whenever a software asks the user if he can use, for example, the camera, the system also shows the “Only this time” option (or “Ask every time” from the Settings). In short, surely we are talking about an important step regarding privacy. Some users have also reported the appearance of a button to make “extended” screenshots, but at the moment we have not yet been able to take advantage of this possibility. In addition to this, the APIs have clearly been optimized to make the most of technologies such as 5G.

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There are also some exclusive features for the Pixel 4 range. In fact, in the “Display” tab the item “Increase the sensitivity of the touchscreen” appeared, which allows you to improve the use of the smartphone when using protective films. There is also “Pause music”, a feature that allows you to manage songs by touching the screen with your hand. It is therefore a possibility linked to Motion Sense, or the “aerial gestures” that we have described in detail in our review of Google Pixel 4 XL.

These are the main innovations introduced with the first Android 11 Developer Preview, but for more information we refer you to the official website dedicated to the developers. In any case, during our first contact with the operating system, we encountered several bugs and we can confirm, as stated by Google, that this is not a stable build for daily use.

Ultimately, unless you are an experienced and particularly passionate user, we currently advise against installing this build. The Beta program should start soon, so for the moment you can safely avoid and get online information on the features introduced.
To sum up, the first Developer Preview of the next major release of the green robot is more a sort of “enhanced” Android 10 than a real new version, but we are still at the dawn of a project that will accompany us throughout the year and that will surely guarantee more surprises. In the meantime, the features mentioned are still interesting and go to outline an Android more and more comfortable to use and with an attention to privacy that until a few years ago was not seen.


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