Top 7 features to look for on Android Nougat

More new features to come as Android Nougat is releasesd


News Desk July 04, 2016
PHOTO: TWITTER/ANDROID.

Google have announced the release of its latest operating system, naming it Nougat. Now that the hype around the naming of the OS has subsided we can take a look at the top features we have all been waiting for.

1) Google Assistant

This is Android's latest update in the intelligent personal assistant app. The new Assistant will give a more natural tone to dialogue with the device as compared to its predecessor Google Now. The app allows users to use voice commands to perform tasks such as opening a new app, writing a message and making dinner reservations.

Android N is now 'Nougat'

2) Instant Apps

Although this feature has been around for a while and can be dated back to Android Jellybean, the update by Google is welcome. This app allows users to access a certain application without having to download or install it. In essence, it allows users to have a quick peak into various apps without having to pay for them.

3) Multiwindow

This feature allows users to open up multiple apps at the same time. Until now Mutliwindow had been restricted to certain android devices, like those from Samsung and LG. These companies use their own touch interface, pairing it with Android OS to provide a more rich experience. Devices that use bone stock Android OS did not have Multiwindow. However, Nougat will make it standard for all Android users. A similar feature has been available on iOS devices for a while now.

4) Reply in a notification

The new option of replying directly from notifications has been adopted from Android Wear devices. Users now don’t have to close an application to reply to a text. They can simply reply by opening a message notification directly as it pops up on top of the screen. The app that they were using will stay open in the background while they reply. A feature that has been available on iOS for a while, Reply Notification will be highly appreciated by Android users.

Google can help you find your lost phone

5) Bundles of notifications

Most Android users are familiar with cramped notification screens that are cluttered and make it difficult to find specific notifications. This feature will group messages and notifications received from each app accordingly, giving the users a more organised notification screen. A similar feature is currently available on iOS Notification Centre.

6) Doze on the Go

Doze on the Go is a new feature that allows Android devices to enter a battery saving mode and pause all background applications, even when the phone is in motion. For example, when the phone is in a user’s pocket while he is moving, the app will still activate to save battery on the device. This comes as an update to Doze, released in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, that only worked when the phone was completely idle.

7) Night Mode

A sigh of relief for those of us who are addicted to using our phones at night. Night Mode allows the screen to adapt to external light conditions and reduce the strain on the users eyes by emitting a yellow light instead of the bright blue associated with smartphone screens. The settings could also be tweaked to fit each user’s preference.

Studying Pakistan’s growing obsession with smartphones

More to come

It will be weeks before Android Nougat is released. Hence there is much more still to be discovered about the new OS. For those who can’t wait that long, a developer’s version is available for Google Nexus 6P, 5X, 6, 9 and Pixel C tablet to test.

This article was originally published on CNET.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ