Google is making significant changes to Android’s early-access programs by introducing a new release channel called Android Canary. This announcement was shared on the Android Developers Blog, revealing that the Canary channel will offer new features and an updated name to align with Google’s branding across its products. The Android Canary release channel serves a similar purpose as the previous developer preview program, which was not intended for the general public.
However, the Canary program includes enhancements designed to better serve developers. Like its predecessor, the developer preview allowed developers to explore in-progress features and assess app compatibility with forthcoming Android versions before public releases. Developer previews were historically more prone to bugs and would precede Android’s more stable beta builds.
Once beta builds became available for a particular version, developer previews would conclude. A notable distinction with the Android Canary program is that it operates on a separate release track, which is completely independent from the beta pipeline. Devices enrolled in the Canary channel will receive ongoing updates, regardless of the availability of beta and stable builds.
Even when beta versions are released, devices in the Canary channel will not transition automatically to the beta track, maintaining their unique update schedule. Google emphasizes that the Canary builds are still geared toward developers and should not be relied upon by typical users for daily use due to inherent instability. Developers interested in enrolling a compatible Pixel device in the Canary channel can utilize the Android Flash Tool.
However, unlike before, there is no automatic transition to a stable build; developers must manually revert if they wish to exit the Canary program. These changes aim to offer developers quicker access to innovative features, ensuring their applications are ready by the time major updates reach the stable version of Android.
Leave a Reply