A month after releasing the first Developer Preview version of Android 15, Google has released the second Developer Preview version, bringing minor improvements. Here's what's new with this new version of Android:
Android 15 Developer Preview 2 is now available for Pixel devices
Android 15 Developer Preview 2 is now available for the Pixel 6 (and newer phones), Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet. As its name suggests, it is only meant for developers and tinkerers, and normal consumers are advised not to install the new update on their phones.
If you have a Galaxy phone that is eligible to get the Android 15 update, the update will likely arrive in Q4 2024. The One UI 7.0 Beta Program might open to some compatible Galaxy phones in Q3 2024.
What's new with Android 15 Developer Preview 2?
This version of Android has larger text for the ‘Enter PIN' phrase on the lockscreen and built-in support for app archiving. According to Mishaal Rahman, you can archive apps in the cloud when your phone's storage space is full. So, when you have to install new firmware updates and there isn't enough space, you can temporarily use this feature, install the new software update, and then install archived apps.
Google introduced a way to use Pixel phones as webcams when connected to a computer. However, the image quality from the Pixel phones' cameras in the webcam mode wasn't great. With Android 15 Developer Preview 2, Google has added an HD option that offers much better video quality, and you can toggle it on/off from the preview screen.
For Pixel phones, Google has also added the option to open the keyboard whenever you open the app drawer. This feature makes it easier to find apps or games, and it has been copied from OPPO/OnePlus/Realme. And it is somewhat similar to the swipe down to find apps on iPhones. The app drawer on Pixel phones also shows the ‘All Apps' label.
Google has also introduced improvements to Bluetooth LE Auracast with Android 15 Developer Preview 2. In the Connected Devices menu in Settings, there is now a feature labeled Audio Sharing. When you turn it on, people with Bluetooth earphones or speakers can connect to the Bluetooth Auracast audio cast, and everyone can listen to the audio being played on the device. There is also a ‘Play Test Sound' feature to confirm whether everyone can hear the audio being played.
Google has also added the Satellite Messaging feature to the Messages app. App developers can use a new KeyEvent to open the emoji picker. It has also copied the ‘Swipe Up To Continue' feature from the OnePlus Open to let users continue using the app they were using on the foldable screen (when they close the phone) on the cover screen.
This new version of Android 15 also brings various bug fixes, including the one where the Google Play Store crashed repeatedly. It also fixes the bug where the package manager crashed while installing an APK file from an unidentified source. Crashes related to the fingerprint in Work Mode and Android System Intelligence have also been fixed.
