Google announced the second major release of their Android N Developer Preview today. As well as upgrades to DP1 features like multi-window and grouped notifications, the latest update also introduces fresh emoji, new launcher functionality and a new 3D rendering standard called Vulkan.
Vulkan
Games using Vulkan should get a significant performance boost compared to the previous OpenGL ES standard, allowing developers to introduce better graphics at similar performance levels. Vulkan is exciting because it’s a cross-platform API; it can be used on Windows, Linux and Tizen as well as Android. That means that developers should be incentivised pretty heavily to build their games using the API, and we’ll likely see better uptake compared to an Android-only standard.
Launcher updates
Launcher shortcuts are another exciting feature in DP2. Basically, developers will be able to create shortcuts in Android launchers that lead to specific areas within their app. For example, you could have a launcher icon that starts a message to your significant other, brings up navigation to your workplace or play the next episode of a TV series.
A minor — but still interesting — addition is the ability to set different lock and home screen wallpapers; when a wallpaper is set, you’re asked where it should apply. Most Android smartphones already allow you to do this, but it’s never been possible in stock Android before. This feature is actually part of the latest Google app, so this functionality could arrive in earlier versions of Android before Android N is released.
Emoji
Google have also updated emoji in this release, supporting Unicode 9. That includes new emoji like bacon, selfie and face palm, but also allows for skin tone variations. Several emoji have also been revised, with Google moving “away from [a] generic look in favour of a more human-looking design.”
How to install Developer Preview 2
You can update to DP2 via an over-the-air update (a first for a developer release!) or by flashing the latest images provided by Google. If you’ve yet to try Android N, you can enroll in the Android Beta Program here. Here’s some more information from Google:
The N Developer Preview is currently available for Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, and Pixel C devices, as well as General Mobile 4G [Android One] devices. Developer Preview 2 is intended for developers and not as a daily driver; this build is not yet optimized for performance and battery life.
Wrapping up
If you’ve tried DP2, let us know in the comments below! It’s always fun to try out new versions of Android before they’re officially released, so if you’ve got a spare Nexus device hanging around then give it a shot.