Today, Google launched the first beta for Android 11, and we’re starting to see what’s new in this newest version of Android. In this first beta of Android 11, Google is focusing on three things: People, Controls and Privacy.
Google is making Android 11 more “people-centric”
With Android 11, Google wants to make the platform more “people-centric and expressive”. So it is “reimagining the way we have conversations on our phones.” This is going to be the theme for a number of features that Google is introducing with Android 11.
There is now a dedicated section at the top of the notification shade called “Conversations”. There are also specific actions that allow users to set reminders and create homescreen shortcuts to threads.
The much anticipated “Bubbles” feature is here too. Which is the biggest change to Android here. It allows you to pop-out conversations and get one-tap access to conversations over whatever you were doing on your phone. It is very similar to Facebook Messenger’s bubbles, but system-wide.
There are some other features too, like consolidated keyboard suggestions, while Voice access will take advantage of “on-device visual cortex that understands screen content and context”.
Making it easier to control your devices
Android 11 is also making it easier to control your Bluetooth and smart home devices. As we’ve seen in a number of leaks about Android 11 already.
When you long-press on the power button, it will bring up Device Controls. This makes the Power button menu a lot more useful, as you also get quick access to Google Pay.
Google Home already supports the new API for these smart home devices in the Device Controls. And you’ll be able to tap to turn on and off smart lights, or drag on the tile to adjust the brightness.
Privacy is always a focus in new versions of Android
After People and Controls the final tentpole for Android 11 is going to be privacy. This is always a focus in every new version of Android too. So this should be no surprise.
In Android 11, Google is allowing you to use one-time permissions. So you can limit an app to having access to different things once. And it will also auto-reset if you haven’t used the app for an “extended” period of time. Though the “extended” term doesn’t have a definition here, so it’s unclear how long that will be.
Google also says that the Play Store is going to be reviewing all Android apps that are requesting background location access. Existing applications are being given until 2021 to abide by these changes.