Google recently launched the Android O developer preview, and it showcased a new autofill feature that lets password managers take care of completing all the fields for users, from credit card forms to shipping details.
LastPass and 1Password, two of the notable brands in the current brood, have already confirmed to support the upcoming update. Needless to say, this spells good news to their Android customers.
What Is The Android O Autofill Feature?
To get a better idea of what's in store, Android O is coming with new Autofill APIs, and with those around, users can pick out their preferred password manager and seamlessly get all their autofill details from there for just about everything — that is, if the apps' developers program them to support the feature.
For instance, when a user is logging in to Twitter, they can turn to their go-to password manager. When they're filling out an online order, they can refer to the same app used to sign in on Twitter.
Put simply, password managers and the autofill feature will start working together in Android O to save users some time and even reduce keyboard input errors.
1Password Is The Early Bird For Android O's Autofill
AgileBits beat LastPass to the punch in announcing support for the Android O autofill update. More than just confirming the integration, the company also showcased a working demo.
Using Twitter as an example, AgileBits only had to tap once to prompt 1Password and verify the user's identity via a fingerprint scan to fill the log-in form on the social media app.
"After I unlocked 1Password with my fingerprint, my example Twitter credentials were displayed in a dropdown provided by the Autofill Framework and automatically filled when I tapped on them," AgileBits says, summing up what's coming when the latest Android version rolls out.
In other words, this doesn't add only convenience but also more security.
LastPass Joins The Autofill Game
LastPass wasn't as quick as 1Password, but it's better late than never.
The password manager will offer basically the same services, but LastPass highlights the potential of its app in completing forms. When ordering online, it says that users can just tap to select the shipping address they want the item to be sent to — either their work or home address — and another tap to choose which credit card to use.
"Using LastPass on Android makes you more secure, but it also saves you time. You don't have to spend time typing lengthy passwords in your browser or your favorite apps. Autofill APIs are going to let us save you even more time on your Android device because we'll be able to help you fill in more than just passwords," LastPass says.
Wrap-Up
To boil things down, Android O bringing in new Autofill APIs is going to give password managers some added functionality, saving users a lot of time and providing them with more security measures.
Users of password managers, are you excited for the arrival of Android O? If so, feel free to drop by our comments section below and let us know.
