A little more than a month after the Android N Developer Preview launched, the second version has started its rollout.
Google says that Android N Developer Preview 2 is out today, April 13, with bug fixes and new features galore. When it comes to bug fixes, Google has addressed issues with connecting to hidden Wi-Fi networks, multi-window pauses, and Direct Reply closing an open activity.
When it comes to new features, the Android N Developer Preview 2 includes Vulkan, the new 3D rendering API that Google has helped create. This is mostly a developer-centric feature, but for us regular folks, it can result in improved graphics performance. Also included in Android N Developer Preview 2 is Emoji Unicode 9 support with a “more human-looking design,” skin tone variations, and Unicode 9 emoji like bacon and the face palm.
To learn more about the new features in Android N Developer Preview 2, you can read Google’s blog post right here.
If all that sounds good to you, there are a couple of ways to get Android N Developer Preview 2. The easiest is to enroll in the Android Beta Program, which will enable your eligible phone or tablet to get Android N Developer Preview updates over the air. If you’re already in the Android Beta Program, you should see the update hit your device soon. If you don’t feel like waiting, you can also flash this update manually.
Android N Developer Preview 2 is now available for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Pixel C, and the General Mobile 4G (Android One). It’ll be available to the Nexus Player in the coming days.
