Roughly some weeks ago, Google launched the first official beta of Android Q, giving us our first big glimpse at Google's upcoming version of Android. We previously said it was to Android Pie what Android Marshmallow was to Android Lollipop: it focuses a lot less on UI updates and a lot more on UX improvements and new, actually useful features. And this couldn't be truer: with features like a true system-wide dark mode, new theming capabilities, a desktop mode in the works, and more, Android Q improves radically on the existing Android Pie formula while not adding any unnecessary fluff, gimmicks, or UI tweaks.

Now, the second Android Q beta has just been launched for Google Pixel devices just 3 weeks after the initial beta. Perhaps the most notable feature introduced with Beta 2 is notification bubbles. In a similar fashion to Facebook Messenger's floating bubbles, which bring up a floating bubble for keeping ongoing conversations in handy--allowing you to message and interact with people while using other apps, tapping on the bubble whenever you want to reply to someone--Android Q is officially bringing these floating bubbles as an official Android feature. Messages and Hangouts are just some of the examples listed by Google, and these bubbles can be applied to non-messaging apps as well, providing quick access to portable UIs like notes and translations.

Bubbles

Other Android Q Beta 2 improvements include a further improved Sharing menu, a foldable emulator for Android Studio, more control over audio capture, and more. You can check out Google's blog post and release notes for a full list of changes.

Android Q Beta 2 system images are now officially out for all Pixel devices, including the Google Pixel, the Pixel XL, the Pixel 2, the Pixel 2 XL, the Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL. This beta also includes the latest April security patches as well as stability improvements and is set to be the last beta before Google's I/O 2019, set to be held on May 7th-9th. Android Emulator images--including foldable support, as we mentioned before--are also available as well.

Are you excited about the second Android Q beta? Let us know down in the comments.


Source: Google