Google changes its way of delivering beta versions of the Android operating system. With the aim of further standardizing experience with the test programs in force in the rest of the ecosystem. This is what changes.
If you test several Google products, such as the Chrome browser, The term “canary” is probably already familiar to you. He distinguishes the beta in Google developerthose which are the most experimental (and potentially bogue). Next to the versions Beta Most general, which are generally more stable.
We find the term canary on several projects, including Chromium the open source of Chrome. However, this agreement is not yet the standard everywhere in Google’s offer. Especially for the latest BETA versions of Android, which have so far been offered via a channel Developers Preview On Google Pixel smartphones – before the testers are automatically transferred to the channel Beta After a certain period.
Google improves its Beta Android program
Google thus announces big changes for the testers of the latest versions of Android 16. The first is that the canal Developers Preview disappears in favor of a new channel baptized Android Canary. Fundamentally, this is the same thing, except that the development of versions Canary is now permanent throughout the lifespan of each Android version.
Finished, therefore, the limited period of Developer Preview and the automatic passage to the channel Beta. Which should be particularly appreciated by the real developers who must constantly adapt to the new features to come On the latest operating system updates. For its part, the canal Beta offers more stable versions in parallel which allow the most curious and early adopters to take advantage of all the latest versions of Android before everyone else.
Go from Android Canary at the channel Beta or Stable nevertheless becomes a little more restrictive. A way for Google to emphasize that Canary versions are above all intended for developers. It is now compulsory to completely flash the smartphone with the variant of the desired operating system. An operation that is carried out via the tool Android Flash Tool.