As previously reported, Google launched Android 7.0 Nougat on Aug. 22, with the first users to receive the new operating system being those who own Nexus devices.
Users with the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and Android One will soon get an over-the-air software update to take their devices to Android 7.0 Nougat. In addition, users who enrolled their device in the Android Beta Program will soon be receiving the final version of Google's latest mobile operating system.
For those who own other Android-powered devices, the wait is on for when their device's manufacturer and their carrier will push out the operating system update.
Here is what users can expect from Android 7.0 Nougat once they make the upgrade.
Doze Update
Doze, which was initially released in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, will be getting an update in Android 7.0 Nougat. The feature, which places the device in a semi-sleep mode to conserve battery if it has not been touched for a long period of time, will now also work while the user is on the move.
Notifications
With the new Bundled Notifications feature, users will be able to see all the notifications released by an app. Users can also use the new Direct Reply feature to reply to messages directly from notifications, so they would no longer have to launch their messaging app. Users will also be able to press and hold on notifications to call up the app's settings, or to silence all other notifications coming from the app.
For the notification shade, users will also be allowed to customize the Quick Settings tiles, to make the ones that they use most often to be at the most accessible location.
Multi-Window
Android 7.0 Nougat also brings with it the multi-window feature, which will allow users to display two apps side-by-side on their device. To activate the feature, users will press and hold on the first app they want to run on the Recent apps screen, and once a prompt is displayed, the app should then be dragged to one side of the screen. Users can then open another app on the secondary window through the Recent apps screen on tapping on the app's icon on the Home screen.
The feature, which might not work with all Android apps, can work in both landscape and portrait orientations.
Data Saver
Users will be able to use the Data Saver feature to restrict apps from using cellular data in the background. The feature can be accessed through the Quick Settings menu or through the Data Usage option in Settings. The user can choose which apps will not be able to send or receive data in the background while the feature is enabled, and even when using the chosen apps, it will not be consuming heavy data.
Faster Installation And Less Space For Apps
With Android 7.0 Nougat, it is said that apps will be installed 75 percent faster and will take up 50 percent less storage compared with the current time needed and space taken by Android apps. This is due to a new JIT compiler that the Android team introduced to the new operating system.
Cleaner Recents Menu
Apps that have not been used in a while will automatically close in the Recents menu, which will make it less cluttered. In addition, there is a new Clear All button at the top so that the user can close all the running apps on the device simultaneously.
Keyboard Theme
Google has finally added the ability to customize the theme of the Android keyboard. Through the Settings menu, users can access the Languages & input option and then select the Virtual keyboard, and then the Google Keyboard. The theme option will call up 16 keyboard themes, and users can also choose to use an image stored in their device as the background for their keyboard.
Neko Atsume Clone Easter Egg
Continuing the tradition of easter eggs in Android, the one for Android 7.0 Nougat is a clone of the kitten collector mobile game Neko Atsume. Here is how users will be able to access the simple but nonetheless fun game.
Virtual Reality
Android 7.0 Nougat features a virtual reality mode, which can be maximized by users if their device is powerful enough to support the technology. Users should look forward to more virtual reality news coming from Google as it continues to work on its Android-powered virtual reality platform Daydream, which recently received Unreal Engine support.
These features are just the tip of the iceberg, and users will not be able to appreciate Android 7.0 Nougat without using it themselves.
According to a post on the Android Developers blog announcing the new operating system's launch, work has already started for the first maintenance release of Android 7.0 Nougat. The Android team said that it is moving into a new regular maintenance schedule for the operating system over the next few quarters.
