Google on Thursday released the third Developer Preview of Android O, adding that the latest beta iteration of the operating system also ships with finalized application programming interfaces (APIs), meaning this is the last call for Android developers to optimize their apps and prepare them for the upcoming release of the next major iteration of the OS. The Developer Preview 3 also marks a revised version of Android Studio and coupled with new system images, developers should have almost everything they need to make their apps compatible with Android O. The Mountain View, California-based tech giant noted that it’s also planning to debut Android O Developer Preview 4 next month, though related APIs will remain unchanged and that particular build will only bring “near-final system images.”
Making one’s app compatible with Android O generally isn’t a daunting task, the Alphabet-owned company claims, urging developers to enroll in the Android Beta Program with a supported device, update it to the latest Developer Preview of the OS, and make any changes they deem necessary after testing their software. Once the optimization process has been completed, Google recommends developers to instantly publish the revised versions of their products on the Google Play Store and not change their platform targeting. Depending on individual developers and their willingness to take advantage of new Android O features like Adaptive Icons and Notification Channels, the time required for the actual optimization process may vary. Click on the button below to join the Android O Beta Program or refer to the source link beneath this writing to find out more about making apps compatible with the upcoming build of the OS.
Android O is scheduled to hit the stable channel in the coming months and will initially debut on the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, as well as compatible Nexus devices. According to recent reports, the first stable build of the OS may roll out as early as August and will be distributed to more devices in months following that debut, with the expanded availability of the software depending on individual original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and their ability to optimize it for their needs in a swift manner. Regarding devices that are set to ship with Android O, LG Electronics was the first company to release a smartphone running Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box with its LG V20 that hit the market last October and as the LG V30 is expected to be launched around the same period this year, the Seoul-based firm may manage to repeat that achievement with the latest major iteration of Android.
Join The Android O Beta Program