Android 15 DP2 adds the "satellite messaging" page that I first reported was coming.

You can now publicly access it by invoking the android.settings.SATELLITE_SETTING Intent action.

Android 15 DP2 adds the "change media output" permission page that I previously reported. The "MEDIA_ROUTING_CONTROL" permission "allows an application to control the routing of media apps." However, it is "only for use by role COMPANION_DEVICE_WATCH."

Android 15 DP2 now requires authentication before you can switch USB modes.

When changing modes, you'll be met with a BiometricPrompt dialog that asks you to authenticate.

Android 15 DP2 adds a whole bunch of new PackageManager/installer APIs related to supporting the new built-in app archiving feature I first reported is coming to Android 15.

If you develop a third-party launcher app, you may want to look at these new APIs.

I first reported that Android 15 will add built-in app archiving, and that feature has now gone live in DP2!

You can learn more about how this feature works by reading this article.

Android 15 DP2 on the Pixel Fold has added the "swipe up to continue" screen lock feature I first reported was coming! This feature is ripped right from the OnePlus Open, and it lets you choose which apps to continue on the outer screen.

More details are available in this Android Police article.

Android 15 DP2 adds a new "slow keys" accessibility feature for physical keyboards. It also adds the new "bounce keys" and "sticky keys", as well as previews for the keyboard layout, that I previously spotted.

More details on these changes can be found in this article.

Android 15 DP2 finally adds the "taskbar pinning" feature I first spotted back in Android 14 Beta 3!

This feature lets Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet users revert back to the old, persistent taskbar style introduced in Android 12L.

More details can be found in this article I wrote for Android Authority.

What new features and changes might we see in Android 15?

I did a presentation this week at the bi-monthly AOSP and AAOS meetup that goes over a lot of the hidden and under-the-hood platform changes and features that are coming to Android 15.

Note: This talk was recorded BEFORE Google released Android 15 DP2, so some info is outdated. DP2 includes the PDFViewer, CrashRecovery module, Auracast settings, taskbar pinning, app archiving, swipe up to continue, and UVC webcam update I mentioned in the talk.

Android 15 now blocks you from installing apps built for Android 6.0 Marshmallow and older.

Previously, Android 14 introduced a change that blocked users from installing apps built for Android 5.1 Lollipop and older.

You can read more details about this security change in this article I wrote for Android Police.

The stock gallery apps on OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, and Xiaomi devices now have full integration with Google Photos, meaning you can view and edit all your cloud-hosted photos right from the stock gallery app!

More details can be found in this article on Android Police.

One UI 6.1 will begin rolling out on March 28 for the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold 5, and Z Flip 5. It'll also roll out starting this week for the Tab S9 series!

If you want to know what features it'll bring, check out the quoted post for a summary!

Circle to Search is rolling out to the Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 7a and will be coming soon to the Fold and Tablet!

It's also rolling out to the Samsung Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series with the One UI 6.1 update!

Soon, Circle to Search will also be able to translate text in-line!

Wondering what's new in the latest Android 15 Developer Preview 2?

I did a recap on last night's Android Faithful podcast that I just uploaded to YouTube!

Why watch my recap? I'm the guy who first found/documented most extensively nearly all the features in this DP (as well as most DPs/Betas for past Android releases).😉

Google has announced that they will indeed bring Gemini Nano support to the regular Pixel 8!

For reference, earlier this month, a Googler during #TheAndroidShow said that Gemini Nano wouldn't be coming to the Pixel 8 because of "some hardware limitations." The limitation in question is memory: the Pixel 8 has 8GB of RAM while the 8 Pro has 12GB.

Gemini Nano is the mobile optimized version of the Gemini LLM that's currently available on the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 series. Gemini Nano powers the summarization feature in the Pixel Recorder app as well as Smart Reply in Gboard when using messaging apps likes WhatsApp.

Google says that Gemini Nano will roll out to Pixel 8 users as a "developer preview" in the "next Pixel Feature Drop", ie. the June 2024 Pixel Feature Drop which will also bring Android 14 QPR3. Gemini Nano on the Pixel 8 might not perform as well as it does on the Pixel 8 Pro due to differences in memory specs, which is likely why it's being offered as a developer preview.

Android 15 is adding support for a new feature that tells the device's radio not to share location data with your cellular network for any non-emergency requests.

This could prevent malicious "Stingray" devices from abusing location requests typically reserved for emergency scenarios.

Full details are available in this article I wrote for Android Authority.