Google is requiring Virtual A/B on new Android 11 devices, paving the way for mandatory Seamless Updates
With Android 7.0 Nougat, Google introduced a partition scheme designed to speed up software updates. In Nougat, Google added support for duplicating certain partitions so that inactive partitions can get updated in the background and then swapped to active with a quick reboot. This “A/B partition” setup allows for “seamless updates” to take place on supported Android devices, much like Google’s Chrome OS. However, Google has never mandated the use of A/B partitions, so many devices out there that don’t support seamless updates. That could change with Android 11, however, as Google is making it mandatory for newly launched devices to support virtual A/B partitions.
The article explains the benefits and has a nice illustration showing how the A/B partitions work for ensuring safe upgrades of the OS.
See New Android 11 devices will support Virtual A/B for Seamless Updates
Google is adding a new requirement for OEMs to enable virtual A/B partitions on newly launched Android 11 devices, paving the way for seamless updates.
source https://gadgeteer.co.za/google-requiring-virtual-ab-new-android-11-devices-paving-way-mandatory-seamless-updates
Comments