Google postpones unveiling Android 11

SAN FRANCISCO: Google on Saturday said it has postponed next week’s planned unveiling of the beta version of its latest Android 11 mobile operating system.

“We are excited to tell you more about Android 11, but now is not the time to celebrate,” Google said in a message posted on its Android developers website.  “We are postponing the June 3rd event and beta release. We’ll be back with more on Android 11, soon.”

The event was originally scheduled to take place virtually on Wednesday. Google said that it will announce more details on the new version of Android soon, without specifying any dates.

We are excited to tell you more about Android 11, but now is not the time to celebrate. We are postponing the June 3rd event and beta release. We’ll be back with more on Android 11, soon.

— Android Developers (@AndroidDev) May 30, 2020

Google did not provide any reason but the announcement comes in light of protests and unrest in the United States. Protests have spread across the country over the killing of George Floyd, a Minneapolis black man who died after being pinned by the neck under a white police officer’s knee.

The San Francisco Bay Area, where Google and most of its employees are based, has seen major conflicts in both San Jose and Oakland the evening when Google made the decision to call off the event.

Earlier this week, the company posted the list of ‘Android 11 Talks’ that would also be releas ed that day. They were originally scheduled for physical conference and include the annual ‘What’s new in Android’, ‘All things privacy in Android 11’ and ‘What’s new in Android Development Tools.’

Google is not changing the final release schedule for Android 11, which is planned for third quarter of this year and will provide updated timing as it becomes available.

The first Android 11 Beta was originally expected this month but was delayed as Google decided to add some extra time to the release schedule from February.

The Android team at the start of the month said that it was “collaborating remotely and prioritising the well-being of our families, friends and colleagues.”