Android 15: First Developer Preview available, find how to install here

We were expecting a release yesterday, but Google finally rolled out the first Developer Preview of Android 15 today. Android 15 is planned to be released in the fallbut developers and the geeks among you can get a sneak peek at some of the new features and improvements Google is working on. Here’s what you need to know about Android 15 DP1.

What’s new in Android 15 DP1?

Android 15 DP1 brings a number of changes and improvements to the Android platform, covering various aspects such as privacy, security, performance and user experience.. Some of the major new features of Android 15 DP1 are:

• Private Protected Area : Android 15 ships with the latest version of the Ad Services module that hosts Private Sandbox in Android APIs. Private Sandbox is a set of web standards intended to protect user privacy while allowing online advertising. Private Sandbox in Android APIs specifically allows developers to access alternatives to third-party cookies and other tracking methods.
• Health Connect from Android : Android 15 also includes the latest version of the Android Health module, which integrates the Android Health Connect function. It is a framework that allows users to share their health and fitness data with compatible apps and devices. The module supports version 10 of the Extension SDK, which adds support for new data types in healthcare domains.
• File Integrity Protection : The FileIntegrityManager class adds new APIs that allow applications to be protected with custom cryptographic signatures that can be verified with the new method to ensure that files have not been tampered with or corrupted. This increases security by protecting files from unauthorized changes that could compromise the app’s functionality or data.
• Partial screen sharing Partial screen sharing allows users to share or record just one app window instead of the entire device screen.
• Camera2 API improvements : Android 15 adds a new Camera2 API that allows apps to increase the brightness of the camera preview. It also allows precise control of flash intensity in both modes and TORCH mode when shooting images.
• Universal Midi Packs Support : Android 15 extends Universal Midi Packs (UMP) support to virtual MIDI applications, allowing composer applications to control synthesizer applications like a virtual MIDI 2.0 device.
• Android Dynamic Performance Framework improvements : Android 15 improves the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (APDF) by adding a new energy efficiency mode that allows apps to better adapt their consumption.

These are just a few of the new features and improvements that Google mentioned in its press release. There are probably other changes and improvements that have not yet been documented or discovered. So we’ll probably have to wait a few more days to find out more.

How to download Android 15 DP1?

If you want to try Android 15 DP1, You must have a compatible Pixel device. Developer Preview is currently only available Pixel 6, 7 or 8 series devices, as well as Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. You’ll also need to install the Developer Preview manually as it’s not available as an over-the-air update.

The Developer Preview is intended for developers only and not recommended for use on your primary smartphonebecause it may contain bugs or worse, some basic day-to-day functions may be missing.

To download Android 15 DP1 you need to: Go to the Android Developers website at the bottom of the article and download the appropriate system image for your device. You also need to install Android Platform-Tools SDK on your computer. You can then download the system image to your device using the adb command line tool. You can find detailed instructions on how to flash the system image on the Android Developers website.

Once you install the Developer Preview, you will automatically receive future Android 15 updates, but you will need to reset your smartphone and flash the factory image if you want to return to the stable Android version. That’s why you need to think twice. Also note that if you don’t have a supported Pixel device, you can also try Android 15 DP1 with the Android emulator in Android Studio. You can download the Android 15 system image from the SDK Manager and create a virtual device with the Android emulator.