Google’s second day of its I/O developer convention focuses on updates to its Android ecosystem. The corporate not too long ago consolidated all of its {hardware} groups—Pixel units—with its Android platforms, which embody something and every part powered by Android (plus Chrome OS). Naturally, at the moment’s bulletins contact on each a part of that ecosystem, from Android 15 to Put on OS 5.
Listed here are the important thing new options to find out about.
Android’s High New Options
There’s a mixture of new Android options which can be unique to Android 15—the following model of Google’s cellular working system—however many of those options will likely be rolling out to current units by way of Play Retailer and app updates with out the necessity for an over-the-air OS improve. (I’ll point out which of them are Android 15 unique.) My colleague, Simon Hill, has rounded up all of the prime Android 15 options on this story with particulars on the way to obtain the beta, however listed below are a number of standouts.
Non-public House
Courtesy of Google
Varied Android producers have lengthy provided a technique to lock and conceal sure apps behind biometric authentication, however Google is now constructing this into Android with a function referred to as Non-public House. That is an Android 15–particular function as a result of Dave Burke, Google’s VP of engineering on Android, says there have been a number of methods for an app’s data to leak all through the working system. The staff needed to do “surgical procedure in Android 15” to make it work, however this implies these apps at the moment are utterly hidden and personal in all places in Android.
Non-public House is visually separate out of your apps within the app drawer. You possibly can even set a password to entry the personal apps that is totally different from the one you employ to unlock your cellphone. When you add an app to the Non-public House, its notifications will likely be hidden, and it gained’t be accessible even when somebody went digging in your cellphone’s settings. You can even wipe your personal area instantly.
Theft Detection Lock
Courtesy of Google
This function is not Android 15 particular and can arrive later this yr. Google says it makes use of “Google AI” to establish when somebody steals your cellphone when you are utilizing it—and sure, it is aware of the distinction between you going for a run together with your smartphone and somebody swiping it and working, biking, or motoring off with it. As soon as Android detects a theft, it can be sure that the cellphone is locked down to forestall somebody from accessing your apps and personal data.
It’ll even lock as soon as the system goes offline, that means somebody attempting to manufacturing unit reset your cellphone will want the passcode to reactivate the system, probably depriving them of the power to resell the handset. And there’s an added function referred to as “Distant Lock” which helps you to lock the display screen of the cellphone remotely. When you add your cellphone quantity, you possibly can name the cellphone on every other system (like a buddy’s cellphone) and enter a safety problem to authenticate the motion.
Talking of theft safety, Google says later this yr, Google Play defend will be capable of use on-device synthetic intelligence to detect apps that have interaction in fraud or phishing acts. Play Shield already does this on the cloud, however some malicious bits of software program can cloak their actions there. Having this working on-device permits the service to detect how the app makes use of delicate permissions and spot suspicious behaviors—with out gathering any private knowledge.
Google Pockets Will get Much less Restrictive
Courtesy of Google
Google Pockets doesn’t simply deal with funds. Proper now, you possibly can add loyalty playing cards, fitness center memberships, transit playing cards, live performance tickets, and boarding passes, along with bank cards. Nevertheless, an replace coming later this yr will quickly allow you to create a digital model of passes by merely snapping a photograph of it. Add the picture to Google Pockets—assume parking passes, library playing cards, auto insurance coverage playing cards—and Google will create a digital model for fast entry. Now whether or not these digital variations will likely be accepted is a distinct matter.
Google Teases Its Upcoming Blended Actuality Headset
You may not bear in mind this, however Samsung and Google are engaged on a blended actuality headset with Qualcomm. The partnership was introduced final yr together with the expectation that it could make its debut later in 2024. Google confirmed to me that it had nothing to share at I/O on the event of the headset, however the firm did tease an augmented actuality expertise with Google Maps that could be one thing you’d be capable of expertise on the system when it arrives.
In Google Maps, you’ll quickly be capable of entry AR content material when looking out particular areas. Faucet the “AR Expertise” button and convey your cellphone as much as see augmented content material seem over the actual world. This even works remotely by way of Avenue View, so that you don’t should go midway internationally to attempt it.
