Google is postponing the release of the beta, or test, version of its Android 11 operating system amid civil unrest in the US, triggered by the death of an African-American man in police custody.
The search engine giant did not specify the surge in protests as a reason for delaying the launch, but said in a statement on Twitter that “we are excited to tell you more about Android 11, but now is not the time to celebrate”.
“We are postponing the June 3 event and beta release. We'll be back with more on Android 11, soon,” the Alphabet-owned company tweeted.
Google did not respond to The National's request for further comments.
The company's move to delay the release of the beta version comes as protests break out in several US cities after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, during an arrest in Minneapolis on Monday.
The victim was handcuffed and died after a police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The tragedy was filmed and later shared online, sparking wide-spread protests.
The company based in California, one of the states hit hard by violent protests, was first scheduled to launch the beta version of its mobile operating system at Google I/O - its biggest event of the year - on May 12. However, the three-day event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Google moved the launch to an online event on June 3.
The Android team said it is “collaborating remotely and prioritising the well-being of our families, friends and colleagues”.
The company has already released the fourth version of the developer preview of Android 11 earlier this month. Though not very different from the third version that was launched last month, it gave developers more time to get their apps tested and improve performance.
Developer preview has revealed many new features in Android 11 such as native screen recording, motion sense gestures and notification history functionality.
Android is one of the most widely-used operating systems, with about 2.5 billion active devices worldwide. In the second quarter of 2018, nearly 88 per cent of all smartphones sold used the Android operating system, according to market researcher Statista.
Google is expected to release three beta versions of Android 11 – one each in June, July and August – before the final release in the third quarter of this year.
The company has not announced the final date of release, but it is expected before the #MadebyGoogle event where the company usually unveils the next Pixel device in October every year.
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Brandt%20Andersen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Sy%2C%20Jason%20Beghe%2C%20Angeliki%20Papoulia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
