Google is working on 64bit support for Android

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Google is working on support for 64-bit processors in its mobile operating system Android. Clues were found in the source code of the OS. Over some time the first smartphones released with a 64bit-soc.

A commit to the Android Open Source Project makes mention of the 64bit support. It is spoken about support of 32bit binaries on a device that has a processor with the ARMv8 instruction set is provided. This instruction set for ARM soc’s with 64bit support and is used by Qualcomm in its high-end Snapdragon 810-soc. Also MediaTek has a 64-bit soc will be presented.

There is also some discussion regarding api level 20. That is one level above the current level, that in Android 4.4 on 19 is reached. What the changes are that Google has introduced for developers of Android api’s use is not clear, but the new apis will likely be in a next version of the mobile operating system appear.

That Google is working on support for 64bit instructions on Android is no surprise. In addition to the announcement of several soc’s with 64bit support, there were also rumors about a new line of Google-powered smartphones with the Silver name. The first of these smartphones would be, if the rumors are correct, are equipped with a 64bit-soc, presumably the Snapdragon 808 or 810.

Because Google itself still no information has been released about the plans for 64bit support, it is still unclear when the functionality is released. It is likely that 64-bit support, just like the new api level, will be implemented in the next version of Android. ARM had previously know to expect that more smartphones will come with a 64bit-soc. Apple was recently the first with the iPhone 5s.

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