A new tool will help developers find out which phones support which features
Android’s biggest strength and weakness is its fragmentation. It’s great that Android allows us to get hundreds of amazing smartphones from all kinds of manufacturers every year, but this also means that all of these devices need their own update channels—and some of them just inevitably get left behind. Google was able to fix a lot of problems related to this by decoupling core Android components from the operating system itself as part of Project Mainline, and now, the company is introducing a way to make it easier for developers to take advantage of the latest features across all Android versions.
Google has introduced the new Extension SDK framework. It allows developers to more easily understand which features are available on which phones. As some system components are decoupled from system updates, it’s harder for apps to tell which capabilities they can take advantage of in a given version of Android, and this new Extension SDK makes it possible for developers to check exactly which features are available for their apps to use.
Google gives Android 13's new photo picker as an example, which it brought to older Android releases using Project Mainline. The new SDK will make it easier for developers to find out which phones actually support the photo picker, allowing them to use this feature only when they are sure that a phone will display it as expected. This should mean that the photo picker will be adopted pretty widely quickly.
Another reason Google cites for the new Extension SDK is the Privacy Sandbox, which is a component meant to replace third-party cookies and provide more private but still personalized advertisements. The APIs are currently being tested in Android 13, but they will come to older versions of Android, too, at which point it will be important for developers to know which phones support them and which don’t.
Manuel Vonau joined Android Police as a freelancer in 2019 and has worked his way up to become the publication’s Google Editor. He focuses on Android, Chrome, and other software Google products — the core of Android Police’s coverage. He is based in Berlin, Germany. Before joining Android Police, Manuel studied Media and Culture studies in Düsseldorf, finishing his university “career” with a master’s degree. This background gives him a unique perspective on the ever-evolving world of technology and its implications on society. He isn’t shy to dig into technical backgrounds and the nitty-gritty developer details, either. His first steps into the Android world were plagued by issues. After running into connectivity problems with the HTC One S, he quickly switched to a Nexus 4, which he considers his true first Android phone. Since then, he has mostly been faithful to the Google phone lineup, though these days, he is also carrying an iPhone in addition to his Pixel 6. This helps him gain perspective on the mobile industry at large and gives him multiple points of reference in his coverage. Outside of work, Manuel enjoys a good film or TV show, loves to travel, and you will find him roaming one of Berlin’s many museums, cafés, cinemas, and restaurants occasionally.

11 January, 2023
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Google helps devs bring new Android features to older phones – Android Police
by Jason Peters
A new tool will help developers find out which phones support which featuresAndroid’s biggest strength and weakness is its fragmentation. It’s great that Android allows us to get hundreds of amazing smartphones from all kinds of manufacturers every year, but this also means that all of these devices need their own update channels—and some of... Read More