Google releases Android 17 Beta 2 with enhanced privacy, Bubbles multi-window mode, EyeDropper API, and security updates. Get ready for stable release later this year.
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Google has unveiled Android 17 Beta 2, continuing the system's preparation for a stable release expected later this year. The update focuses on strengthening privacy mechanisms, expanding device-to-device interaction, and refining developer tools. The company maintains its familiar cycle of two SDK releases per year, with the main platform version traditionally launching in the second quarter.
A notable new feature is the redesigned Bubbles mode, which now functions as a full-fledged windowing system. Users can create floating app windows by holding down an app icon on smartphones, tablets, and foldable devices. On large-screen devices, a dedicated bubble panel appears in the taskbar area for managing and moving windows. Developers are advised to adapt their apps to the multi-window mode to ensure proper functionality.
The system introduces a new EyeDropper API that allows apps to read the color of any pixel on screen without requiring screen recording permission. An updated contact selection mechanism via ACTION_PICK_CONTACTS provides temporary access only to user-selected data, reducing the need for the READ_CONTACTS permission. Touchpad pointer capture has also been fixed, with movement now processed as relative cursor movement, addressing issues in games and professional applications.
Android 17 expands task transfer capabilities between devices through the Handoff API based on CompanionDeviceManager. Users can continue their work on another device, and if the app isn't installed, the system will offer a web version. Network improvements include support for Ultra-Wideband DL-TDOA for more accurate and private indoor navigation, along with enhanced distance determination via Wi-Fi Aware. For streaming services, new APIs allow consideration of carrier-allocated bandwidth limitations.
Security is further strengthened: the ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK permission becomes mandatory for apps targeting Android 17, and SMS confirmation code protection now extends to all message formats. Direct access to neural processing units will require explicit declaration of FEATURE_NEURAL_PROCESSING_UNIT in the app manifest. Base libraries have been updated to ICU 78 with Unicode 17 support. The Platform Stability phase is scheduled for March, after which developers can fully test their apps ahead of the public release.