Google has just launched what will be the last beta of Android 17 before its launch next June. This version has important changes and there is one that stands out especially in the current context in which RAM memory is worth its weight in gold. Android 17 has begun to apply strict limits on RAM usage, so it will close applications that exceed them to preserve system stability.
The company has explained that its big priority in this beta is to make Android more deterministicso that it is the system, and not the developers, that sets the limits of the resources. Thus, this beta introduces RAM limits device-specific and anomaly detection service which allows Android to actively monitor and close applications that exceed memory references set by Google. This will be positive for users, because it will force developers to make their heavier applications more efficient, improving the overall performance of the devices.
Another relevant change for developers is the end of the opt-out of compatibility on tablets and foldables. This will force all applications to support resizing and aspect ratio changes. The move will help push Android toward a more unified ecosystem, where developers can no longer ignore big-screen devices.
Android 17 will also strengthen security with Certificate Transparencya system designed to ensure the legitimacy of the digital certificates of a website or a service. Each certificate must be registered in public and verifiable registries, so that Browsers and systems can detect fraudulent or mistakenly issued certificates.
Also will block access to the local network by default so that developers adopt privacy-friendly configurations and have to explicitly justify why they need network access, reducing the possibility of background data collection.
The latest Android beta also integrates ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm or digital signature algorithm based on modular lattice structures) in Android Keystorethe secure store of cryptographic keys of the operating system, which provides hardware-level security against future threats derived from quantum computing. This feature is not of immediate benefit, but it prepares Android for the 2030s, when quantum computers are expected to be ready.
According to the search giant, this final beta marks the beginning of the stability phase before its launch. It’s time for developers to make sure their apps are ready for Android 17, as there shouldn’t be any big changes from now on. You can learn more about this beta on the Google Developers blog.