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With Google I / O and the Android 12 Beta, May was packed with developer news. So it’s impressive that June managed to keep up the pace! Perhaps the most interesting developer news this month was the announcement that Windows 11 will support Android apps. There are a few caveats that we will address below. However, this potentially opens up a whole new market for Android developers and is certainly worth looking into. In the meantime we have also integrated Android 12 Beta 2 and new search tools into Jetpack. As always, read for the full overview!
Android Authority news and features
Android 12 Beta 2 is here with a new design and privacy dashboard – Android Authority Coverage of Android 12 Beta 2. The second beta offers more privacy features, including a privacy dashboard and microphone / camera display, as well as simplified connectivity options. There are also plenty of minor design tweaks that you can all find in this post.
Hands-on with Privacy Dashboard, one of the best new features in Android 12 – The Privacy Dashboard is arguably the standout feature of the second beta. This is also relevant for developers who should understand the new user control over various settings and data.
Microsoft is officially announcing Windows 11 as a free upgrade this fall – Windows 11 brings some interesting new features for gamers and those who like the frosted glass aesthetic. The biggest announcement, however, is that the new operating system can run Android apps “natively”. What’s interesting is that there won’t be a Google Play Store to get them. Instead, you’ll need to download your apps from Amazon’s AppStore. The big message for Android developers is that it’s time to stop neglecting the Amazon Store! While you’re at it, think about how your app might work with a mouse and keyboard, and how you can attract an audience of desktop users.
Microsoft engineer confirms that you can sideload Android APKs on Windows 11 – that’s good news for Android fans: you can install APKs even without Amazon’s involvement. How this will affect the ability to reach the widest possible audience is yet to be figured out by the developers.
News and features from Google
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
Build sophisticated search capabilities with AppSearch – AppSearch was added to Jetpack in Alpha. This is an on-device search library that can add powerful search capabilities for any app. This post explains what it can do and provides some useful instructions.
Android 12 Beta 2 Update – Just a few weeks after the first beta, Google has already added a second iteration. Not much to worry about developers, but it’s definitely worth checking out the full post which explains everything in more detail.
All Android developer news for May
Monthly for Android developers