Android P Beta 4 Version and How to Get it?
Ten years ago, Google planted a seed by launching its first Android phone—the T-Mobile G1, with an idea, to build a free and open mobile platform available for everyone. Today, that seed has become a large tree and billions of people around the world rely on the Android phone every day.
To make Android smarter and easier, Google launches its updated versions every year. Following last year’s release of Oreo, Google is going to release Android P this year; with the goal of making smartphones more smarter and including machine learning at the core.
The schedule for the final launch of Android P is not clear yet. However, it is expected to be released sometime in September. Before the public debut of Android P.
Google on 25th July launched its fourth and the final preview; Android P beta 4 aka Android P Developer Preview 5. A release candidate build is also included with final system behaviors and the official APIs of Android P (API level 28), available since Beta 2 version. According to Dave Burke, VP of Engineering for Android, Google has offered “everything” that developers need to accomplish testing of their app compatibility before the final launch of Android P. It can be downloaded from developer.android.com/preview.
Google has provided Android P APIs (API level 28), Google Play services version 12.4.46, and the July Android security patch through the latest Android Developer Preview. Release notes for the Android P Beta 4 are available on the Android Developers site.
Though the past versions already brought many improved features such as updated notification panel, new Colors menu to view an image in different color modes, revitalize emoji design, quick reply for bundled notifications, and a new Security API with Face and Iris authentication alongside the original fingerprint authentication. The developers from new preview can leverage the addition of new features such as like multi-camera support, display cutout, enhanced notifications, ImageDecoder, Text Classifier, and others just by downloading the official API 28 SDK and tools into Android Studio 3.1 or by using the latest version of Android Studio 3.2. Google Play has also featured Beta testing to help developers release their apps for a small group of beta testers before making them public for the masses.
Android P Developer Preview 5 is basically an early look at the next version of Android, which is referred to as Android P until Google unveils the name (Popsicle or Peppermint).
Beta 3 included near-final system behaviors. With Beta 4, the system behaviors are now final.
How to get Android P Beta 4
Android P Beta 4 or Developer Preview 5 is initially available for Google Pixel devices. Pixel users who are already enrolled and have received the Android P Beta 2, will automatically receive the update to the Beta 3.
But if you are new to the Beta world you need to enroll in the Android Beta programme.
If you launch your updated app on Google Play during the preview, users can test compatibility on existing devices, including devices running Android P Beta 3. Thus Google Play beta testing feature can be used to get early feedback from users and then do a staged rollout across alpha, beta, and production channels.
In addition to Google’s Pixel devices, partner manufacturers who are already participating in the Android P Beta programme will receive the Beta 3 over the coming weeks including the Essential PH-1, Nokia 7 Plus, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S Oppo R15 Pro, OnePlus 6,, Vivo X21, Vivo X21 UD, and Sony Xperia XZ2.
Caution:–
As always, caution is a need if you’re updating your daily driver to experimental beta software. Though it’s the final milestone, which means it’s likely to be stable,
but it’s still not a shipping software. Bugs and glitches can make daily use of container devices challenging, and full backup will be needed in case of disaster.
