Google has just released the second Developer Preview of Android N for its Nexus range of devices. The latest preview of the upcoming version of Android brings with it support for Vulkan 3D rendering API, improved launcher shortcuts, and improvements to how multi-window works in the OS.

The new Vulkan 3D rendering API offers low-overhead for improved performance, though it is only supported by selected mobile GPUs out there.

For us normal users, the most ‘visible’ change is a new look for folders in the Google Now launcher. The latest preview also comes with a completely new look for people emoji, with support for Unicode 9 glyphs. (paradiseweddingchapel.com) The older yellowish blob like emojis are nowhere to be found (good riddance!).

There are also plenty of bug-fixes in this update that was reported by developers after trying the first Developer Preview of Android N. Some of the issues fixed by Google in this update are as follows:

• Can’t connect to hidden SSID or non-broadcast Wi-Fi. (bug 203116)

• Microphone mute state persists across activities. (bug 205922)

• Changing multi-window focus pauses YouTube. (bug 203424)

• Direct Reply may close open activity. (bug 204411)

• Various stability fixes.

There are a bunch of issues present with the DP2 of Android N, including slow performance from time to time. You can read more about other device specific issues with the second Developer Preview release of Android N here.

The second Developer Preview of Android N is available for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and the General Mobile 4G. You can grab the factory images for the respective devices from here. If you are already running the first Developer Preview of Android N, you should receive an OTA update notification on your device soon.