Google has started to roll out the second Android 13 Developer Preview (Android 13 DP 2). The new release comes almost a month after the first preview build. The second developer preview of the world’s most-popular operating system, brings additional features and security improvements that are aimed to boost developer productivity. Android 13 DP 2 is rolling out for Google Pixel smartphones launched in 2019 and later. For those who do not have a Pixel phone, can try the new developer preview of Android 13 using the Android Emulator within Android Studio.
As this is a developer preview, it can have bugs as it is intended to test out new features and to check compatibility of apps with the new OS. Wonder what’s new in the latest build, here are the most notable features of Android 13 developer preview 2.
Notifications permissions requests
When you are using an app for the first time on an Android smartphone, you may have noticed permission requests asking for access to camera, microphone, Bluetooth, call records, contacts and more. With the upcoming Android version, apps will also seek your permission to send you notifications. Although it may not seem like a major feature, it can be helpful for users who do not like their notification bar filled with unnecessary alerts. The feature will be quite similar to the one seen in Apple smartphones.
Downgradable permissions
Android 13 will allow app developers to automatically revolve permissions granted by a user that are no longer necessary. For example, if an app is required to access the camera or contact once after it was installed, and it does not require the access now, Android will automatically downgrade the permissions. However, it is not yet known whether Google is mandating developers to incorporate this feature into their apps.
Bluetooth LE Audio
With the developer preview, Android 13 gets support for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio. It is the next-generation wireless audio built to replace Bluetooth classic and enable new use cases and connection topologies. It will allow users to share and broadcast their audio with friends and family, or subscribe to public broadcasts. It’s designed to ensure that users can receive high fidelity audio without sacrificing battery life.