Android O Features: Which You Must Know

Google recently released the developer preview of Android O, weeks before its annual developer conference I/O. The new OS is still in its early stage and has been made available in the form of first developer preview for devices like Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel C, Pixel XL and Pixel smartphones. The official name of Android O will be announced closer to its public launch. Between now and the public launch, the latest version will go through different versions and tested by developers and users on Android’s beta version. Whether you are a developer or not, we will give you a sneak peek into the nine most amazing features of the Android O that may soon come to your phone.

Battery Life

Google has put stress on improving the battery life of the users and device’s interactive performance. Android O will limit and manage what the apps do in the background while multiple apps are open. It will stop the background apps to consistently use data. For example, if you are using Facebook but also have Google Maps open in the background, the location services will update the location less frequently for Maps to save the battery from getting drained faster.

Notification Channel

Google is grouping notifications into channels in Android O that will offer users’, better control over app notification categories. They can block or change the behavior of different channels individually instead of managing all the apps. The priority and visibility of each type of notification can be controlled.

Android O will also be able to snooze individual notifications. The notifications can be snoozed for 15 minutes, 30 minutes or one hour.

Picture-in-Picture

Android O will allow multitasking on a device or tablet where it will be possible to view videos in a Picture in Picture (PiP) mode. It will have the ability to keep a video playing while interacting with another app. So, you will be able to continue watching a YouTube video while sending an email.

Adaptive Icons

There are different device manufacturers using Android platform. Every Android device is a little different from others. Google is changing how an app’s icon is displayed on different devices. It is coming out with adaptive launcher icons which can display a variety of shapes across different devices. For example, an app can have a circular icon on one phone and a square on the other.

Autofilling

The way Chrome and other major browsers have autofilling, Android O will autofill content into forms. With the new autofill APIs for developers, the users will be able to choose an autofill app, similar to the way they select a keyboard app.

The app will be able store user’s data like email ID, address, usernames and passwords securely.

Audio Improvements

Your phone will be able to wirelessly stream higher quality audio. Google is adding the Sony’s LDAC to improve on the audio quality with compatible Bluetooth devices. It is also introducing Audio which will improve low-latency audio. The new native API is specifically designed for apps requiring high-performance low-latency audio.

Wide-Gamut Color

Many modern Android phones support a wide color gamut, but the apps don’t have the capability. With Android O, the apps will be allowed to use wide color gamut profiles like AdobeRGB, DCI-P3 or Pro Photo RGB on supported devices. Your apps will thus be able to take full benefit of all colors and their subtleties.

Keyboard Navigation 

With Android apps running on Chromebooks, Android O is coming out with a better model for arrow and tab key navigation. This feature is not only for Chromebooks but will be welcomed by those using Android-based TV box or pair a Bluetooth keyboard with their phones or tablets. Android O will thus give better support to developers as well as users to make navigation and shortcuts easier via a physical keyboard.

WiFi Aware

Android O has a new Wi-Fi Aware feature. Devices running the latest version will be able to discover other Wi-Fi networks, and create a private network between them, allowing the devices to share data amongst themselves.

Conclusion

This was a sneak peek of the upcoming features in Android O, Google will throw more light on these features at Google I/O 2017. Google’s developer’s conference will be held from May 17-19, giving the tech giant over a month’s time to developers to give their feedbacks on Android O. The latest version will enter public beta thereafter.

We will learn more about the above-mentioned features at Google’s annual app development software or developer conference I/O in May. There are chances that other new features will be added. It is also to be seen what Android O is named after!