With the Extension Software Developer Kit, developers will be able to add support for modern features on phones running older versions of Android
Jan 9th
2023
– 7:19 pm
(updated at 9:31 p.m.)
the The Google It should bring new features to phones that haven’t received Android updates for a long time. The Extension Developer Toolkit is a tool for developers to use the latest system version tools on Android 12, 11 or earlier. The goal is to support the latest hardware-independent functionality of older devices.
Photo: Adrien/Unsplash/Canaltech
In an official Android blog post, the developers explained the technical part of the tool. The given example is Android 13 photo grabber extension for old versionswhich would allow modern apps to offer a refreshed design without the user having to update their cell phone.
In short, it works like this: the API in the apps will determine which technology resources the cell phone has installed. If it has a photo selector on the device, it can run in that program or game, even if it’s running Android 11. The camera or physical functions related to the cell phone itself must also be monitored to determine if the app is capable. Turn it on.
Google has been working for a few years now on techniques to update Android components through the Play Store, without having to download a full update. This new system gives the company more freedom to quickly fix something or add small improvements to the operating system.
The update will be to implement the Privacy Sandbox
The SDK’s extension plans must be more ambitious than the stock gallery. According to Google spokesperson Scott Westover, the technology will enable the inclusion of Privacy Sandbox – Replace third-party cookies – On other versions of Android.
If the new version is hostage to the current version of the Google system, the company will not be able to successfully implement it on a wide base of Android mobile phones. This defeats the purpose of giving the tool broad usability, benefiting from more accurate ads, with an improved conversion rate and “less penetration” than the current model.
With the development toolkit, Privacy Sandbox can be continually updated without having to overhaul the entire system. Google still doesn’t have an exact start date for testing in this format, as successive postponements have been made – The latest one is for 2024 – Because of controversy and criticism.
Although this procedure is more commercially biased, the good side cannot be denied. A lot of people can live fine with a phone for five or even six years, but are stuck with an outdated Android when official support ends. Now, you can enjoy new things, even if they are just parts of the operating system.
You still won’t be able to use a Bluetooth 3.0 device if your device only supports version 1.0, because that includes the physical part. But the software part can still be serviced for a few years, giving your device a longer useful life and a larger manufacturer user base.
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