Android 11

The Android Compatibility Definition Document (CDD) is how Google ensures that devices offer a consistent user experience. It’s updated annually with each major version of the OS, and the document for Android 11 has leaked, revealing that Google will not require OEMs to feature Device Controls and the Conversation section in notifications.

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This morning, Google surprised us all by releasing a developer preview of Android 11 for Android TV. Digging through the preview’s files, we found a video showing the upcoming Made by Google Android TV dongle.

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Historically, Android developer previews are primarily focused on phones and other similar form factors. Google this year is launching an Android 11 Developer Preview for Android TV.

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Today kicks off the first segment in Google’s 11 Weeks of Android series. Videos and blog posts this week are all about the upcoming operating system’s focus on “People & Identity.” Homescreen conversation shortcuts were previewed in one video, while we randomly see the rumored “Nearby” feature integrated with the Android 11 share sheet.

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Over the years, Google has made a handful of changes to the emoji found on the Android platform, for better or for worse — #bringbacktheblobs. One sad removal was an adorable turtle present back in Android Nougat. Now, with Android 11, it’s coming back.

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Even before the Android 11 Developer Preview, Google this year announced that the upcoming OS would introduce 62 new characters, as well as 55 skin tone and gender variants. The new emoji are not yet usable in Android 11 Beta 1, but a look at more-final designs have been shared with us today.

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One big focus of Android 11 is making the mobile operating system more people-centric. Messaging is a big part of this and Google today detailed how Twitter and Facebook Messenger are working to implement new features like Bubbles in Android 11.

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After releasing the first Android 11 Beta last week, Google is today rolling out an Android 11 Beta 1.5 patch. This “minor update” addresses device crashes and the lack of Google Pay.

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Google’s Android 11 Beta finally dropped recently, and in the various official coverage of the release, there’s a slick-looking wallpaper that strangely isn’t in the current release. Now, we’ve uncovered it so you can download it on your device.

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In launching Android 11 Beta 1 last week, Google dramatically expanded the number of users testing the next major version of its operating system. The company is now running an Android 11 Beta software survey to get “feedback on the latest version of Android 11.”

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At present, one of the most frustrating aspects of Android is the arbitrary video recording limit of many devices.

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Up to this point on Android, when any file is deleted, be it a photo you took or a song you downloaded, it’s immediately gone forever. With Android 11, Google has quietly introduced a new trash folder that can help keep your photos and more from being accidentally deleted.

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Yesterday’s debut of Android 11 Beta 1 brought along with it a handful of new features that might entice some users to jump on the early release. However, if you often rely on Google Pay, you should probably avoid the Android 11 Beta for now.

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While there are many OS-level features in Android 11 Beta 1, other changes require app developers to manually integrate. Google Messages in the coming weeks will support Android 11’s Bubbles API.

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Google’s Android developer previews are pretty stable considering they’re early versions of software, but they’re still prone to random issues. With Android 11 DP4, Google is warning Pixel 4 owners that face unlock will be broken if they downgrade back to Android 10.

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Android 11’s first beta brought along with it a handful of nice tweaks and changes, but the one we ended up covering the most was the platform’s new media controls. The feature is clearly something Google cares a lot about, too, so here’s our question for you — what do you think about the new media controls?

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The long wait is over for a “usable” version of Android 11 with the release of the Beta 1 update which we can actually recommend you install on your device. And of course, that means we have been delving in to figure out what the top new features are of the pre-release OS.

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Yesterday, Google debuted the Android 11 Beta, but only for its Pixel smartphones. The company teased that other Android partners would announce beta programs “soon,” and now another pair is speaking up. The Xiaomi Mi 10 series and the Poco F2 Pro are now promised the Android 11 Beta.

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Google dropped the first Android 11 Beta today, but only for its own Google Pixel smartphones. Like past years, though, the Android 11 Beta Program will be extending to other Android phones, we just don’t know which ones.

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