Android 17 Beta 2 Lets Users Create App Bubbles and Expands SMS OTP Protection

Overview

Google has rolled out the second beta of Android 17 to eligible Pixel devices enrolled in the Android Beta programme. Android 17 Beta 2 focuses on performance improvements and a smoother user experience, while introducing new efficiency features. The company also notes a plan to reach a platform stability milestone by the middle of next month.

Beta 2 Features and Updates

In an Android Developers blog, Google said testers can create bubbles for apps. These floating bubbles can be triggered by long-pressing an app icon in the pinned taskbar and allow users to view app pages in a multi-window format, aiding multitasking and app organisation. Google plans to extend the feature to tablets, smartphones, and foldables that run on Android 17.

The update also introduces a system-level EyeDropper API, enabling developers to request a colour from any pixel on the screen without requiring screen capture permissions. This is positioned as a developer-facing tool to streamline color selection within apps.

Additionally, the revamped contacts picker offers temporary read-only access to populate specific data fields at a user’s request, reducing the need for broader access permissions in apps.

Another addition is the Handoff API, which lets a user leave a task in one app on one device and resume the same task on a different Android device. The example cited describes switching from a phone to a tablet to continue reading on a larger screen, mirroring a cross-device handoff concept seen on other platforms.

On the security and privacy front, Google is expanding SMS OTP protection to cover all kinds of messages with one-time-passwords. Apps that do not have permission to access WebOTP-format messages will gain access to OTP content three hours after the OTP is received, aligning protection with broader messaging workflows.

Rollout Details and Future Plans

The Android 17 Beta 2 update is progressively rolling out to eligible Pixel smartphones enrolled in the beta programme. Google officials indicated that some features are intended for broader device classes within the Android 17 ecosystem, including tablets and foldables, as part of a phased rollout strategy.

Industry officials familiar with the matter said the update emphasizes performance and system-level improvements alongside new user interface features. The firm remains focused on stability milestones and broader compatibility as it expands the beta to additional devices and form factors in the coming weeks.

What to expect next includes continued refinement of the app bubbles experience, extended availability of the EyeDropper API for developers, and broader testing of the Handoff-like capability across Android devices. The company has not disclosed exact dates for full public availability beyond the stated milestone target for mid-next month.

Technical Highlights

• App Bubbles: long-press on a pinned app to create floating bubbles; bubbles support multi-window views and movable positioning.
• EyeDropper API: system-level colour picking from any screen pixel without screen capture permissions.
• Revamped contacts picker: temporary read-only access to specific data fields on user request.
• Handoff API: resume a task on another Android device, enabling cross-device continuity.
• Expanded SMS OTP protection: OTP messages accessible to apps without WebOTP permission after three hours from receipt.

Overall, the update signals Google’s intent to improve multitasking, developer tools, and security across Android 17 devices while expanding feature parity across phones, tablets and foldables. No further specifics were provided on regional rollout schedules or timelines beyond the mid-next-month stability target.