SAN FRANCISCO ― Google announced the release of Android 13 Beta 1, which adds new features for developers and, one hopes, for end users too.
Alongside it, developers can start exploring the Privacy Sandbox Preview, a collection of technologies that improve user privacy while enabling personalized ads, says Google.
“We’re moving into the next phase of our cycle and releasing the first Beta of Android 13,” Google vice president Dave Burke writes in the announcement post.
“For developers, there’s a lot to explore in Android 13, from privacy features like the new notification permission and photo picker, to APIs that help you build great experiences, like themed app icons, quick settings tile placement, and per-app language support, as well as capabilities like Bluetooth LE audio and MIDI 2.0 over USB.
“In Beta 1, we’ve added new permissions for more granular access to media files, improved audio routing APIs, and more.”
If none of that sounds all that interesting to you as an end-user, well, you’re not alone. But Google says it will have more to share at its Google I/O conference next month.
And I suspect that various enthusiast blogs will begin uncovering new features in Beta 1 that may prove more enticing as well.
Google plans a second beta release in May, followed by two Platform Stability releases, in June and July, and then the final release of Android 13 in August.
If you’re interested in testing Beta 1, you will need a Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, or Pixel 6 Pro. Or you can try the build in an Android emulator.
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