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I'm updating my SDK Manager in Eclipse, and there are two new downloads:

Android L (API20, L Preview)

Android 4.4W (API20)

I'm confused because they're both referred to as "API 20". And I'm not sure what the "W" in "4.4W" is referring to.

MrEngineer13
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JDJ
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  • L will be the new official release. Its Called L because its Yet unknown which Version Number it will have – mapodev Jun 26 '14 at 19:16
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    But why is there a 4.4 version that is showing up as API20? – JDJ Jun 26 '14 at 19:17
  • Very Funny That I did an update yesterday and only to lunch the SDK manager few hours later an see the two new Android 4.4W and Android L. was kind of confused also – Ibukun Muyide Jun 27 '14 at 02:59

3 Answers3

87

L Developer Preview is the preview of Android 5.0

Android 4.4W is Android Wear SDK

VenomVendor
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  • Thanks, was really confused also, but why release two update together with the same api level and yet don't know the name to give one of it – Ibukun Muyide Jun 27 '14 at 03:00
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    As per new project created from template in Android Studio (contains `values-21` folder with `android:Theme.Material.Light`), the "L" SDK when released will have the number "21". – riwnodennyk Jun 28 '14 at 11:14
  • @Venom Vendor Considering their naming conventions(mostly related to sugar edibles or toffees) from the past are they naming it to Lollipop for Android 5.0 – user285oo6 Jun 30 '14 at 06:20
  • @user285oo6 But there is no official confirmation for that. for 4.X it was assumed to be `Key Lime Pie` but it is actually `KitKat`. – VenomVendor Jun 30 '14 at 07:48
  • If I want to target to the new Android "L", what should I put in the manifest? When I put "20" it says it's for 4.4W , but when I set it to "L", it wants me to set the minSdk to it too. – android developer Jul 02 '14 at 05:25
  • @androiddeveloper `` in Gradle `compileSdkVersion "android-L"` – VenomVendor Jul 02 '14 at 08:29
  • @VenomVendor Yes that's what it wants me to do (as I wrote), but it never wanted it before. Why would I want to set minSdk to it? Is there an alternative? – android developer Jul 02 '14 at 08:37
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    Apparently Android "L" requires JDK 7. It's about time. – JDJ Jul 02 '14 at 12:58
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    Given the present confusion (which I had as well), I'm guessing that the "L" preview will eventually end up as API level 21 (or greater). Again guessing, I would say there was some confusion / conflict between different groups at Google that created the existing situation. – Trebor Rude Jul 14 '14 at 12:16
  • I have a question regarding Android 4.4W : Is it possible to install any app there? It seems that the developer console shows me some users have installed my app there (and didn't even uninstall it!), but I never checked how it works there. The app was barely even tested on tablets... Here's the app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.app_manager . How could it be? If I found it doesn't work well, can I block users from installing it on Android wear? I don't want them to give bad reviews because of this... – android developer Nov 07 '14 at 21:40
  • @androiddeveloper See here http://source.android.com/source/initializing.html under the heading "Installing the JDK" – JDJ Nov 08 '14 at 01:22
  • @jdj interesting. Thank you. Do note that not all v7 features of Java are supported on all Android versions : http://stackoverflow.com/a/21700827 – android developer Nov 08 '14 at 10:13
  • @JDJ I actually work with v6 of Java at the office (not my choice, things move slowly sometimes), and it works fine. Seems like an odd thing. I've also found this website that says v6 is ok : https://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html?hl=i . I think that what you've found is for compiling the OS itself... – android developer Nov 09 '14 at 15:56
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Android 4.4W Target Android Watches

See Image: https://i.stack.imgur.com/ztzXa.jpg

while Android L (API20, L Preview) is the preview of the upcoming release of Android. It is subject to change and it's stability is not guaranteed

Matrix
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2

Android Lollipop is API 21 , so this is possible to differentiate between them:

https://developer.android.com/about/versions/android-5.0.html

Android 4.4W is for Android Wear (mostly smart watches).

android developer
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