Google releases Android Things Developer Preview 5 based on Android O

Even though Google announced last month that Developer Preview 4 will be the last beta release before the launch of Android O. But it's not too late for another Android Things OS beta release, so if you're a developer, then now would be a good time to make any last minute changes before the final version is launched.

Android Things Developer Preview 5 is quite important since this is now based on Android O, which is still under development for phones and tablets.

As expected, the 5th Android Things developer preview is aimed at developers and early adopters, and it should be used for development and compatibility testing on supported hardware platforms. According to Google, this release may still have some stability issues on supported hardware, so you're asked to send your feedback if you discover any bugs.

It's also worth noting that Google did not enable all APIs in this preview, but you'll find a list of the disabled APIs in the “Known Issues” section if you want to know if your app will work or not.

Rumor has it, Google plans to launch Android O on August 21, or at least announce the market name of this version of the platform. It's unclear whether or not Google will release another developer preview until then.