Android 13 Developer Preview 2 arrives with tons of changes

Google has released Developer Preview 2 of Android 13. The final developer preview before the beta arrives includes multiple enhancements, such as support for Bluetooth Audio LE and Midi 2.0.

Google reports that developers Developer Preview 2 of Android 13 can install and the company explains some changes in the version. For example, apps for Android 13 must ask the user’s permission to send notifications. Google advises developers to focus on Android 13 as soon as possible and to ensure that their apps ask for permission. Android 13 also includes a revokeOwnPermissionsOnKill API that removes previously granted permissions on older Android versions to protect user privacy.

DP 2 of Android 13 includes support for rendering COLRv1 fonts and also system emojis will be updated to this version. The font format allows efficient rendering of vector fonts with gradients, according to Google. Also new is the support for Bluetooth Audio LE, which offers extensive options for sharing and broadcasting audio streams. Also, the next Android version supports Midi 2.0 for controlling musical instruments. The Midi version offers, among other things, a higher controller resolution for the old standard.

COLRv1 emoji (left) and bitmap (right)

AndroidPolice discovered another series of other changes in the developer version. For example, there is a new media player that allows users to pair with Bluetooth devices faster, Do Not Disturb will be renamed to Priority Mode, the language can be set per app and there seems to be a taskbar for a children’s mode.

It concerns the last Developer Mode of Android 13. Beta releases will follow in April and May. The final release will take place after July, probably in September or October.