The Put on OS 5.1 preview is now accessible — and it is primarily based on Android 15

What you could know

• The following model of Put on OS, known as Put on OS 5.1, is now accessible for testing as a developer preview.
• The Android 15-based software program replace could be manually examined throughout the Android Studio emulator in a digital Put on OS machine.
• Though it is nonetheless early, new options embrace the flexibility to play audio out of smartwatch audio system and entry the brand new Credential Supervisor API.

Google is giving us our first take a look at the subsequent Put on OS replace, which is predicated on Android 15. The corporate launched the primary developer preview of Put on OS 5.1 final week, and it is now accessible for testing in an Android Studio digital machine. Though it is nonetheless early, Google already revealed two key Put on OS 5.1 options: watch speaker audio playback and a credential supervisor.

The construct quantity for the preliminary Put on OS 5.1 preview launch is AP4A.241205.004.F1, and there are a couple of identified points. Google recommends builders begin testing their Put on OS apps with the most recent model to regulate to conduct adjustments in Android 15. Notably, some Android 15 conduct adjustments will not be arriving on Put on OS 5.1, like Non-public Areas and predictive again animations. The identified bugs are as follows:

• The emulator does not all the time enable the person so as to add an account in the course of the setup move following a tool reset.
• When tapping on a notification, the app that despatched the notification does not open till the person scrolls the display.
• Put on Well being Providers typically fails to begin an train.

The replace at present contains two “notable options,” as described by Google. The primary is watch speaker playback, which can enable customers to hearken to audio sources by way of a smartwatch’s inbuilt speaker. This may very well be a handy option to hearken to music or podcasts, albeit at low quantity and subpar high quality. To make use of your watch speaker as an audio output choice, each the machine’s {hardware} and the required app should help it in Put on OS 5.1.

The opposite notable function is help for the Credential Supervisor API. That is already accessible on Android, and it permits options like auto-sign-in after restoring from a backup. On Put on OS 5.1, the brand new credential supervisor will deal with passwords, passkeys, and Sign up with Google. It’s going to additionally enable this info to be synced throughout Put on OS 5.1 and Android 15 gadgets.