Second preview Android 11 can pass corner of screen fold to apps

Google is adding a feature to the second preview of Android 11 that allows developers on supported folding smartphones to see the angle at which the screen is folded. Developers can adapt the interface accordingly.

According to Google, many developers have asked for being able to see the angle at which a screen is folded. For that, the phone must have a way to measure the angle at which a screen is folded. It is unknown if there are already phones that have that.

There is also a new feature in the preview to allow apps to work again after a reboot due to an over-the-air update, without users having to unlock the phone. This allows apps to start working again while the user is asleep, instead of apps only being able to start up again after the user unlocks the phone.

The second preview comes as an over-the-air update to devices that have the first version from February. You can only do that on a Pixel 2, 3, 3a or 4 series phone. The beta is still only flashable from a desktop. A beta will come at a later stage, which can probably be installed over-the-air. Google released the first preview of Android 11 last month. There will be another preview next month, followed by three betas. After that, the release is at the end of the summer.