
Android 16 Beta 2 started rolling out to builders and testers on Thursday. The newest testing model of Google’s smartphone working system arrives with options designed to enhance the digital camera efficiency of handsets operating on Android, together with a hybrid auto-exposure mode and UltraHDR HEIC pictures. New privateness enhancements have additionally been launched on the second Android 16 beta The corporate is anticipated to launch the steady model of Android 16 to eligible Google Pixel smartphones within the second quarter of 2025.
Android 16 Beta 2 Arrives With Improved Color Changes, Hybrid Auto-Publicity
After updating to Android 16 Beta 2, builders could have entry to a brand new hybrid auto-exposure mode that allows entry to auto-exposure changes, whereas permitting changes to each publicity time and ISO. These adjustments are a part of the Camera2 API, and will enhance the expertise of professional customers with Android smartphones.
With Android 16, skilled video recording functions may even have the ability to carry out “exact changes of white stability primarily based on the correlated color temperature” utilizing COLOR_CORRECTION_MODE_CCT on Android 16. Till now, white stability settings had been managed through CONTROL_AWB_MODE, which provided a couple of presets equivalent to Incandescent, Cloudy, and Twilight.
UltraHDR help is increasing to HEIC photographs
Picture Credit score: Google
Google says it has added two new intent actions have been added to Android 16, and these will allow functions to request the seize of a movement picture. Smartphones operating on Android 16 will introduce help for UltraHDR photographs encoded within the Excessive Effectivity Picture Format (HEIC) file format, and Google says it’s engaged on doing the identical for AV1 Picture File Format (AVIF) photographs.
Privateness and Well being Options on Android 16
Android 16 will embody new protections in opposition to intent redirection assaults, which might allow a maliciously crafted app to achieve entry to non-public information or parts. Builders will not be allowed to choose out of edge-to-edge show mode, which implies that their apps might want to prolong their content material to the sides of the display screen, for a extra immersive look.
Google additionally says apps designed for Android 16 might want to request granular permissions to learn knowledge from Well being Join, which is the default knowledge repository on a consumer’s smartphone, as a substitute of the BODY_SENSORS permissions. Android 16 additionally provides a key sharing API that allows sharing entry to keys within the Android Keystore, with different functions on the identical gadget.
Android 16 is anticipated to succeed in platform stability within the coming weeks, and the corporate’s launch timeline signifies that the steady model of the working system might be launched by Q2 2025, or the tip of June. The replace is anticipated to roll out to eligible Pixel smartphones, whereas different corporations may roll out the replace to their handsets in subsequent months.