page.title=SDK Platforms Release Notes @jd:body
This document provides release information about the SDK Platform packages required for app development. If you want details about the features and APIs added in each Android version, instead read the highlights in the About section.
In order to compile your application against a particular version of Android, you must use the SDK Manager to download and install the SDK Platform for that release. If you want to test your application on an emulator, you must also download at least one System Image for that Android version.
Each platform release includes system images that support a specific processor architecture, such as ARM EABI, Intel x86 or MIPS. Platform releases also include a system image that contains Google APIs. The SDK Manager lists available platform system images under each platform version header, for example:
To determine what revisions of an Android platform you have installed, refer to the Packages listing in the Android SDK Manager.
Important: To download the most recent Android system components from the Android SDK Manager, you must first update the SDK Tools to the most recent release and restart the SDK Manager. If you do not, the latest Android system packages may not be available for download.
Revision 1 (March 2015)
Initial release for Android 5.1 (API level 22).
Also see the Android 5.1 APIs overview.
Dependencies:
Revision 2 (December 2014)
Updated layouts in the Support Library and fixed various issues.
Dependencies:
Revision 1 (October 2014)
Initial release for Android 5.0 (API level 21).
Also see the Android 5.0 APIs overview.
Dependencies:
The platform includes the following new device definitions for use in creating Android Virtual Devices in the AVD Manager:
Revision 2 (October 2014)
Updated the rendering library.
Dependencies:
Revision 1 (June 2014)
Initial release for Android Wear.
Dependencies:
The platform includes the following device definitions for use in creating Android Virtual Devices in the AVD Manager:
Revision 2 (December 2013)
Maintenance release. The system version is 4.4.2.
Also see the Android 4.4 APIs overview.
Revision 1 (October 2013)
Initial release. The system version is 4.4.
Also see the Android 4.4 APIs overview.
Revision 4 (March 2014)
This release includes Google Play services version 4.3, allowing you to test your application in an emulator using the latest Google Play services.
Revision 3 (February 2014)
This release includes Google Play services version 4.2.42, allowing you to test your application in an emulator using the latest Google Play services.
Revision 2 (December 2013)
This release includes Google Play services version 4.0.33.
Revision 1 (October 2013)
Initial release. This release includes Google Play services version 4.0.30.
Revision 2 (August 2013)
Maintenance update. The system version is 4.3.
Revision 1 (July 2013)
Initial release. The system version is 4.3.
Revision 3 (September 2013)
Maintenance update. This release includes Google Play services version 3.2.65.
Revision 2 (August 2013)
Maintenance update. This release includes Google Play services version 3.2.25.
Revision 1 (July 2013)
Initial release. This release includes Google Play services version 3.1.58.
Revision 2 (February 2013)
Maintenance update. The system version is 4.2.2.
Revision 1 (November 2012)
Initial release. The system version is 4.2.
The platform includes the following device definitions for use in creating Android Virtual Devices in the AVD Manager:
Revision 3 (October 2012)
Maintenance update. The system version is 4.1.2.
Revision 2 (July 2012)
Maintenance update. The system version is 4.1.1.
Revision 1 (June 2012)
Initial release. The system version is 4.1.0.
The downloadable platform includes the following emulator skins:
To test your application on an emulator that represents the Nexus 7 tablet device, you can create an AVD with the new WXGA800-7in skin. For best performance, make sure to enable graphics acceleration in the emulator configuration.
Revision 3 (March 2012)
Maintenance update. The system version is 4.0.4.
Note: This system image includes support for emulator hardware graphics acceleration when used with SDK Tools r17 or higher. (more info)
Revision 2 (January 2012)
Maintenance update. The system version is 4.0.3.
Revision 1 (December 2011)
Initial release. The system version is 4.0.3.
The downloadable platform includes the following emulator skins:
Android 4.0, Revision 2 (December 2011)
Maintenance update. The system version is 4.0.2.
Android 4.0, Revision 1 (October 2011)
Initial release. The system version is 4.0.1.
The downloadable platform includes the following emulator skins:
To test your application on an emulator that represents the latest Android device, you can create an AVD with the new WXGA720 skin (it's an xhdpi, normal screen device). Note that the emulator currently doesn't support the new on-screen navigation bar for devices without hardware navigation buttons, so when using this skin, you must use keyboard keys Home for the Home button, ESC for the Back button, and F2 or Page-up for the Menu button.
However, due to performance issues in the emulator when running high-resolution screens such as the one for the WXGA720 skin, we recommend that you primarily use the traditional WVGA800 skin (hdpi, normal screen) to test your application.
Android 3.2, Revision 1 (July 2011)
The downloadable platform includes the following emulator skin:
For more information about how to develop an application that displays and functions properly on all Android-powered devices, see Supporting Multiple Screens.
Android 3.1, Revision 3 (July 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r12 or higher.
Improvements to the platform's rendering library to support the visual layout editor in the ADT Eclipse plugin. This revision allows for more drawing features in ADT and fixes several bugs in the previous rendering library. It also unlocks several editor features that were added in ADT 12.
Android 3.1, Revision 2 (May 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r11 or higher.
Fixes an issue with the visual layout editor rendering library that prevented Android 3.1 from running in ADT.
Android 3.1, Revision 1 (May 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r11 or higher.
The downloadable platform includes the following emulator skin:
For more information about how to develop an application that displays and functions properly on all Android-powered devices, see Supporting Multiple Screens.
Android 3.0, Revision 2 (July 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r12 or higher.
Improvements to the platform's rendering library to support the visual layout editor in the ADT Eclipse plugin. This revision allows for more drawing features in ADT and fixes several bugs in the previous rendering library. It also unlocks several editor features that were added in ADT 12.
Android 3.0, Revision 1 (February 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r10 or higher.
The downloadable platform includes the following emulator skin:
Android 2.3.4, Revision 1 (May 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r11 or higher.
The downloadable platform includes a set of emulator skins that you can use for modeling your application in different screen sizes and resolutions. The emulator skins are:
Android 2.3.3, Revision 2 (July 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r12 or higher.
Improvements to the platform's rendering library to support the visual layout editor in the ADT Eclipse plugin. This revision allows for more drawing features in ADT and fixes several bugs in the previous rendering library. It also unlocks several editor features that were added in ADT 12.
Android 2.3.3, Revision 1 (February 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r9 or higher.
The downloadable platform includes a set of emulator skins that you can use for modeling your application in different screen sizes and resolutions. The emulator skins are:
Android 2.3, Revision 1 (December 2010)
Requires SDK Tools r8 or higher.
The downloadable platform includes a set of emulator skins that you can use for modeling your application in different screen sizes and resolutions. The emulator skins are:
Android {@sdkPlatformVersion}, Revision 3 (July 2011)
Requires SDK Tools r12 or higher.
Improvements to the platform's rendering library to support the visual layout editor in the ADT Eclipse plugin. This revision allows for more drawing features in ADT and fixes several bugs in the previous rendering library. It also unlocks several editor features that were added in ADT 12.
Android {@sdkPlatformVersion}, Revision 2 (July 2010)
Requires SDK Tools r6 or higher.
Android {@sdkPlatformVersion}, Revision 1 (May 2010)
Requires SDK Tools r6 or higher.
Adds support for building with Android library projects. See SDK Tools, r6 for information.
The downloadable platform includes a set of emulator skins that you can use for modeling your application in different screen sizes and resolutions. The emulator skins are: