Google Confirms Android 11 Beta Launch Show, Launching this June

Google had originally planned to release Android 11 Beta in May but has now announced a delay. It will now release the public beta on June 3rd during a special event named Android 11: The Beta Launch Show. It will be an online-only event because of the global COVID-19 pandemic and is also expected to offer announcements originally meant for Google I/O 2020.

The change in plans has resulted in the release of Android 11 Developer Preview 4. It means the fourth preview build of the next upgrade has arrived for testers to explore. The original release timeline included three developer builds and three beta builds, but now an extra developer preview build has been added to the calendar.

Google has already released a handful of developer previews of Android 11, the test versions of the Android for app developers to try out before the operating system is released more widely. 

One new feature lets people grant apps onetime access to location, microphone and camera data, instead of developers getting more broad access to the information. With the new option, app makers will only get data until the user moves away from the app. After that, developers will have to ask for permission again.

Another upgrade tackles annoying robocalls. Android 11 will let call-screening apps do more to prevent spam calls. The software will let apps verify a call’s “stir/shaken” status, which protects against spoofing. It can also record why someone rejected a call. If a user grants permission, the app can see if a call came from someone in their contacts or an outside number.

Android 11 Release Schedule:

• Beta 1: June 3, 2020 
• Beta 2: July 2020
• Beta 3: August 2020

What are the features that you expect to have on Android 11 and what Google should bring about?

Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.