The first beta release brings features like mandatory app adaptability for large screens, better "garbage collection," and medical device profiles.
UPDATE: Google notified us that "Android 17 Beta 1 will actually be coming soon, not today." So stay tuned for the release of the beta...
Google has officially released will be releasing soon the first Android 17 beta. This release is also the first major software preview after switching to the Android Canary release channel, which replaces the previous developer preview program.
Like the past few Android releases, this version of the software is more of an enhancement to the existing operating system than a complete makeover. Android 17 introduces improvements to app adaptability for tablets and foldables and removes developers' ability to opt out of forced-orientation and resizability restrictions. It will make apps feel like fluid boxes rather than static windows that take over the screen, particularly on large-screen devices, and you're likely to see less "flickering" when you resize. Apps developed for Android 17 will also be required to support both portrait and landscape.
There are other improvements under the hood. ART, or the Android Runtime's "garbage collection," will be less memory-intensive so that it isn't hogging CPU resources that could be allocated to actual processing jobs at the moment. Android 17 also supports Versatile Video Coding (VVC), bringing the operating system into the modern era with the next-generation video compression standard, H.266. This will enable you to stream 8K content on your smartphone without significantly impacting system resources.
For music enthusiasts with sensitive ears, Android 17 introduces the Loudness Management API, which standardizes audio volume across apps and hardware. It'll be good for general hearing protection. (If you're trying to go louder, please invest in a dedicated audio converter.)
For users, the most obvious addition to Android 17 will be medical and fitness profiles, which will basically allow you to "accept all" permissions needed for the corresponding services to work. The Medical profile will also be recognized by the OS as "critical," so that when it's summoned, the system prioritizes apps related to the profile above all else. This will be especially helpful for users of insulin pumps and heart rate monitors via a smartphone.
You can still grab the Android beta the same way you have all this time. If you have a Pixel 6 or newer, visit the Android Beta website to enroll your device and receive the over-the-air (OTA) update. Note that the beta program is essentially the "mainstream" testing track for those who cannot wait to get on and see what's new.
If you're developing apps, or you don't mind a beta that's constantly under construction, there's the Canary Channel, which is more experimental and offers access to bleeding-edge features that don't always make it into the final Android release. My biggest advice to you, if you're interested in doing this, is to run the Android 17 beta on a secondary device rather than one you rely on for day-to-day operations.
We'll have a couple more Android 17 releases this year before the final software is rolled out worldwide later this year.
