Google unveils the first Android 15 Developer Preview

Google has released the first Developer Preview of Android 15, the next Android version. The preview is aimed at giving developers an early look at the new features and APIs that will be available in the final release later this year.

Android 15 Developer Preview 1 is available for the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro, as well as the Android Emulator. The preview is not intended for daily or consumer use, and can only be installed manually. The public Android Beta program will start in April.

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Android 15 Developer Preview

The Android 15 mainly focuses on protecting user privacy and security, supporting creators, improving performance and quality, and enhancing developer productivity.

With the Developer Preview 1, Privacy Sandbox on Android and Health Connect offer new ways to access and share data across apps and websites without compromising user privacy.

Moreover, the FileIntegrityManager uses fs-verity to protect files from tampering and corruption with cryptographic signatures. Now, In-app Camera Controls let developers fine-tune the camera settings and algorithms on supported devices.

The Universal MIDI Packets extend MIDI 2.0 support to virtual MIDI apps and devices with Android 15. Android Dynamic Performance Framework lets performance-intensive apps interact more directly with the power and thermal systems of Android devices.

However, Google also warns how:

An issue with sideloading the Developer Preview 1 build can sometimes cause the device to show a “Device is corrupted” message after sideloading is completed. To work around this issue, we recommend that developers flash a factory image to test devices whenever possible instead of sideloading an OTA system image.