Android 8 oreo what's new. What's new in Android O (8.0)

On August 21, 2017, Google released an updated version of the Android operating system. The developers promised many qualitative and quantitative improvements that could take the OS to a new level. Of course, its release aroused great interest from people who are active Android users. Why is she interesting? What innovations have appeared, from networking to application management? How convenient has the fingerprint sensor become, and what level of security does it provide? Let's do a short review of Android 8.0 to answer all your questions.

What is Android 8.0 "Oreo"

Let's start with the fact that the Android 8.0 operating system got its name “Oreo” in honor of the famous cookie. What is the difference between Android 8.0 and 7.0? The first thing that catches your eye is that the loading time has been significantly reduced. Almost twice, which will undoubtedly please users who do not like to waste time waiting for the smartphone to start. Also, the updated operating system received many pleasant and useful additions and functions. Let's talk about them in more detail.

System appearance

The first thing that catches your eye upon startup is the changed notification shade. Now she has become lighter. The settings icon, as well as the date, have moved down. By stretching the curtain, the user will see his avatar. To the right of it is a button for quickly editing settings. But the developers decided to place the brightness adjustment slider at the top.

The Settings icon has changed its appearance to become blue. And the number of points and sub-points has increased significantly. Thanks to a special graph, you can quickly find out how much free memory the device has left. By scrolling down the screen, the user finds out which category of files takes up what volume.

Notification "dot"

Do you use dozens of programs and constantly checking for updates or any notifications for them is very tiring? Then you will be pleased with the update - notification point. Thanks to it, all applications for which updates or messages have arrived will be marked with a blue dot in the upper right corner. When you see it, tap the application icon with your finger to find out what innovations await you. However, if not necessary, disabling this function in the settings of Android 8.0 is not at all difficult.

Picture in Picture

A very unusual solution - you can display an image, for example, a video from YouTube, while working with other functions and applications. Such a solution can be a real boon for a user who wants to simultaneously watch a video out of the corner of his eye and chat with friends.

Support for adaptive icons

There is also a rather controversial innovation that appeared in Android 8.0. Users install dozens and hundreds of programs on their phones. Of course, each of them has a unique label, different from the others in shape, color and size. The developers decided that many users did not like such diversity and even diversity. And they offered the opportunity to fit them all to one standard. Using the icon adaptation feature, the device owner can trim a variety of icons and make them more standard. Some people will probably like this feature. But searching for the right application among dozens with similar icons has become noticeably more difficult.

Working with applications

A special menu with an on-screen touch keyboard allows you to find the desired program in a matter of seconds - just enter its name. Very convenient, especially for owners of phones with Android 8.0, who are used to installing hundreds of applications and spend a lot of time finding what they need.

Many applications have rather long names. You don't have to type them all out - just start typing it. Several lines will immediately appear, listing programs whose names contain the entered letters, syllables or words. This auto-fill and the very principle of searching for applications is a real find. But this review of Android O is not complete.

Smart selection

Another very successful addition that will definitely please those who actively use mobile devices is smart highlighting. The new feature makes it easy to recognize exactly what information you are highlighting and copying. Do you need to use a phone number to call it, save it in memory, or send it to a friend? Just double click on it with your finger. Smart OS Android 8.0 will immediately highlight the entire number and provide a button to quickly go to the “Phone” menu. It will also respond when you click on company names or addresses.

Overview of Android 8.0 Oreo settings

Everything here is gorgeous as usual. The Android 8.0 operating system is amazingly flexible. Each user, spending just a few minutes, can easily configure the device in such a way that working with it brings maximum comfort and pleasure. Appearance, notifications, screen brightness and contrast, security, working with wireless networks - absolutely everything can be customized.

The apps you use most can be easily displayed on the Lock Screen so you can launch them instantly.

The recovery mode has become even simpler and more convenient to use. If you suddenly installed an undeveloped application on your phone that makes work impossible, or an inexperienced user has messed up all the settings, then it is not at all necessary to reinstall the OS or spend a lot of time returning convenient settings. You can always restart your smartphone by returning to standard or previously saved settings.

No less useful features

The functionality of the file system has expanded significantly. For example, when picking up a smartphone from the table, the user will see the screen light up, where notifications are displayed, as well as the time. But you can only click on notifications. If only the time is displayed on the screen, then you can’t press anything at all.

In general, this is quite convenient - the problem of accidental touching is completely solved. People who are used to carrying their phone in their pocket or purse, where foreign objects regularly press on the screen, will appreciate such a useful function.

All downloads were placed in a separate category. Now working with them has become much more convenient thanks to a special file manager. True, the name has changed - now users will see the line “Saved files”.

The level of security has increased significantly. Now all downloaded and launched applications can be checked. Essentially it is an antivirus. But it is very easy to use and completely invisible - it does not need many resources to efficiently cope with the functions entrusted to it.
When working in night mode, an extremely convenient addition has appeared - a slider for adjusting the intensity of screen illumination. Customize your smartphone to make working with it even more comfortable.

Autonomy

Rapid battery drain is the weak point of powerful modern smartphones. The developers tried to do everything to increase battery life by creating the Doze mode, which they continue to improve, introducing more and more new additions. For example, when running in the background, many applications will receive activity restrictions. So, automatic location detection will be disabled. Thanks to this solution, the operating time without recharging has increased significantly. Moreover, the user does not have to do anything - the smart Android 8.0 OS will automatically perform all the necessary settings.

Additional features of the fingerprint scanner

The functionality of the familiar fingerprint scanner has been significantly expanded. Now third-party developers have the opportunity to use it. The programs that the user is used to using will also respond to the scanner, of course, if such permission has been given. Smart equipment responds to vertical and horizontal swipes, making it possible to control the operation of applications.

Smilies

Of course, a review of Android 8.0 Oreo would be incomplete without mentioning emoticons. The developers, well aware of how important these funny and emotional icons are in the communication of modern users, have seriously worked on them. All previously created emoticons have been significantly improved - now they are more reminiscent of the emoji used in Apple operating systems. In addition, they added about sixty completely new ones, which users will definitely like, as they will allow them to convey even more feelings and emotions at a distance.

Conclusion

What can we say, finishing the review of Android 8.0 Oreo, which fans have been waiting for so long? Of course, this is a very worthy improvement to a convenient, multifunctional operating system that is loved by millions of users from all over the world.

Yesterday, August 21, on the day of the total solar eclipse, Google introduced Android 8.0 Oreo - the annual major update to its mobile OS. The expectations of fans and leaks were confirmed - the search giant actually named the new version of the green robot after the popular chocolate chip cookie.

Now it's time to deal with the main issues related to. Why Google chose this name, what are the main innovations in the update, and also when the “superhero miracle” will arrive on devices from popular manufacturers. We answer all these questions in our new article.

Why Oreo

Even though Oreo cookies were the most popular option for Android 8.0, no one could believe it until the last moment. Developer Preview builds featured a completely different Android O logo, depicted as something round and flaky in orange and yellow tones.

In addition to this, the Easter egg in Android 8.0 appeared for users in the form of an octopus - Google has not previously dealt with such confusion. The “cherry on the cake” was the teaser for the release of Android Oreo on social networks, which the company changed more than once, jumping from a hint to Oreo - the most obvious and correct name.

In fact, Google made it clear that it had chosen the name for Android 8.0 three years ago. If we recall the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop, then even then the search giant announced the use of the Oreo brand for one of the next versions of the OS. “Maybe next, next, next time, Oreo” can only be interpreted as “Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat - Oreo.”

The secret was not a secret. The name Android 8.0 was right there on the surface. But Google, as always, really trolled everyone.

What innovations are there in Android 8.0 Oreo

Most of the innovations are hidden under the hood. The most important new features of Android 8.0 Oreo have been known for a long time. This is what the list looks like:

• Picture in Picture. Reduce the size of the video you're watching or your current video call to a small window so you can continue working with other apps without interruption.
• Channels and notification points. Thematic sorting of application notifications is now available in the Notification Center. You can also hold your finger on an app icon to quickly view its latest notifications.
• Autofill data. With the autofill feature in Android 8.0 Oreo, you no longer have to enter your username and password into apps. Now this is done automatically.
• New Emojis. Android 8.0 Oreo features completely redesigned Emoji (no longer blobs), including 60 completely new Emoji 5.0 emoji.
• Responsive Icons. Now you can customize how icons will look in Android 8.0 Oreo. You can make them round, square or rounded.
• Improvements under the hood. Android 8.0 Oreo and applications for this version of the OS launch twice as fast. The update also brings more efficient power consumption and an improved system of restrictions for applications in the background.

When should I expect Android 8.0 Oreo on my smartphone?

The Android 8.0 Oreo update is currently rolling out to Google devices participating in the operating system's beta testing program. Users of Developer Preview builds receive the final version of Android 8.0 Oreo as an OTA update. Source firmware images for supported Google devices can also be downloaded from the official Android website for developers.

• Pixel (Telstra, Rogers, TMO, Sprint, USCC, Project Fi)

As for other manufacturers, the release of Android 8.0 Oreo has been officially announced for devices from Samsung, LG, Huawei, Nokia (HMD Global), Motorola, HTC, Sony, Sharp, Kyocera, Essential and General Mobile. At the moment, BlackBerry has also confirmed an update for KEYone. Google said they will all start updating or will update their devices by the end of 2017.

The Android 8.0 Oreo code has already been published online, so custom firmware developers will soon catch up. For example, the LineageOS project has already announced the start of development of LineageOS 15 based on Android 8.0 Oreo. Most likely, the same devices that support the current LineageOS 14.1 will receive support for the new firmware.

What do you think of Android 8.0 Oreo and these chocolate chip cookies? Write in the comments!

Some new versions of Android bring with them many changes, both technical and external. Other versions simply build on what was already available.

Android 8.0 Oreo is somewhere in the middle. Android stability is already at a high level, so the likelihood of seeing major changes in the interface and functionality in new versions is less and less each time. Android Oreo looks and feels like Android Oreo, but under the hood there are a lot of functional and low-level optimizations that make the system more powerful and user-friendly.

Thanks to Oreo, new smartphones will be able to show videos in the background while working with other applications. It's easier to keep track of multiple notifications from a single app with new notification channels and notification points. The text input and autofill interface will become smarter, making it easier to enter passwords and other important information. Google's Project Treble will help devices receive the next Android updates faster.

Google did not say until recently what name Android 8 would receive, but the system itself has been gradually appearing on devices in the form of preliminary versions for developers over the past five months. Now the final version is available and you can fully appreciate all its advantages.

This review started in early August 2017 with a preview version of Android O, the first version of which appeared back in March. Most of the review is based on the latest preview version, which differs little from the final version.

There will not be a complete list of changes or an extensive description of innovations intended for developers. The review is intended for the average smartphone and tablet user.

Android 8.0 Oreo: Look and feel

More and more manufacturers, including, and, prefer a close to pure version of Android. For this reason, it is important to know which way stock Android design is evolving.

This time there are no major visual changes to the system. You may notice a brighter color palette in the Quick Settings panel in notifications. The panel became light gray instead of dark gray, the same thing happened with the Settings application. Whether this is good or bad is a matter of taste.

There are also small changes in the arrangement of elements in the Quick Settings panel. Settings, switching between users, and editing items have been moved even lower to make them easier to reach on long screens. Some flagships this year have received screen aspect ratios and there may be more such smartphones in the future.

The next notable change is the redesign of the Settings app. Android Nougat introduced a slide-out navigation bar, but now it has been removed and navigation uses 13 redesigned submenus. Many important settings now have icons, and Android better displays important options within each submenu.

The new battery settings are a good example. At the top right, the operating time with the screen on is shown, and there is also the time since the last recharge. Scrolling down a little, you will see the percentage of energy consumption of different applications.

You'll have to look deeper to see many of the other visual changes in Android 8.0. For example, Google has begun to bring long-awaited order to the arrangement of application icons using adaptive icons. In Android 7.1, Google used round app icons, now adaptive icons allow manufacturers to change the shape to suit their own visual style. For example, on Pixel smartphones you can choose from five options.

Companies like , and , who like to offer their own icons, will have a more reliable way to do so, which should improve quality. The new icon style should bring unification to Android's app drawer and home screens, which previously could vary widely between manufacturers.

Android animation has not changed much, a couple of innovations can be seen in the notification panel, they became the next stage in the development of material design. The icons flow smoothly from the status bar to notification cards, then to the overflow area if you have a lot of notifications. The icons in the status bar vibrate when new notifications appear, making the system feel more dynamic.

We can’t help but mention the new emoticons. The graphics have been redesigned to have a more classic style. In the future, Google's emoji compatibility library will allow developers to support new emojis in older versions of Android up to 4.4 KitKat.

Changing fonts in Android Oreo gives developers the ability to change the appearance of emoji in their applications, and also makes it easier to use custom fonts. This happened due to the fact that fonts became a full-fledged resource type.

The font compatibility feature in Google Play Services is the most significant innovation. System-level support for new icons and a more unified look for emoji also play an important role. Many people consider emoticons frivolous, but millions of users use them every day in correspondence, and developers of operating systems and devices cannot help but take this into account.

Notifications, alerts and widgets in Android 8.0 Oreo

Notifications have been redesigned in Android Nougat, the new version also brings a number of minor changes that will make everyday work with them easier.

Notification channels have appeared. This is a new feature that contains notification categories for apps, making it easier to manage and filter different types of notifications from a single app. For example, social apps may have channels for personalized messages, status updates, likes, and other interactions.

You can choose how you receive alerts in each of these channels. This could be sound, vibration, LED indicator, you can completely block notifications from any channels. A long press on the notification will open the channel settings. Here you can allow or block notifications.

All this contains elements of micro-management and it is unknown whether users will even know about the existence of notification channels. Google hopes to speed up the recognition process by requiring notification feed support for apps that target Android 8.0 and want to make it to the Play Store.

There is another pitfall: it will take time and updates for many individual applications, only then will it be clear how successful this feature is. Perhaps notification channels will be useful, or users will be too lazy to work with them.

Speaking of laziness, Android 8.0 will give you the ability to silence certain groups of notifications for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 or 2 hours. This is done by swiping to the right and clicking on the clock icon. The application options here are the following: you can reject notifications that are not needed right now, but not get rid of them forever.

Multimedia players like Google Play Music, YouTube and others will be able to use different colors in their notifications on top of the main colors of the cover and video thumbnails. Some users feel that this adds unnecessary visual elements and clutters the screen. The disappearing transition of albums is distracting, especially when using bright colors, but you will be able to better separate the controls from other notifications.

Multimedia controls are pushed to the forefront, so constant notifications from, for example, Maps, the Google app, Wi-Fi hotspots, USB connections and other processes take a backseat. They will now appear as notification cards in a darker panel to differentiate them from more important notifications. If you want to see more information, you can expand them like any other notification.

The changes to Android notifications are small but numerous, and they're not just limited to the notification panel. Ambient Display, first introduced in , has received its biggest update to date.

The main Ambient Display area shows less information than it did in Android Nougat. There is only the time and a series of icons that appear when the device is lifted. Toast notifications on Ambient Display are now larger and easier to read; If the option is enabled, double tapping will open the main lock screen.

Finding the right balance between the ability to see the information you need at a glance and the density of elements is not easy, but Google tried to achieve it.

In addition to the notification panel, lock screen or Always On Display, Android 8.0 allows bootloaders to show individual app notifications in notification icons. Apps with unread notifications display colored dots, a long press opens a menu next to the app shortcuts, plus you can swipe away notifications.

This isn't the only new trick in the app's Quick Actions menu. The new widget quick action button frees users from long, clunky menus. Now the widgets of each application can be seen in one place.

Picture in Picture

The implementation of a feature may vary depending on how application developers use it. It's based on the ability to launch a video from any application, then press the Home button to drop the video into a small floating window with controls. You can move this window and change its size, while still opening and working with other applications.

This is similar to the multi-window support that was introduced in the pure version of Android Nougat. You could use a split window between the video player and another application, but picture-in-picture seems like a more elegant solution.

Like many Android 8.0 features, you'll need to wait until apps update for Picture-in-Picture to work in them. As always, there may be problems with copyright holders and advertisers who do not want their content to play in the background. We've already seen that background playback is a paid feature on YouTube, while a YouTube Red subscription makes it available.

Either way, Android Oreo lays the technical foundation for this capability on smartphones and tablets. If there are new Google tablets and Android-enabled Chromebooks in the future, Picture-in-Picture will become more popular among app developers and their users.

Smart logins and text input in Android 8.0 Oreo

With Android Oreo, Google is attacking passwords on two fronts. Autofill helps you sign into accounts on your smartphone using information already stored in your Google account. This is done with just one click. For example, if you're signed into Twitter on your computer using the Chrome browser, Google can use the saved information to sign into the Twitter app on your smartphone.

If you're already using a password manager and the app has been updated to Android 8.0, you'll be able to enter passwords automatically from there, as well as paste and copy text between fields. This feature will save you a lot of inconvenience when setting up a new Android device. From Google's perspective, the benefit here is twofold, as Android users will be further motivated to use the Chrome browser on their computers.

At best, the new feature will allow you to completely avoid entering a password on mobile devices, not counting your Google account password and two-factor authentication. As with many of Android's convenient features, you have to accept that you're giving Google a lot of information about yourself.

Android has also learned to manage certain types of information in text fields. When you select text, Google's machine learning engine recognizes what type of data you've selected and makes suggestions accordingly. For example, if you highlight a phone number, you'll be offered a shortcut to launch the dialer; if you highlight an address, you'll be able to launch the Google Maps app.

A similar feature was available in the Chrome browser in previous versions of Android, and is now available across the entire operating system.

New Android 8 functionality for hybrid laptops

Android 8.0 will breathe new life into the Pixel C tablet, which is soon to be retired but remains expensive. In addition to the new multi-text interface that was introduced for tablets in Android 7.1.2, Oreo adds a new keyboard shortcut system inside Android apps to make it easier to navigate interfaces and menus when using the touch screen is not convenient. This feature is especially useful on those tablets to which you can connect a physical keyboard.

The Pixel C and Chromebooks in general should benefit from the picture-in-picture feature, which is more useful on laptops, tablets, and hybrids than on smartphones. It's not a full-fledged desktop multi-window system, but it already matches the capabilities of the iPad.

New audiovisual improvements will make Android tablets more attractive to content producers. Support for application color ranges such as DPI-P3, Adobe RGB and Pro Photo RGB will be useful for photographers, and the new AAudio application programming interface will reduce audio latency.

Android still has a long way to go to challenge Apple on tablets and hybrids, but Android Oreo's innovations in this direction are worthy of attention. As always, the important part is application support. Few programs, including those from Google itself, properly support large screens in landscape orientation. Android 8.0, despite its improvements, does not correct this situation.

Under the hood: background restrictions, better battery life, faster OS updates

Google has put more restrictions on what apps can do when they're not in the foreground. Apart from a few limitations, apps in the background will not be able to respond to device events that are not specifically targeted at them. Google is using these restrictions to force developers to use the task scheduler feature that was introduced in Android Lollipop. It manages background tasks and reduces battery load. Owners of Android 8.0 will not have to do anything to improve battery life and performance. Everything will happen automatically.

Also, in the new version of the system, the developers tried to solve the problem of Android updates. The project, called Treble, contains a modular framework that device manufacturers can use to decouple their own software changes from the operating system core. The idea is to simplify the process of updating various Android firmwares without having to redesign them from scratch. This is not a panacea for the Android update problem, but it can significantly reduce the amount of work when upgrading from Android 8.0 to 8.1 or 9.0. The rate of distribution of monthly security updates should also increase.

It will take time to judge how successful this project will be. It all depends on how manufacturers stick to it.

Conclusion

As a result, Android Oreo is a sum of small changes that make the system easier to use, improve performance, and add convenience. Android is still Android, just more polished.

For most users, Android Nougat's capabilities will be more than enough. Google and partners distribute security updates regardless of Android version, so missing Oreo doesn't mean you're defenseless against malicious apps. There's no doubt that 2018 will be in full swing before Android 8 reaches even 10% of devices.

In the long term, Project Treble should be the most important innovation of this version, as Google removes the technical obstacles that kept many smartphones running on older versions of Android. At the same time, Picture-in-Picture mode and improvements to keyboard navigation make Android more usable on PCs and hybrid laptops.

We can say that this version was an evolution, not a revolution. This doesn't make the update unimportant, as owners of Pixel and Nexus smartphones will soon discover.

In this detailed step-by-step guide, we'll take a look at everything that's new in Pie, Google's latest software for phones and tablets. We'll show you what's new, what's changed, and then compare those changes to Oreo. Based on the preview of Android P, as well as the official version of 9.0 Pie, here's everything you need to know before the operating system arrives.

You'll find a ton of visual changes in Android Pie, many of which are eye-catching. Android P looks different in several areas. At the same time, there are dozens of changes behind the scenes that promise a difference in day-to-day use. Some notable additions include smart linked notifications, simplified settings, themes, new quick settings, gesture navigation, and updated styling in key areas.

You can get Android Pie now on Pixel or . Once you do this, you will be extremely pleased with Google's software, which is smarter, faster, easier to use. The overall experience is better than Android 8.0 Oreo that most people are using today. And while you're probably still getting used to Oreo, you need to know what to expect from Android Pie.

Android 9.0 Pie is a free software update for smartphones, tablets and other devices. Google surprised everyone and released the update on August 6th, but most Android users won't get it right away. In fact, devices from popular manufacturers like Samsung may not receive it until 2019.

It's worth noting that any phone released with Android 8.0 Oreo should receive the Android Pie update fairly quickly. Faster than any previous software as Google has made big changes to ensure fast updates in the future. This is an important aspect that we must highlight in all updates throughout the year and in 2019.

What's new inAndroid 9Pie?

Before we begin, it's important to know that we're working with information obtained from the Android P beta and the official update. However, some features are still missing. So while we're showcasing most of what Pie has to offer, we're looking forward to a few more features. Even the official Android 9.0 Pie update in August does not offer some features like Digital Wellbeing. This feature is only available in beta. So even though we have the official release of Android 9.0, things could change in the coming weeks and months. Be it Android 9.0.1 from Google or Android Pie directly from the manufacturers.

We learned a lot about Android 9.0 Pie at Google I/O in May, and then saw more changes during the beta phase over the summer. This is Android 9.0 Pie.

There's very little chance we'll see notch support on screens like the . This is because many new Android phones and it looks like Google's Pixel 3 will get a notch. Google has also added a new API to support multiple cameras. You'll also notice improvements to the auto-fill feature, improved support for fingerprint scanners, time management tools, smart notifications, UI tweaks, an updated settings menu with a highlight notification, and other changes.

An important feature of Android P is “Background Apps”. This solution reduces camera and microphone access to apps running in the background. This is another way to ensure user privacy, which is a growing concern these days. We get new energy efficiency settings, a vertical toolbar on the screen and a quick screenshot button, which is performed by simultaneously pressing the volume up or down buttons.

Quick settings for icons, notifications, settings menus, gesture controls, and always-on screen have been renamed. You'll even see a battery percentage indicator at the bottom of the screen even when it's turned off. There are many small but useful visual settings, and even more settings are hidden.

Android 9.0PieVSAndroid 8.0Oreo: Walkthrough

In this guide, we'll analyze the two versions of Android and compare them side-by-side for users and those waiting for an update. This way you know exactly what to look for and what to expect. Below, you'll learn all about Google's latest software.

Screenshots of Android Pie are on the left, Android 8.0 Oreo on the right. You can click on any image to go to the section. What do you think of the name Pie? Let us know in the comments section.

Redesigned quick settings menu

There are a lot of changes in Android P, but the first thing you'll probably notice is the redesigned Quick Settings menu in the notification dropdown panel. Basically, you drag down the menu to quickly access Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or quick settings.

As you can see above, Google has completely handed over this entire area. The clock is on the left, not on the right, everything has become rounded. To be honest, the update looks like the interface of Samsung Galaxy phones.

On the left is Android P, on the right is Android 8.1 Oreo. Google rounds all icons, rounds notifications, and adds some colors for quick settings. You will later notice that they completely change color based on the background image.

Gesture navigation control

Starting with Android 9.0 P, Google introduces new gestures for navigating the interface. As our phone screens get bigger, bezels shrink, and bezels are taken over by displays, buttons disappear. Well, except for one small button.

Basically, Google is adding a way to bring back on-screen buttons and use gestures to control your Android smartphone. Similar to the finger control methods found on the iPhone X and .

Here's how to enable gesture controls in Android 9.0 P and how they work.

Pull the icon halfway down the screen to go to the list of recent applications. This way you can easily multitask and switch between running applications or Google Chrome tabs. Drag left or right to pan them. Swipe up to open the app drawer, just like on Android 8.0 Oreo.

You can swipe from the right to go back to a recently used app, as well as do a bunch of other things. All these features will take some getting used to, you can find more information in the videos. This is an additional option on Android P, and we doubt it will be the only way to control it. Not yet.

Smart notifications, quick replies

Another big change to the dropdown bar in general concerns notifications. You'll notice a lot of small changes when you pull down the panel and check your inbox. Both on the lock screen and in general, all notifications have become round.

However, notifications have become better, but again, everything is based on Oreo. They're smarter, more functional, integrated together, and the Reply feature inside the notification bar is better than ever.

Now with Android P, you can see images, stickers, and other details in the notification bar before you open a message. The built-in reply function has become smarter and easier to use. The changes are all quite subtle.

The idea is to improve the visibility and usability of notifications, as well as the entire notification bar and quick settings on your devices.

Supports screen cutout (notch)

Perhaps one of the worst new features, but an outright necessity, is notch support. Google knows that many phones will copy Apple and the iPhone X by including notches in their screens. In fact, the trend is already visible. Of the new phones, OnePlus 6, ASUS phones and it looks like the Pixel 3 will also get a notch, unfortunately. Giving users a larger screen dictates the need for a notch to house the speaker or front camera.

Google is adding full support with customization and even resizing of the notch on Android. This way, manufacturers will be able to optimize the cutout in the interface, and developers will be ready for changes. Features include the ability to "hide" the notch using software (a black bar), so the phone looks like it has a more traditional frame. And in case you're wondering why this notch is so huge, it's because that's the size it will be on the Pixel 3.

A strange change, but expected.

Weather, events and more on your lock screen

Another small but useful change in Android P is the inclusion of content on the lock screen. This solution is designed for modern lock screens, as well as any phone with an always-on display.

With Android P, Google has discreetly included a reflection of the time, date and weather (with a nice and small icon) and even upcoming reminders or events. This way you can see the weather or events without unlocking your phone or turning on the screen.

We can't fully customize the lock screen like in the good old days, but it's a nice addition that people will enjoy.

Dark Mode (Themes)

We don't think Google is going to fully implement themes in Android, but the developer is giving users more options.

With Android 9.0 P, Google is finally including a dedicated setting and switch between light and dark themes on your phones. This way, the app tray, settings menu, notification panel and more will switch from light to dark color. You can set it one way or another, or you can let the software make choices based on the wallpaper.

Digital Wellbeing

We are all extremely active on our phones and tablets. These days, the whole world is looking down at its devices. Apple knows this too.

As a result, both Google's Android 9.0 P software and the upcoming iOS software will have controls that could "limit" the amount of time we spend on our phones. Seriously, that's a good idea.

Google calls the feature "Digital Wellbeing," and the developer includes a dashboard in Android P that provides information about which apps you're using, for how long, and more. This will help users understand which apps are wasting too much time, where they should cut time, and even help you sort it out.

You can set limits for applications, and they will turn off (and the icons will go dark) when the time runs out. This is not just a trick. We don't have all the details yet, but Google is working hard to get us to use our devices less for more meaningful things. Not only games, Facebook and YouTube sometimes take up to four hours a day.

We'll know more about how it all works when Android P arrives on phones later this year. This feature is not implemented in the third preview stage.

New vertical panel

Once again, Google is completely changing the volume settings in Android. Instead of having a small box at the top of the screen that you can pull out to change the volume of the system, notifications or alarm, the box moves to the right side.

Now when you change the volume, it automatically changes the "media" volume, not the call or notification volume. You will also notice that the toolbar is also on the side. This will most likely stay clear of any notches or cutouts.

However, the side toolbar is more useful. You can click on the sound icon to instantly switch the sound to zero. There is a second block below that you can click on, it includes three modes. Ring, Vibrate, Silent. This solution is similar to the mute slider on iPhone or OnePlus devices, but implemented through software.

This is a welcome change. We really like that the media sound is switched first, and then the ringer volume.

Volume controls

We noticed a few neat things about Android P. When you try to change the volume, you'll see a new toolbar that now has an area for Media.

Tap this area and you'll see a list of the latest devices you've paired your smartphone with for media or audio, such as Bluetooth speakers. You can click to immediately connect to the device using BT without having to delve into the Bluetooth settings menu. The function is quickly accessible directly from the volume control panel.

Additionally, you will see the last few devices you connected to. And in the developer settings it is possible to connect to five Bluetooth devices at the same time. Android Oreo was limited to two connections. This is a nice change.

Screenshot and Power

Another change similar to the volume control is to press and hold the power button. In Android P, you'll see the available options to shut down, reboot your device as usual, but there's a new Screenshot feature in the power menu.

Basically, you can press the power button to take a screenshot instead of using a keyboard shortcut like on most Android devices today. And when you take a screenshot, there's a new editor tool called "Markup."

The clock is on the left!

If you haven't noticed yet, the clock no longer occupies the top right corner of the screen. For the first time in a long time, Google is splitting up the status dashboard and putting a clock on the left side. This will likely make the status bar cleaner and also make the panel suitable for all phones with an iPhone X-style notch.

The panel is small, but the more you know, the better.

You'll also notice that the Quick Settings section is dark instead of light. It automatically changes with the wallpaper image. Automatic themes are from Oreo but work in Android P.

Battery status information

Most versions of Android offer some kind of battery information. When you go to Settings - Battery - you see a list of running applications, remaining battery life and several other sections.

With Android P, Google has added a highlighted area with a green mark that indicates your battery is in good shape. This is most likely a response to Apple's battery issues and subsequent suppression of device performance. Basically, if your battery starts to show signs of wear and tear after a few years of use, Android will let you know.

This is a small but potentially useful feature that may indicate problems with your device in the future.

Redesigned (Color) settings menu

As expected, Google has changed the Android P settings menu again.

The settings menu, overall layout, and available options remain largely unchanged from Android 8.0 Oreo. However, they are colorful, much more visible and more accessible. The buttons for certain options are rounded, where they used to be square, emulating the Material design.

Some features, like Wi-Fi settings, have been tweaked a bit, but for the most part everything is the same. However, the menu now has flowers. This is a nice change from Android Oreo, where the menus looked boring. However, some believe that the solution is too similar to Samsung's TouchWiz user interface.

Simplified location settings

Not everyone approves of the next change, and neither will you. Google has changed location settings since Android P. The idea is to simplify location settings for everyone to understand.

You can enable or disable location settings, that's all. These are your two options. On Android 8.0 Oreo (and earlier), there were more options, including a power saving mode that set your location settings using less power.

Now your choice is all or nothing.

Easy mode “Do not disturb!”

Another setting that Google has "simplified" is the Do Not Disturb option. We're big fans of this feature, which is now easier to understand.

Instead of having to fight your way through three different modes and multiple levels of feature, there are only two available options left. Before Android P, you could control everything. Starting with complete silence, you could enable alarms and so on. Now there's just a Do Not Disturb option and a Behavior selection where you can make a few settings, like muting notifications.

We'll be tracking further development of this option as we get closer to the release of the update.

Rotate (and lock) tool

Landscape or Portrait mode are known as Rotation Control or Orientation Control, which has changed in Android P.

For most users, the orientation is locked to portrait mode, only apps like Netflix and YouTube can rotate the screen on its side to landscape mode.

However, sometimes you want to quickly switch an app to landscape orientation, but don't want to have to navigate through the settings menu. Now, when you turn your smartphone on its side, if it detects that the content can be rotated, you will see a small “rotate” icon on the bottom left side of the screen. Click this button to instantly enable on-the-fly orientation changes. You need to tap the icon again to return to portrait mode.

Managing Recently Sent Notifications

Another neat change we noticed this weekend comes to the notifications system. It's hard to detect, but if you go to Settings and into Notifications mode, you'll see the three most recent apps that sent you notifications.

Why is this useful? Well, if you are receiving a notification from an app, just go here and you will immediately see which app sent the notification, then you can immediately turn off the notification.

With Android 8.0 Oreo, Google gave us the best control over notifications, and now it's getting even better. Now you can find and stop notifications easily and quickly when needed.

Dismiss notification

If you constantly dismiss notifications from a particular app or program and don't interact with those notifications, Android P suggests a change.

After you dismiss the same notification multiple times, Android P will set a red Stop button and ask you if you want to stop receiving notifications since you're dismissing them anyway. This was a nice little feature first spotted by AndroidPolice and we're sure a lot of users will love it.

Basically, Android P understands you based on your notification usage, the system will stop showing you those that are not important. The solution is pretty neat.

Picture-in-Picture options

One of the main features of Android 8.0 is support for picture-in-picture mode. The solution allows you to watch YouTube or Netflix while you read email or surf the web. It's similar to the multitasking feature, but Picture-in-Picture mode adds an entertainment element.

However, in Android P, you will see a small settings icon inside the PIP menu. This solution provides instant access to Picture in Picture mode settings. The settings include small changes that instantly give you access to the options you need, which is very useful.

UpdateAndroid 9 confirmed!

In case you're wondering, yes, it's Android 9.0 P.

With Android Preview Phase 3 (Beta), Google has updated some of the information in Settings to display the official version of "Android 9" in several places. Everything pointed to confirmation of the 9th version, but now we know for sure.

So, in August we will receive the Android 9.0 P update and we will finally know what P stands for.

Fingerprint scanner changes

With Android P, Google is making several changes to the fingerprint scanner, Pixel Imprint, and fingerprint scanner gesture controls, to name a few features.

First, you'll see a colorful new icon and animation when you add a fingerprint scanner to any Android P phone. It's just a cosmetic change, but it will help you know the feature has been updated.

You can also tap the fingerprint scanner to wake up the smartphone. When you have your phone in your hand (not your pocket) and the screen dims while you're reading or doing something else, simply tap the scanner and it will turn on again. This solution resets the "sleep timer" which is usually set to 30 seconds or 1 minute on most phones. This is a great way to prevent unnecessary touches on the display.

More than 150 new Emoji inAndroidP

In the second phase of developer preview, Google has added around 157 new Emoji for Android. Almost all of them follow the Emoji 11.0 standard, so they comply with the latest trends and social standards.

Android P will be one of the best additions for those who love Emoji. The update will add a lot of new animations, gender emoji, llamas and others.

New Easter egg withAndroidP

In Android P you will find a completely new Easter egg. Go to Settings - System - Advanced - About phone - and press "About" or "Android P" several times until this window appears. The feature works in every version of Android, and you will always see an Easter egg for that version of Android.

Currently it's a vibrant image for Android P, with circles of colors emulating Google in an attempt to hypnotize users. Once Android 9.0 P is officially released later this summer, the Easter egg will change to the actual name and logo. We're not sure about the name yet, Peanut Butter, Pancake, Pumpkin Pie. We're not sure. Google traditionally calls Android delicious desserts in alphabetical order.

These were just some of the changes made to Android P so far. Considering we're still looking at the third preview stage, there's more to come. We're expecting a fourth preview cycle in July, a final API for developers, and a global release of Android 9.0 P in August.

When more features become available or new controls are revealed, we will update the article. Then, expect a full update with full details when Android P becomes available to everyone.

The Android 8.0 Oreo operating system was released by Google. The next wave of updates for smartphones from different manufacturers will begin soon. Which devices will be upgraded to G8 - read on Trashbox.

Android 8.0 for Google Pixel and Nexus

Smartphones and one tablet from these lines will definitely receive a stable version of Android 8.0 Oreo, since . The list of lucky winners looks like this:

• Nexus 5X.
• Nexus 6P.
• Nexus Player.
• Pixel C.
• Pixel.
• Pixel XL.

Before the final release, two more test builds will be released. It’s safe to say that for all representatives of the Nexus line in this list, the update to the “eight” will be the last. Their active life cycle is already coming to an end - only security system updates remain. Thus, 2017 will be the year of the complete death of the Nexus line.

Android 8.0 for Samsung

Android 8.0 for Samsung smartphones will definitely see the light of day, but many popular gadgets will remain without the latest version. As always, the update will come with a long delay - you can’t expect anything else from the Koreans.

The list of Samsung devices supporting Android 8.0 may look like this:

• Galaxy S8/S8+.
• Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge / S7 Active.
• Galaxy A3/A5/A7 (2017).
• Galaxy A3 / A5 / A7 / A9 (2016) - unlikely.
• Galaxy J5/J7/J7 Prime (2017).
• Galaxy C9/C9 Pro.
• Galaxy Note 7 Fandom Edition.
• Galaxy Note 8 (not yet presented).
• Galaxy Tab S3.

At the same time, you can be sure that the new flagship phablet Galaxy Note 8, which will be shown at the end of summer 2017, will receive Android 7.0 Nougat, and not G8.

Gadgets like the Galaxy S6, Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy J3/J5 will be left behind as they are either too cheap or their life cycle has already expired.

Android 8.0 for Nokia

Nokia, or rather HMD Global, in collaboration with Google proudly announced that all its new products based on the Android operating system will be updated to the next major version - 8.0. In addition, devices under the Finnish brand will have speeds at the level of Google Pixel, Nexus and BlackBerry.

Android 8.0 update list for Nokia:

• Nokia 3.
• Nokia 5.
• Nokia 6.
• Nokia 8

Android 8.0 for Xiaomi

Android 8.0 on Xiaomi is a sore subject for owners of gadgets from this Chinese manufacturer. The guys from Xiaomi regularly update their MIUI firmware, adding new features to it, but are too lazy to switch to new versions of the system. But still, MIUI 9 based on Android 8.0 will definitely see the light of day and many Xiaomi devices will receive this update:

• Mi 6 / Mi 6 Plus.
• Mi 5S / Mi 5S Plus.
• Redmi Note 4 (most likely Snapdragon only).
• Mi Max / Mi Max 2.
• Mi Note 2.
• Mi Mix.

The rest of the smartphones will either receive MIUI 9 based on Android 7.0, or will remain on their “sixes”.

Android 8.0 for Sony

Many Sony smartphones in the new Xperia X lines have acquired MediaTek processors, which will certainly greatly affect the update policy. Nevertheless, the Japanese have always been famous for their good support, although after the release of the “Seven” they lost a lot.

Exact list of Android 8.0 for Sony:

• Xperia X.
• Xperia X Performance.
• Xperia XZ.
• Xperia X Compact.
• Xperia XZ Premium.
• Xperia XZs.
• Xperia XA1.
• Xperia XA1 Ultra.
• Xperia XA1 Plus.
• Xperia Touch.

Android 8.0 for LG

This Korean company mainly tries to release updates faster than Samsung. The list of LG gadgets supporting Android 8.0 is unlikely to be long, but delays are unlikely:

• G6 / G6+.
• Q6 / Q6α / Q6+.
• V10 / V20.

Android 8.0 for Motorola

Under the wing of the Chinese Lenovo, Motorola with Moto smartphones no longer offers the excellent support that it used to. Updates come with a delay, some devices do not receive the latest version of the system at all, but there are no interface add-ons - only pure Android.

Android 8.0 on Motorola:

• Moto Z.
• Moto Z Droid.
• Moto Z Force Droid.
• Moto Z Play.
• Moto Z Play Droid.
• Moto Z2 Play / Z2 Force.
• Moto X4.
• Moto G4 / Moto G4 Plus.
• Moto G5 / Moto G5 Plus.
• Moto G5S / Moto G5S Plus.

Android 8.0 for Huawei

In June 2017, Chinese tech giant Huawei confirmed that the company is working on optimizing the latest Android 8.0 for its smartphones and tablets. A detailed list of updated gadgets was not disclosed. It probably looks something like this:

• Huawei P10 / P10 Lite / P10 Plus.
• Huawei Mate 8 (unlikely).
• Huawei Mate 9 / Mate 9 Pro / Mate 9 Porsche Design.
• Honor 8 / 8 Pro.
• Honor 9 / 9 Pro.
• Huawei Nova / Nova Plus (unlikely).
• Huawei Nova 2 / Nova 2 Plus.
• Huawei Y3/Y5/Y7.

Android 8.0 for HTC

The gradually fading manufacturer HTC has already announced that its flagships will have not only Android 8.0, but also the next Android P. This mainly applies only to the latest U-series. Thus, Android 8.0 on HTC will most likely be released on these gadgets:

• HTC U11.
• HTC U Ultra.
• HTC U Play.
• HTC Desire 10 Pro.
• HTC Desire 10 Lifestyle.
• HTC 10/10 Evo.

Android 8.0 for OnePlus

This large Chinese company has not yet announced its plans to release Android 8.0 for its smartphones. However, we can confidently expect that these Chinese will not let their customers down by updating as many gadgets as possible in a timely manner. Among them may be:

• ZTE Axon 7 / Axon 7 mini / Axon 7S.
• ZTE Blade V7 / V7 Lite / V8.
• ZTE Axon Pro / Axon Elite / Axon mini.
• Nubia Z11.
• Nubia Z17.

Android 8.0 for BQ

The Spaniards from the BQ company (not to be confused with the Russian BQ-mobile) have always taken a responsible approach to updating a small fleet of devices. Representatives of BQ have already confirmed to the editors of Trashbox that two smartphones under this brand will definitely receive the next “green robot”: The estimated release date for the updates is the end of 2017.

The list is far from final - other BQ devices will probably be included in it. It’s just that these two gadgets came out quite recently and are the flagships of the BQ brand.

The article is being actively refined and updated with new information.