Google begins public testing of Android 17. What’s new?
The stable release is right around the corner – in the second quarter of the year.
Google has released the first public beta of Android 17. This year, the company has once again revised its operating system’s release schedule. Android 17 will only have two beta versions: the second will be released in March. The stable version of the system will come in the second quarter of the year, from April to June.
Official Android 17 Beta 1 changelog:
- The system ignores screen width and orientation restrictions specified in the code for apps targeting Android API 17 to improve tablet usability. This change does not affect games, as their developers can still set restrictions.
- Native support for the modern video compression standard VVC (Universal Video Coding or H.266).
- A more efficient memory release mechanism, which should reduce CPU load.
- An API tool that allows for seamless transitions between camera modes, such as taking photos and recording videos. This change is intended to “avoid user-visible crashes or hangs during operation.”
- A few more changes for developers.
How to install: The Android 17 beta is available for Google smartphones starting with the Pixel 6/6 Pro.
To install the update, you need to enroll your smartphone in the beta testing program and receive the update via Settings → System → Software Updates → System Update. The next beta version will also be available over the air.
To return to a stable version of the system, you will have to wait for the final release of Android 17 or return to Android 16 by performing a factory reset.
Credits:
