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Google Releases Android 17 Beta 2 With Universal App Bubbles and New Privacy Tools

Google is using this beta to emphasize multitasking on big screens.

Overview

  • A new bubbles mode lets any app run in a floating, resizable window, with a dedicated bubble bar on tablets and foldables.
  • Cross-device Handoff allows users to start an activity on one Android device and continue it on another, with app-to-web fallback support.
  • A system contacts picker provides temporary, field-limited access to selected entries, reducing the need for broad READ_CONTACTS permission.
  • The EyeDropper API lets apps sample a color from any on-screen pixel without requiring screen-capture permissions.
  • Google notes extensive fixes for crashes, spontaneous reboots and UI regressions, and the update is rolling out to eligible Pixel devices as Motorola joins the beta program.