Android 16 Beta 2 is Here With Loads of Camera Updates

Google's second Android 16 beta is here, boasting significant camera upgrades and performance refinements. This release offers a clearer picture of Android 16's direction – let's delve into the details.

Enhanced Media and Camera Capabilities

Android 16 introduces several professional-grade camera features, including hybrid auto-exposure, precise color temperature and tint control, and simplified motion photo capture.

• Hybrid Auto Exposure: The updated Camera2 API's hybrid auto-exposure modes allow for manual adjustments to specific exposure aspects while leveraging the auto-exposure algorithm for the rest.
• Precise Color Temperature and Tint Control: Android 16 enhances camera support for fine-tuning color temperature and tint, beneficial for professional video production.
• Streamlined Motion Photo Capture: New Intent actions in Android 16 simplify motion photo capture for camera applications.
• UltraHDR Improvements: Android 16 further refines UltraHDR image quality, adding HEIC encoding support and incorporating parameters from the ISO 21496-1 draft standard.
• Customizable Graphical Effects with AGSL: The addition of RuntimeColorFilter and RuntimeXfermode enables developers to create sophisticated effects (like Threshold, Sepia, and Hue Saturation) and apply them directly to drawing operations.

Android 16 for Televisions

The new MediaQuality package in Android 16 introduces APIs for accessing audio and video profiles and hardware settings. This empowers streaming apps to dynamically adjust profiles based on content:

• High Dynamic Range (HDR) Content: HDR movies benefit from profiles prioritizing color accuracy over brightness for optimal detail in shadows and adaptation to ambient lighting.
• Live Events: Live sports, often mastered with a narrow dynamic range, are often viewed in bright conditions; therefore, a profile prioritizing brightness over color accuracy yields better results.
• Interactive Content: Interactive content requires minimal processing to minimize latency and maximize frame rates, hence the inclusion of a dedicated game profile on many TVs.

Privacy, Security, and Background Task Management

Privacy and security remain paramount in Android updates. The BODY SENSORS permissions are now managed under android.permissions.health, offering users more granular control over their health data. A new job stop reason enhances developer management of background tasks. Naturally, comprehensive security enhancements are also included.

Beyond the Headlines

Beyond these key features, Beta 2 includes updates to font APIs, page size compatibility, and measurement system customization. Developers are strongly encouraged to thoroughly test their apps for compatibility, particularly on edge-to-edge displays.

Android 16 is on track for a Q2 2025 release. This beta provides a comprehensive preview of Google's vision. With a strong emphasis on camera enhancements, performance optimization, and robust privacy features, Android 16 promises a potentially substantial upgrade compared to previous iterations.

The above is the detailed content of Android 16 Beta 2 is Here With Loads of Camera Updates. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!