Google has released Android Canary Build 2604 (ZP11.260320.007), which includes some new experimental features. Above all, a quick warning: Canary builds are not intended for everyday use. They can be buggy and unstable, and features introduced here may not always make it to the final stable release.
If you are a developer who wants to test new builds and stay ahead of upcoming changes, Canary is for you. However, if you are a regular Android user, I would recommend only installing it on a secondary device and not on your Android phone that serves as a daily driver.
This release supports system images for a long list of Pixel devices, from the Pixel 8 to the Pixel 10 Pro, so even the newest Pixel owners are covered.
So what has changed?
According to Google’s Mishaal Rahman, two new UI changes are being tested with the new build.
The first is a notification shadow update. Once you’ve cleared all your notifications, your phone will display the message “You’ve Done Everything” instead of “No Notifications.” It’s a small, human touch that’s more pleasant to read.
The second change concerns the app shortcut menu. If you long-press an app icon, you’ll notice that the shortcuts menu is now hidden by default. When you tap to expand the shortcuts, the actions menu will automatically disappear.
This was done to keep things organized and less overwhelming, especially with apps that give you a dozen options at once.
However, it creates an extra step for anyone using shortcuts as they must first tap to expand the context menu.
Will these changes make it to the stable version of Android?
That’s the thing with canary builds. There are no guarantees. It would depend on how the testers respond to these features.
If you want to test these features on your phone, keep in mind that after flashing a Canary build, you won’t be able to revert to a stable build without a full data wipe. So be very sure before installing.
