Developer Preview 4 is already available. Official launch of the Android O platform soon
Dave Burke, Google's vice president of engineering
While we are working on the Android O platform, you can get to know Developer Preview 4, which will help you to upgrade your applications in advance.
Developer Preview 4 is the latest preview version before the official launch of the Android O platform, which will take place this summer . Now you have the opportunity to test and publish updates (or updated) applications. So the transition to Android O will be comfortable for users.
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If you have a device that participates in the Android Beta Testing Program , you will receive a developer preview 4 update in the coming days. If your device is not included in the program, register it on the site and we will send you an update.
Follow the information on the official launch of Android O!
Developer Preview 4 is a preliminary version of Android O, which allows you to update and test your applications to the official launch of the new platform. Developer Preview 4 is already very close to the final version: it includes all the latest fixes and optimizations. The test system contains API 26 versions, which were available in Developer Preview 3 .
We present images of the system Developer Preview 4 for devices, and with it a stable version of Android 26.0.0 Support Library. The corresponding updates for the SDK, tools and images of the Android Emulator system you will see in the next few days.
We also want to share with you an updated version of Android Testing Support Library , which includes new Android Test Orchestrator, Multiprocess Espresso, and other tools. Follow the news!
The images of the Developer Preview 4 system is a great opportunity to test your applications on the Android O version close to the final one. Testing will allow you to make sure that your application will work properly after upgrading to a new version of the platform.
Register your supported device in the Android Beta Testing Program and get access to Developer Preview 4. Then download your app from Google Play and test it - this is what it will look like for a regular user. Make sure that the interface looks correct, the application starts up quickly and processes changes in the system behavior correctly. In particular, pay attention to the restrictions on the transfer of location data in the background , alerts , as well as changes that have affected network connections , security and identifiers .
If necessary, correct all problems. Now you can post an update for the app, which will be available after users start receiving invitations to upgrade to Android O.
Enhance apps with new Android O functions and APIs.
Users who use the latest versions of Android, as a rule, more often than others, download applications, consume more content and make purchases. And they are actively reporting that favorite applications should support the latest features of the latest versions of Android. In Android O, users expect to see in applications such functions as notification channels, notification points , dock labels , picture in picture , autocomplete , etc. These same functions will help your application in the future to attract new users who will be switching to Android O platform
In Android O, shortcuts can be brought to the main screen directly from the application. This feature will help increase user interest in the application. (left)
Notification points keep users active in the application and allow them to go straight to key functions. (on right)
Improving your application with the new Android O features will help you attract users, offer them new types of interaction, provide them with even higher levels of control and security, and increase application performance. Features such as responsive icons , downloadable fonts, and automatic text resizing in TextView will simplify application development and reduce the size of the APK file. Battery life also plays an important role for users, so they will appreciate the optimization of your application, taking into account the limitations of background work and other important changes in system behavior when launching applications on the Android O platform .
Visit the Android O version for developers to learn about all the new features and APIs, and how to embed them in your applications.
When you're ready to work with Android O, download the latest version of Android Studio 3.0 , available here . In addition to improved application performance testing tools , Kotlin programming language support , and Gradle tool optimization, Android Studio 3.0 offers a simplified development process with instant applications, XML fonts , downloadable fonts, and adaptive icons .
We recommend upgrading to the stable version of Android Support Library 26.0.0 , which is available in Google’s Maven repository , as well as downloading the latest SDK, tools and images of the emulator system that will be available in the coming days.
You can upgrade your project's compileSdkVersion to API 26 so that the compilation takes place using the API of the official version of Android O. We also recommend updating your application's targetSdkVersion to API 26 to be able to test the application to reflect changes in the behavior of Android O. Refer to the manual migration to learn more about how to set up a development environment for programming under Android O.
Google Play is open to applications compiled or recompiled for API 26. When you're ready, download the updated alpha, beta or working version of your application.
Make sure that the updated application runs on both Android O and earlier versions of Android. We encourage you to use the beta test feature on Google Play to get the first reviews of your application from a small group of users. After that, start a phased launch. Looking forward to your updated apps!
If you do not yet have a version for Developer Preview 4 developers, it is very easy to get it! Go to android.com/beta and register the appropriate phone or tablet. In addition, you can download the update and install it manually . The Android O version is available for developers on Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player and Android Emulator devices. All registered devices will be updated automatically after the release of the official version of Android O.
Thank you for the contribution you made at the preliminary stage. We are waiting for your new feedback and suggestions !
While we are working on the Android O platform, you can get to know Developer Preview 4, which will help you to upgrade your applications in advance.
Developer Preview 4 is the latest preview version before the official launch of the Android O platform, which will take place this summer . Now you have the opportunity to test and publish updates (or updated) applications. So the transition to Android O will be comfortable for users.
')
If you have a device that participates in the Android Beta Testing Program , you will receive a developer preview 4 update in the coming days. If your device is not included in the program, register it on the site and we will send you an update.
Follow the information on the official launch of Android O!
What's new?
Developer Preview 4 is a preliminary version of Android O, which allows you to update and test your applications to the official launch of the new platform. Developer Preview 4 is already very close to the final version: it includes all the latest fixes and optimizations. The test system contains API 26 versions, which were available in Developer Preview 3 .
We present images of the system Developer Preview 4 for devices, and with it a stable version of Android 26.0.0 Support Library. The corresponding updates for the SDK, tools and images of the Android Emulator system you will see in the next few days.
We also want to share with you an updated version of Android Testing Support Library , which includes new Android Test Orchestrator, Multiprocess Espresso, and other tools. Follow the news!
Test applications on Android O
The images of the Developer Preview 4 system is a great opportunity to test your applications on the Android O version close to the final one. Testing will allow you to make sure that your application will work properly after upgrading to a new version of the platform.
Register your supported device in the Android Beta Testing Program and get access to Developer Preview 4. Then download your app from Google Play and test it - this is what it will look like for a regular user. Make sure that the interface looks correct, the application starts up quickly and processes changes in the system behavior correctly. In particular, pay attention to the restrictions on the transfer of location data in the background , alerts , as well as changes that have affected network connections , security and identifiers .
If necessary, correct all problems. Now you can post an update for the app, which will be available after users start receiving invitations to upgrade to Android O.
Enhance apps with new Android O functions and APIs.
Users who use the latest versions of Android, as a rule, more often than others, download applications, consume more content and make purchases. And they are actively reporting that favorite applications should support the latest features of the latest versions of Android. In Android O, users expect to see in applications such functions as notification channels, notification points , dock labels , picture in picture , autocomplete , etc. These same functions will help your application in the future to attract new users who will be switching to Android O platform
In Android O, shortcuts can be brought to the main screen directly from the application. This feature will help increase user interest in the application. (left)
Notification points keep users active in the application and allow them to go straight to key functions. (on right)
Improving your application with the new Android O features will help you attract users, offer them new types of interaction, provide them with even higher levels of control and security, and increase application performance. Features such as responsive icons , downloadable fonts, and automatic text resizing in TextView will simplify application development and reduce the size of the APK file. Battery life also plays an important role for users, so they will appreciate the optimization of your application, taking into account the limitations of background work and other important changes in system behavior when launching applications on the Android O platform .
Visit the Android O version for developers to learn about all the new features and APIs, and how to embed them in your applications.
Develop faster with Android Studio
When you're ready to work with Android O, download the latest version of Android Studio 3.0 , available here . In addition to improved application performance testing tools , Kotlin programming language support , and Gradle tool optimization, Android Studio 3.0 offers a simplified development process with instant applications, XML fonts , downloadable fonts, and adaptive icons .
We recommend upgrading to the stable version of Android Support Library 26.0.0 , which is available in Google’s Maven repository , as well as downloading the latest SDK, tools and images of the emulator system that will be available in the coming days.
You can upgrade your project's compileSdkVersion to API 26 so that the compilation takes place using the API of the official version of Android O. We also recommend updating your application's targetSdkVersion to API 26 to be able to test the application to reflect changes in the behavior of Android O. Refer to the manual migration to learn more about how to set up a development environment for programming under Android O.
Posting updates on Google Play
Google Play is open to applications compiled or recompiled for API 26. When you're ready, download the updated alpha, beta or working version of your application.
Make sure that the updated application runs on both Android O and earlier versions of Android. We encourage you to use the beta test feature on Google Play to get the first reviews of your application from a small group of users. After that, start a phased launch. Looking forward to your updated apps!
How to get Developer Preview 4
If you do not yet have a version for Developer Preview 4 developers, it is very easy to get it! Go to android.com/beta and register the appropriate phone or tablet. In addition, you can download the update and install it manually . The Android O version is available for developers on Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player and Android Emulator devices. All registered devices will be updated automatically after the release of the official version of Android O.
Thank you for the contribution you made at the preliminary stage. We are waiting for your new feedback and suggestions !
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/334180/
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