Google releases the first Android 11 Developer Preview

Following a brief false start last week, the first Android 11 Developer Preview is now available to install. It can be officially downloaded onto Pixel devices - with the exception of their first generation - as well as other phones that support Project Treble. They can be used to gain a very early insight into what the upgrade for the current latest mobile OS will bring.

Most of these changes appear to revolve around privacy and security. For example, it may support electronic national and regional IDs - passports and driver licenses included - that Google referenced at the last I/O conference.

In addition, Developer Preview 1 has added "weak" software-based facial recognition to its BiometricPrompt API. This means developers can use this form of authentication in apps that don't need particularly strong security.

This preliminary version of Android 11 also boasts new APIs or API versions related to 5G, sharing, foldable device support and neural networks. Therefore, app-makers may get an advance idea of how their products work with this new OS - so long as they have a compatible device. Alternatively, this preview also works on the Android Studio emulator.