Google released Android 11 Beta 2 today, hitting the platform stability milestone. This means that most of the features, system behavior, and SDK has been finalized, leaving only minor fixes and improvements in the pipeline leading to the general release. One of those minor additions is related to the native screen recording feature, with the tool gaining the ability to capture device audio (spotted by 9to5Google).
The search giant first added the functionality in Android 10’s beta builds but removed it later. The feature was then introduced in the first Developer Preview for Android 11. However, it was expectedly buggy and lacked the ability to record internal audio. Now, that feature is being added through today’s release. It can be enabled through the UI when users choose to start recording their screen and is a welcome addition. In addition to the option to record audio, the feature also lets users record taps on the touchscreen. This feature is generally useful for those that record demos.
The ability to record a phone’s screen has been available on OEM devices such as those from Samsung. One UI 2 also lets users record audio through the mic, along with letting users capture video from the front camera. It will be interesting to see if Google adds any such features to the stock Android experience.
The Mountain View giant is expected to release Android 11 to Pixel users on September 8, if a recent presentation from the company’s "Hey Google Smart Home Summit" is to be believed.