The New Android 12 App Animations is Beautiful but May Drain Batteries Faster
The New Android 12 App Animations
Tech giants Google have launched the 3rd developer preview of the new Android 12 operating system.
According to the company's roadmap, this review will be the final one before the operating system enters beta testing.
As is customary, the preview includes dozens of changes and minor tweaks, some significant, some minor. The following are some of the review's major highlights.
1. Haptic Feedback Experiences In Apps
Google has taken a page from Apple's largely abandoned Force Touch by incorporating a Rich Haptic Feedback system into its upcoming operating system. The feature enables immersive and delightful gaming experiences, as well as attentional haptics for increased productivity.
The most popular form of haptic feedback has been the vibration of a mobile phone or the rumble of a game controller. However, haptic feedback encompasses much more.
It encompasses a vast array of sensations, including pain, temperature, and your body's position and movement in space. It distinguishes it from devices that rely exclusively on sight and hearing.
Although the extent to which you will use the new haptic feedback in Android 12 is unknown, examples include "virtual touch" ultrasound technology, which generates tactile sensations in mid-air, virtual reality, and virtual touch haptics combine with hand tracking to create controller-free VR haptic experiences.
2. App Launch Animations
For both developers and users, the most noticeable change here is likely the new app launch experience. Based on the preview doc, the new animation will transition the app from launch to a splash screen displaying the app's icon and finally to the app itself.
The current design incorporates a standard grid or list-icon layout and a simple app launch upon selection. However, the new feature gives apps some flexibility in terms of how they customize the splash screen.
According to Google, developers will be able to incorporate standard design elements into each app launch and customize their apps to retain their unique branding.
While this new feature will enhance the aesthetics of the Android user interface, it is important to keep in mind that it may result in a faster battery drain.
3. Call Notification
The call notification template is another cool feature on the list. The new feature is intended to simplify users' management of incoming and ongoing calls. According to Google, the new notifications will be more scannable and visible.
4. API Support For Camera Sensors With Ultra-high Resolution
Additionally, new APIs have been added to support a broader range of ultra-high-resolution camera sensors. It will improve camera support for ultra-high-resolution sensors, such as those found on the Galaxy S21 Ultra with Quad or Nona Bayer patterns.
The APIs will assist developers in making more efficient use of these cameras. According to Google, the new feature will result in improved performance from third-party camera apps.
5. Neural Network API for Machine
Additionally, the Android OS now includes a Neural Networks API for machine learning workloads. The RenderScript API for running computationally intensive tasks has been deprecated in favor of GPU compute frameworks such as Vulkan and OpenGL.
Also, minor tweaks have been made to how apps provide alarms and how the OS handles links to specific apps. Additionally, it has been updated to default to the browser rather than the standard app chooser dialog box.
In Summary
Developers can download the new preview version immediately from Google's developer site. They will, however, need to flash a device image onto a Pixel 3 or later model to test the new Android OS.
With the beta phase approaching, developers should begin testing their apps for compatibility. Currently, Android 12 is scheduled to achieve platform stability by August 2021.
