Android developer news for July 2021

Android 12 Beta 3 and Definitive APIs – This new version brings a number of useful new features, including improved auto-rotation, scrolling screenshots, and privacy indicator APIs. In addition, it also comes with the finalized Android 12 APIs and the official SDK. This means it’s time for developers who want to start testing and updating their apps in anticipation of the platform stability that comes with the next beta.

12 Beta 3 also lets us play around with Game Mode APIs, which allow developers to configure their creations based on user preferences (like performance vs. battery life). This will be linked to the upcoming “Game Dashboard” which will provide an in-game overlay and access to utilities during the game.

Google releases a new beta of Android 12 that only exists to fix bugs – Our opinion on the new changes.

Introducing the Android Game Development Kit – The Android Game Development Kit provides Android development with powerful libraries written in C and C ++. This reduces reliance on the Java Native Interface (JNI) and should result in faster performance.

At the moment the libraries focus on “activity and input”. Game activity provides a foundation for Android development and covers things like screen rotation and the app lifecycle. Input of game text and Game controller both do exactly what you expect.

Google says it responds to the “top frustrations”. However, it looks more like it will finally provide the essentials for game development handled in Android Studio. And the result still looks Another Android development subsection that developers can familiarize themselves with.

Even so, it plans to add more over time and will also work with Unity and other game engines for more synergy and stability across the spectrum. Let’s hope the support comes thick and fast.

The Android Game Development Extension is now available to all Android game developers – If the Android Game Development Kit felt it could go further, AGDE promises to “meet developers where they are”. This assumes that where you are, Microsoft Visual Studio is …

Still, this is very good news for those who enjoy cross-platform development with Xamarin. This should ensure that libraries and support remain stable and up-to-date while using Visual Studio. Hopefully the result will be less switching between IDEs and simpler multi-platform workflows.

Google Play Services are discontinuing updates for Jelly Bean (API levels 16, 17 and 18) – Android Jelly Bean is now nine years old. Today it only accounts for 1% of Android devices. For this purpose, Google is discontinuing updates for the platform. Check out the post to find out what this means for developers and what your options are.

Announcing Android’s Upgradable, Fully Integrated ML Inference Stack – It’s not just game developers who got some love this month. Machine learning on devices has also received a boost thanks to the Android ML platform. This is a fully integrated ML inference stack that provides developers with built-in on-device inference foundations, a consistent API across all versions of Android, and TensorFlow Lite available on all devices with Google Play services. This should address some key weaknesses for developers who rely on ML for their applications.

Updates from the Google for Games Developer Summit – All announcements from the event, including AGDK and AGDE. Other highlights include “Play as you download”, which allows users to play their games instantly while assets are being downloaded in the background, and the Play Integrity API, which is designed to help developers combat abuse. There’s that exciting sounding in-game overlay on too.

Allow developers to request more time to comply with the Play Payment Policy – developers who need to can request a six month extension.

Android 12 Beta 3 for TV is now available – Show some love to the Android TV developers! There are some significant changes as well, so if it applies to you it is well worth checking out the post.