Introduction
The Ultimate Android 11 Review takes bold steps toward the future of mobile technology by addressing both user needs and developer priorities. With a commitment to delivering privacy and security as top priorities, this update brings new features to enhance access to sensitive data while keeping the platform more resilient and secure than ever. For example, Android 11 introduces capabilities like call-screening APIs and improved support for 5G and foldable displays, paving the way for more seamless apps and innovative use cases.
The inclusion of machine learning at its core and advanced media and camera capabilities means developers can explore cutting-edge possibilities for their apps. Additionally, critical areas of the OS have been hardened to ensure both stability and performance. This is a significant leap in providing developers with tools to shape future experiences while helping users manage their data in more secure and efficient ways.
With this early release, developers can take a hands-on approach by downloading the system image for Pixel 2, Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, and Pixel 4 devices. Although this build isn’t intended for daily use, it gives developers the opportunity to test new features and provide feedback, which is crucial to refining the platform. By working together and building on a strong feedback cycle, Android 11 promises to stay ahead in innovation while addressing evolving needs.
Enhanced Connectivity with 5G
With 5G, the promise of faster speeds and lower latency transforms how we experience the world through mobile devices. This technology allows for seamless Wi-Fi-like app experiences, such as streaming in 4K or loading higher-res game assets. But what makes 5G truly revolutionary is the ability to build entirely new experiences tailored to its capabilities.
Smarter APIs for Developers
Developers can now use the Dynamic Meteredness API to detect unmetered connections and offer higher resolution or better quality options for users. With extended support for cellular networks, it’s easier to identify carriers offering unlimited data on 5G networks. Similarly, the Bandwidth Estimator API has been refined for 5G, enabling apps to check downstream and upstream bandwidth more efficiently without manually polling the network. Even when modems don’t provide support, the API uses a default estimation based on the current connection, making it a powerful tool for optimizing app performance.
Adapting to Innovative Screens
Device makers are continuously working on exciting new form-factors and screens, changing how we interact with technology. Hole-punch and waterfall screens are at the forefront of this evolution, offering a more immersive experience. To help developers keep up, Android has extended support in the platform, providing APIs that let you optimize apps for these innovative designs. This means apps can now fully adapt to cutting-edge displays, enhancing user engagement and usability.
Making the Most of Edge-to-Edge Displays
With existing display cutout APIs, developers can easily manage apps on hole-punch and waterfall screens, ensuring a smooth user experience. A new API even allows apps to use the entire screen, including the edges, while insets guide interaction near the screen’s borders. These tools help developers embrace these new form-factors seamlessly, delivering a polished and modern look for their apps.
Making Conversations Effortless
Staying connected with friends and colleagues is one of the most important things we do on our phones. With Android 11, developers can build deeper conversational experiences that make communication more intuitive and seamless. The dedicated conversations section in the notification shade allows users to quickly find their ongoing conversations in their favorite apps. Additionally, the introduction of Bubbles keeps chats visible and accessible even when you’re multi-tasking, providing a smoother messaging experience for all.
Enhancing Communication Tools
Developers can now use the Bubbles API to enable persistent chat windows through notifications, ensuring seamless access in Android 11. Communication has been further enriched with features like the ability to insert images into notification replies. If an app supports copy/paste, users can directly add assets in inline replies, making real-time communication more dynamic. Support for Chrome and Gboard clipboard in DP1 enhances this functionality.
Enhancing Machine Learning with NNAPI
Neural Networks API (NNAPI) in Android has been a powerful tool for running computationally intensive operations for machine learning. With the release of Android 11, the NNAPI is getting even better. Developers now have access to expanded operations and execution controls that make it easier to optimize common use cases. The new Quality of Service APIs offer priority and timeout settings for model execution, helping applications run more efficiently. Additionally, Memory Domain APIs reduce unnecessary memory copying and transformation, improving the performance of consecutive model executions.
Another exciting update is the added quantization support for signed integer asymmetric quantization. This allows developers to replace float numbers with signed integers, making models smaller and enabling faster inference. TensorFlow and other machine learning frameworks are working with hardware vendors to support NNAPI 1.3, bringing even more optimizations. For those interested in implementation, the NDK sample code offers great examples using the latest APIs.
Privacy in Android 11: A New Focus on Protection
In Android 11, privacy takes center stage with exciting new features aimed at giving users more control over their data. Building on previous updates, like the location permission options in Android 10, Android 11 introduces a one-time permission for highly sensitive data such as microphone and camera access. This ensures that apps can only access these resources temporarily, until the user switches away from the app. With this change, users have more transparency and security, knowing exactly when apps are accessing their sensitive data.
Another significant update in Android 11 is the improvement in scoped storage. This update strengthens the security of external storage by better protecting both app data and user data. Changes like the opt-in raw file path access for media and enhancements in the DocumentsUI make it easier for developers to migrate their apps while ensuring users’ privacy. As part of the effort, developers will get more time to adjust their apps before these changes become mandatory for Android 11.
To make it easier for users to understand and manage their privacy, Google has focused on transparency. In line with this, the Google Play Policy now ensures that apps only request location permissions when absolutely necessary.
On the security front, biometrics has been enhanced. BiometricPrompt now supports a wider range of authenticator types like strong, weak, and device credential, giving users more options to secure their devices. The platform has also been hardened with features like memory issues detection using HWAsan, making apps more secure and stable. Additionally, identity credentials, such as Mobile Driving Licenses in line with ISO 18013-5, offer a new level of security and privacy. These updates make Android 11 one of the most secure and user-focused versions yet.
Enhancements in Security for Android 11
Android 11 continues to improve security by introducing new features and tightening existing controls. One of the most significant updates is the expansion of biometrics support to cover a wider range of devices. The new BiometricPrompt API enables a more flexible authentication experience, allowing different levels of authentication, such as strong, weak, and device credential.
Alongside these updates, Android 11 also focuses on secure storage and data sharing. With BlobstoreManager, apps can now share sensitive data more securely, ensuring that information is handled safely across different apps. In addition, Android 11 introduces platform-level support for identity credentials, such as Mobile Driving Licenses, ensuring a secure way to store and retrieve important documents. Google Play System Updates have expanded with 12 new updatable modules, including those focused on permissions and privacy, ensuring that security measures stay up to date. These updates help make Android a more secure platform for developers and users alike.
App Compatibility in Android 11 Developer Preview
In the Android 11 Developer Preview, updates are being rolled out with a strong focus on app compatibility. The new version includes developer tools designed to make testing easier and ensure smoother updates. One of the key features in this release is the compatibility toggles in Developer Options, allowing developers to enable or disable breaking changes during testing. This means developers no longer have to change the targetSdkVersion or recompile their apps for basic compatibility checks. Instead, they can toggle these settings on and off to see how their apps react to changes before committing to updates.
The preview introduces new platform stability milestones, helping developers prepare for the final release. This new milestone will ensure that developers have a clear timeline for implementing changes and adjusting their apps accordingly. As testing progresses, developers will benefit from updated greylists of restricted non-SDK interfaces. This gives them an opportunity to make necessary adjustments without disrupting the user experience. Additionally, the dynamic resource loader is a useful tool that supports migration from non-SDK interfaces, allowing for public API usage during runtime.
Image and Camera Improvements
In Android 11, there have been some exciting image and camera improvements that enhance the way apps interact with visuals. One notable addition is HEIF animated drawables, which allows developers to decode and render image sequences from HEIF files. This improvement helps minimize network data usage and APK size while offering high-quality images, providing an advantage over traditional animated GIFs. The ImageDecoder API makes it easier for developers to display these image sequences in their apps, and if the sequence includes multiple images, an AnimatedImageDrawable is returned.
Another important update is the addition of a Native image decoder in Android 11. With NDK APIs, developers can now decode and encode image formats such as JPEG, PNG, and WebP from native code. This reduces the need to bundle external libraries and helps keep the APK size smaller. Along with these, there’s also the ability to mute vibrations from ringtones, alarms, and notifications during a camera capture session, ensuring that the user experience remains smooth without distractions.
Lastly, the inclusion of bokeh modes allows apps to enhance their camera capture features. By using metadata tags, developers can trigger bokeh modes on compatible devices, providing users with different capture options.
Conclusion
Android 11 sets a new standard by integrating cutting-edge technologies and focusing on both user experience and developer tools. The updates provide enhanced security, privacy features, and machine learning capabilities, giving developers the ability to build more powerful and innovative apps. With 5G support.