Android O: Everything You Need To Know About The Upcoming Version

In July 2017, Google launched the final developer preview of Android O, the upcoming version of its operating system for mobiles. As predicted, Google may release this newest version within the next few weeks.

Android O will be the eighth version of the Android operating system, and it will be a progressive update with feature, performance, and design developments rather than a crucial overhaul.

Making Apps Compatible with Android O

Now it will be interesting to see how much the Android application development companies are prepared to acclimate this newest version of the Android operating system. As it has become quite vital for them to build applications compatible with Android O. Probably, companies already have strong development plans in the beginning to design apps for Android O. Although, it is expected that how users will be making a transition with much ease because of the compatibility. For checking the compatibility, you ought to get enlisted with Android. You need to certainly follow significant steps before installing the mobile app from the Google Play Store. The easiest and quickest way to get started with development and testing is to connect your supported device in the Android Beta Program. You will then receive wireless updates to the latest preview releases. The Android O Developer Preview offers a variety hardware devices, from tablets to phones and televisions.

What Will Be the Features of Android O?

The newest version of the Android operating system comes with cutting-edge features like improved security and control that will enhance the performance as well as user experience. Additionally, it provides one more feature that will improve the durability of the battery of your smartphone. Here are some of the characteristic features provided by Android O:

• Stops Application From Exhibiting Over the Other Applications: Now Toggles occur in the Application Info menu that will let you disable the facility for selected applications to draw over the vertex of other applications. If you have to eliminate the continuous notification alerts you receive for applications creating a screen cover, you will have to search for the Android System notifications.
• For that you can: Go to Settings >> Apps and notifications >> App info >> Show system (via overflow menu) >> Android system >> App notifications and upturn the “Display over other apps” toggle to off. You may see all the applications with authorization to write over other applications.
• For that you can: Go to Settings >> Apps and Notifications >> Advanced >> Special app access >> Display over other apps.
• Robust Notification Dots: If you fling your mind back to Google I/O 2017, you may recall Google demonstrating notification dots which are actually less number of nifty launcher shortcuts with notification badges that would be used in Android O. Also, there were the notification dots with a typical blue color in developer preview 3. Around this time the dots appear in several colors drawn from the application icon they correlate with.
• Bug Fixes and Performance: Early users have noticed various bug fixes and performance improvements in the final developer preview. The issue of battery drain that put a lot of people off the 3rd developer preview looks like being corrected and also the delay in camera launch has been fixed.
• Octopus Easter Egg: In the latest developer preview of Android O, the Easter egg has changed to an Oreo-looking octopus from Neko Atsume cat catcher game that hovers around the screen. No one has still discovered whether it is all there to the Easter egg yet, but further functionalities may be included in the final release.
• Lock Screen, Font, and Notification Changes: The clock on the lock screen will be a bit smaller and date will be no longer displayed in caps. The sign of battery percentage in the status bar is a little bolder and the time and carrier info will be given a bit more space in the right and left respectively. In the notifications shade at the top of the toggles area, the date will be in a moderately less concise font which will make it a little more readable at a glimpse and the spacer between the notifications and the toggles will be eliminated. The mobile data toggle will also be altered back to its previous look.
• Picture-in-Picture: This feature will let you launch a video call or watch a video while you are tapping through other applications on your phone. The video box will be a compact cover that hovers above whatever you are performing in the background.
• Smart Text Selection: This feature will enable you to quickly highlight an address or phone number, and a shortcut to the most pertinent application will pop up. If you are pressing and holding on an address, a pop-up will recommend Google Maps. Also, this smart feature will make it easier to select the entire name if you tap and hold anywhere on the name, that includes the first and last name.

Use of Android Studio 3.0 in Development Process

For the current Android mobile application development, it is suggested to utilize Android Studio 3.0 which is also the latest version. The main advantage of using Android Studio 3.0 is its support for Gradle build optimization, Kotlin programming language, XML fonts and much more.

Before you publish your updates, you must make sure that your applications are targeting API 26. You can publish it on many production channels, alpha or beta. Using Google Play’s beta testing feature will be best to receive comments from the users.

We have already seen the list of latest features out of the beta, both performance-based and visual, that is worth getting thrilled about even if this version does not make innovative changes like Material design did in Android 5.0.