Android 17 Beta 2: All New Features & Changes
▼ Summary
– Google has released Android 17 Beta 2 for Pixel devices, following the first beta by less than two weeks.
– The update introduces a new system feature called Bubbles, a floating UI for creating app bubbles from the launcher, especially useful on large screens.
– A new system-level contacts picker grants apps temporary, session-based access to specific contact data, reducing the need for broad permissions.
– A new EyeDropper API allows apps to sample colors from the display without requiring sensitive screen capture permissions.
– The update includes other user interface changes, such as a combined ‘Accounts and backup’ menu and redesigned privacy indicators.
Google has rolled out the second beta version of Android 17 for its Pixel lineup, arriving just under two weeks after the initial beta release. This update introduces a suite of new features and refinements aimed at enhancing user privacy, multitasking, and system customization. For developers and enthusiasts eager to explore these changes, we’ve compiled a detailed look at what’s new, with comparisons highlighting the evolution from Beta 1 to Beta 2.
A significant change consolidates system settings with a new combined ‘Accounts and backup’ menu. This streamlined section replaces the older, separate entries for “Back up or copy data” and “Passwords, passkeys & accounts,” creating a more centralized hub for managing your digital security and data.
Visual cues for privacy have also been refreshed. The redesigned privacy indicators offer a cleaner, more modern look compared to the previous version, providing clearer at-a-glance information about when your microphone or camera is active.
A practical addition for connectivity is the new Satellite Quick Settings tile. This provides a one-tap shortcut in the notification shade for managing satellite-linked services, which is particularly useful for maintaining communication in areas without traditional cellular coverage.
On the home screen, users will notice a subtle but welcome adjustment. The Pixel Launcher search bar has reverted to a design many found more intuitive, moving away from the more radical changes tested in the first beta.
One of the more innovative features is the introduction of new app Bubbles. This is a fresh windowing mode distinct from the chat bubbles used in messaging apps. By long-pressing an app icon on the launcher, users can create a floating app bubble on their phone, foldable device, or tablet. This allows for quick, persistent access to an application without leaving your current task. On larger screens, a bubble bar integrates into the taskbar, letting users organize their bubbles, switch between them, and anchor them to specific points on the display for a flexible multitasking experience.
Enhancing user privacy is a new system-level contacts picker. This tool is designed to minimize overly broad permissions. Instead of an app requesting full access to your entire address book, this picker grants temporary, session-based read access only to the specific contact fields you choose to share. It also smartly allows selection from either personal or work profiles, reducing the reliance on the powerful READ_CONTACTS permission.
For developers and creative apps, a new system-level EyeDropper API is now available. This allows applications to request a color value from any pixel shown on the display without needing sensitive screen capture permissions, opening new possibilities for design and utility tools.
Finally, this Beta 2 release addresses various bugs and stability issues present in the first beta, marking a step toward a more polished public release. Users running the beta on compatible Pixel models, from the Pixel 6 series through the latest Pixel 10 devices, can update to explore these features firsthand.
(Source: 9to5Google)
