Google, today, has finally made Android 8.0 Oreo official with the first update builds rolling out to Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. The new Android 8.0 standard has been in development for the past few months and was first announced at Google I/O this year, however, today is the day Google has unveiled the final name and also the final source code. Android 8.0 Oreo comes as a more refined and optimized version of Android. It incorporates some exciting new features and we will be taking a look at them all, right ahead.
Android 8.0 Oreo release event was timed with the Solar Eclipse happening across the US and other continents. The announcement event revolved around the name revealing and some key feature highlights. With Android 8.0 Oreo, Google is taking action against the fragmentation of Android versions — arguably the biggest problem of Android. Further, Google has introduced new strategies for optimization so that Android now runs better even on low-end devices. Let’s read ahead to find out more information of Android 8.0 Oreo, its release date and the new features.
Android 8.0 New Features
Here is a look at all the new features coming with Android 8.0 Oreo:
Accessibility button
- Allows you to quickly access from the navigation bar accessibility features, like magnification, and functionality within accessibility services, like Select to Speak.
Accessibility volume
- Accessibility services can optimize the audio experience for users with disabilities.
Adaptive icons
- Developers can now provide a full-bleed square shaped icon and OEMs will mask the icon to ensure intra-device consistency.
Ambient screen
- Highlights the incoming notification with larger font, highlighted app name and immediate access to actions.
Background execution limits
- More control over how apps run in the background for better overall system performance.
Background location limits
- Limits the frequency of location updates in the background for better overall system health.
Deep color
- Enables applications to render richer visual content with more vibrant colors and subtler gradients. Supports full color management which allows applications to render images in the format and quality they were intended.
Downloadable fonts
- Applications no longer need to bundle custom fonts, which helps reduce their size.
Install unknown apps
- Hostile downloader apps can’t operate without permission; users now permit the installation of APKs per-source.
Integrated printing support
- Compatible with all Mopria-certified printers, which make up 97% of printers sold worldwide.
Linkable files
- API that allows you to share files across the Internet via web links.
Native C/C++ API for high-performance audio
- API function for high-performance audio including Native C/C++ audio API.
Notification categories
- More granular and consistent control over which notifications can appear and how intrusive they are.
Notification snoozing
- Lets users hide notifications for a period of time, similar to Inbox snoozing.
Project Treble
- The biggest change to the foundations of Android to date: a modular architecture that makes it easier and faster for hardware makers to deliver Android updates.
TextView autosizing
- Developers can now let the size of their text expand or contract automatically based on the size and characteristics of the TextView, making it much easier to optimize the text size on different screens or with dynamic content.
Tooltips
- Support for tooltips (small popup windows with descriptive text) for views and menu items.
Wi-Fi Assistant
- Auto-connects you to high quality open WiFi and secures your connection with a VPN back to Google.
These are some of the key features you would be noticing right away. If you want to read about the technical changes and technical description of the new features, read this.
Android 8.0 Oreo Release Date
The question many users would be asking, when would I get it on my phone / tablet? Right now, Google has released builds for their own lineup of phones and tablets — Download Android 8.0 Oreo for Nexus and Pixel devices. As for other manufacturers, we have a detailed list as to what the status is for their launch of Android 8.0 Oreo which you can read here: Release Date for Android Devices.
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