Earlier this week, Google said that Android 17 Beta 1 is available; however, the company pulled the plug on the update, and now it’s back, I think. According to 9to5Google, Google is now rolling out Android 17 Beta 1 for Pixel, and for what it’s worth, the company has republished its developer blog post. Unfortunately, I’m still unable to opt in to the beta program, so your mileage may vary.
The Android 17 Beta 1 comes with a push for developers to adapt apps for big-screen devices like foldables and Android’s desktop mode. Further, Google says Android 17 will no longer be able to opt out of orientation and resizability requirements. This means that apps will need to support large-screen devices.
“Users expect their apps to work everywhere—whether multitasking on a tablet, unfolding a device, or using a desktop windowing environment—and they expect the UI to fill the space and respect their device posture,” reads the blog post.
Android 17 Beta 1 will also have performance improvements, and a system that’s designed to reduce CPU usage and the ability to restrict notifications to help memory consumption. And will also offer smoother transitions for camera modes and new tools for media and camera apps.
If you have a Pixel 6 or newer, you can opt in to the Android 17 Beta 1 here, hopefully it stays around this time.
