Android P warns of outdated applications for Android 4.1 or lower
Last year, Apple refused to support the old 32-bit applications in new versions of iOS. Similar changes are expected in the Android camp. The first test assembly of Android P began to display a warning when you try to open a program that has not been updated for a long time.
What do they promise?
The Google Play team has already announced that from the end of 2018 only applications with an API level corresponding to the current or previous version of the OS will be added to the store. In other words, after the release of the final version of Android P, the program must officially support at least Android 8.0 Oreo and use the appropriate libraries. In August 2019, a 64-bit version of the application will also be required (although on older devices it will still be possible to download the 32-bit version if the developer so desires).
A similar situation with startup notifications - starting with Android P, each version of the platform will have a minimum supported API level. For the upcoming ninth edition of the "green robot" is the 17th level, which corresponds to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. If the code was written in the time of Android 4.1 or earlier, and the developer no longer released updates, Androi P will consider this application to be obsolete.
Why did this happen?
Google can understand: if the application is not updated, then it does not support new OS chips either. For example, in Android 6.0 Marshmallow appeared more flexible management of permissions, but with older applications this function does not work. Doze mode also can not limit the operation of the program in standby mode. The larger the gap in the API levels, the greater the probability of problems with the performance and security of the device.
What's next?
At the moment, Android P only warns about the old application, but does not forbid them to use. However, the documentation for developers indicates that applications with a lower level of API will not be installed and run. All of this is coming, but Google has not made any statements yet.
Even if the final version of Android P prohibits the launch of legacy applications, most users are unlikely to notice. Are there many programs on your smartphone that have never been updated for six years in a row?
Source: Android Police
