Android 16: the first beta available, what does it bring?

For now, this beta is only available on devices Google Pixel having joined the Android Beta program. If you have a smartphone from another manufacturer or are not registered for the Android beta program, you will need to be patient a little longer. Regardless, this beta allows us to introduce a whole bunch of changes to the operating system.

Android 16 is here (but not for everyone)

First, one of the most notable additions of this first beta is the removal of the ability for applications (except games) to restrict screen orientation and resizing on screens. large size. Google's explanation is quite clear: “On screens wider than 600dp, apps targeting API level 36 will have resizable app windows; You need to check your apps to make sure your existing interfaces fit perfectly, working well in both portrait and landscape mode. We provide frameworks, tools and libraries to help you” indicates the manufacturer. For the moment, on API level 36, application developers can opt out of such a practice, but it will become mandatory from API 37.

Android 16 also introduces support for the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec. Developed by Samsung, this codec supports high bitrates, lossless quality, and other advanced features. That's not all: Android 16 also adds a whole bunch of accessibility features. Overall, for an average user, this beta 1 of Android 16 will be of little interest. On the other hand, on the developer side, it may be important to quietly prepare for the final arrival of Android 16 within a few months. We recall in fact that the public version ofAndroid 16 should be available in the second quarterwith another major update planned for the end of the year.