As Android 15 gets ready, Google is a step closer to releasing the new operating system. Today, Google announced that it will be releasing Android 15’s third beta. The update indicates that it has reached platform stability. This means that the developer APIs and all app-facing behaviours are now final for testers to review and integrate into their apps, and apps targeting Android 15 can be made available on Google Play. While Android 15 Beta 3 has not changed much since the last update, there are a few interesting pin-pointers that have been unveiled with this update. In the blog, Google brings attention to one significant change to the passkey UI.
Android 15: Improved passkey UI
The Android 15 Beta 3 update uses a passkey with biometric authentication that happens in one step rather than two. Users will be able to sign-into apps that target Android 15 using passkeys in a single step, either with facial recognition, fingerprint, or screen lock.
If they accidentally dismiss the prompt to use a passkey to sign-in, they will be able to see the passkey or other Credential Manager suggestions in autofill conditional user interfaces, such as keyboard suggestions or drop-downs.
As the final release is close, Android expert Mishaal Rahman dug out that it might be able to identify when a biometric model is not working well. According to the expert, in this case, it will automatically delete it and prompt the user to redo it.
Other Highlights of Android 15 Beta 3
Apart from the improved passkey UI, Google also shares that the Android 15 Beta 3 update will have other new features as well.
Private Space Feature: Similar to Samsung’s Secure Folder, this allows locking certain apps behind extra authentication. Developers may need to adjust profile logic, and custom launchers must be updated to hide these apps from the home screen and app drawer.
Force-Close Changes: When an app is force-closed, it is stopped indefinitely until relaunched. Widgets for such apps will be grayed out.
Memory Page Size Support: Android 15 now supports devices with a maximum memory page size of up to 16KB, up from the usual 4KB, allowing for phones with larger RAM capacities.
Predictive Back Animations: Enabled by default, incentivising developers to support the feature.
While Google has not announced the release date of the final product, the rumour has it that Android 15 might be released around October 2024, following the launch of the Pixel 9 series. Last year, Google also launched Android 14 with the Pixel 8 series. The latest Pixel phones are generally the first to come with the final version of the new Android iteration. Source: India Today