Google unexpectedly announces the first beta of Android 11

Google has announced and released the first beta of Android 11. The trial version follows several developer previews of the new mobile operating system. The most important innovations were already known.

The beta can be installed on the Pixel 2, 2XL, 3, 3XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, and 4XL, says Google. Other devices will follow later, but the search giant does not say which they are. The main innovation, according to the search giant, is in the way Google handles conversations from chat apps. They have their own part in the notification bar and users are given the option to pin conversations on the screen with ‘bubbles’, which are leftover apps. This allows users to quickly return to the conversation if there is a new message.

From Android 11, controls of music and video are located just below the toggles in the notification bar. In addition, from there you can directly check with a push of a button where the audio should go and how high the volume of connected devices should be.

Also new is the menu that appears when you long-press the Power button. There are of course options for restarting, but under the possibly added bank cards for contactless payment, there will be options for controlling smart home devices. Presumably, apps need to build in support to show up in that menu.

The first preview of Android 11 came out in February. The release is scheduled for summer and is expected to take place in August or September. Installing the beta can be done by manually flashing the new firmware or by getting an OTA upgrade after signing up for the beta program.