Best Features That Make Android 8.0 Oreo Stand Above All the Previous Versions

After five months of waiting and four previous versions along the way, official version of Android Oreo is now released. This version is also known as the Android O. It`s new, it’s up to date and just like Oreo it is full of excitement. Therefore today, we are going to share with you some of the best features of this new Android update.

Image in Picture (PiP)

Android 8.0 brings our mobile devices closest to the image-in-picture (PIP) mode that Android TV released a year ago with Android 7.0 Nougat. Now it is possible for you to see videos in a small floating window. You can also use this feature for video-conferences without a need to switch to full screen mode.

Also Learn: How to Use Netflix in a Rooted Android Device

Adaptive Icons

Android has finally launched the adaptive icon mode in Android Oreo. The new adaptive icons feature is designed in two layers to fit the device. The first layer comprises of application icons. Whereas, in the second layer, the backgrounds of the icons are cut by a mask. This allows all the icons to appear in the same shape and form. The clipping mask comes with the application launcher. This allows the user to decide the shape of the icons, whether they want circular, square, or with rounded corners. This personalization allows the new Android update to be one step closer to user experience.

Notification Channels

The new notification channel allows us to customize what kind of notification we want to see with respect to each application. Before this update, Android only allowed us to block all notifications generated by an application, now we have the liberty of switching between wanted and unwanted ones. We can access this feature from the system settings. This feature allows us to access all applications under one tab, unlike the previous versions, where we had to enter the settings of each application separately.

Postpone Notifications

Most of the times the previous Android versions like Nougat allowed us to receive notifications. However, a few times, they were entirely missed. Another exciting feature of Android Oreo is that now we can receive a notification and we can also postpone it to receive it again 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours later. All the worries to miss important notifications are now over with this update.  To add up to that, we are also provided with the option to customize this feature. This feature is a step towards making the user able to customize more.

Colored Notifications

Notifications on Android 8.0 Oreo are much more visual. Ongoing notifications are now displayed with background colors along with appropriate use of iconography and systematized typography. The multimedia notifications show a colorful background that emerges with the album art or cover-art of the series or movies that you are currently playing. Display wise, this feature adds to the graphics of the operating system.

New Hierarchy in the Notification Bar

Android Oreo has introduced a new hierarchical order in the notifications bar. Notifications are not displayed in the order of arrival, but now each type of notification will have its space reserved in the notifications bar. This organization of notifications is as follows:

• First Space: Notifications in progress such as a call, timer, music, navigation directions, etc.
• Second Space: Notifications sent from one person to another, i.e. messages, missed calls, etc.
• Third Space: General notifications , such as reminders, events, updates, etc.
• Fourth Space: The less important notifications , of the type “By the way …”, where we will be informed about the time, traffic, promotions, suggestions, etc.

Android Oreo Autocomplete

The famous Google autocomplete that we’ve been enjoying for years on our Chrome browser now leaps to Android Oreo. It allows us to autocomplete login data (username and password) and automatically fill out the forms. It will provide us with ease to all that hassle putting in your password, especially if it is alpha-numeric or has special characters.

Refreshed Quick Settings and Bar

Android Oreo completely renews its menus and bar of quick adjustments, now it is shown in a light gray color in both sections. The system settings are also rearranged, they’ve been displayed in a way that they are not visible on the many sections of the home screen. It is one of the most important changes made in the adjustments section after the launch of Android in 2008.

Add Your Own Ringtones and Sounds

For the first time Android will allow us to officially add our own ringtones and notifications sounds easily from their settings. This will be done without any synchronization with a computer or any third-party app or service,  While selecting or assigning a ringtone to any contact, we are now able to select any audible media file that is available on our device.

Install Unknown Applications

Android Oreo provides us with the power to install applications from unknown sources.  Unlike the previous versions of Android, it allows us much more options for customization and application download.  However, in order to ensure the safety of the device, you’ve to approve trusted 3rd party application platforms and provide them with permission to make changes to the device.  So if you provide access to Google Play Store to install applications, the remaining platforms that are not permitted will not be allowed to install any application on your device.

Android Oreo – Smart Text Selector

Android 8.0 brings us a smart text selector. If we click on a name or an address, the smart selector will automatically open a contextual application suggestion depending on the nature of the selected data. It will allow us to view our selection in that particular app through a single click. For example, if you click on an address, the whole name of the street will be selected and the option to open it with Google Maps will appear. This is a wonderful option that will save you much hassle and time.

Activate Wi-Fi Automatically at Home

With Android 8.0 we should not worry about the data rates. If you’ve a habit of deactivating your Wi-Fi when you leave your home, then it can automatically be activated when you get back home. This adds up to the battery saving capabilities of your phone. You can save secure networks and apply these settings to turn on your Wi-Fi when you’re near them.

Emojis Renewed

Android Oreo bids farewell to that drop-design of emojis that they had since they debuted on Google’s operating system with Android 4.4 KitKat. With respect to emojis, this new update provides a more classic design approach. You’d be much happy to see the traditional rounded edges that you can see in an iPhone or WhatsApp. The design is a bit flatter, but it can be rated pretty above the previously available design. These new emojis will also reach the previous versions of Android, thanks to a new compatibility library.

WebView with Google Safe Browsing

Google’s safe browser technology, through which Chrome has been protecting our mobile devices from malicious websites and web pages is now a component of Oreo update. It comes to the WebView component of Android to protect us when we browse the web from any application.

Project Treble

Project Treble is Google’s new attempt to curb fragmentation on Android, or at least to speed up system updates. Google has changed the architecture of Android through this important update to separate the operating system layer from the layer of the manufacturer’s drivers. Thus, with the same drivers the manufacturer can update the operating system without facing any  problems. Now the updates will no longer be dependent on the driver’s compatibility, which the manufacturers launch. The manufacturer of the mobile set  can update the operating system simultaneously on one hand while also updating the drivers on the other.

Navigation with Keyboard

With the arrival of convertible tablets and Google Play to Chromebooks, more and more users are using Android with a keyboard, which increases Google’s operating system compatibility with this input method. Now with Android 8.0 Oreo, the user can navigate using the arrows and TAB key for the different sections of a web page or application.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi Aware: Android Oreo incorporates Wi-Fi recognition support with the Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) specifications. This means that Wi-Fi enabled devices can detect and communicate with nearby devices via Wi-Fi without an Internet access point.

Bluetooth: Android 8.0 extends Bluetooth compatibility with the deployment of these technologies:

• Compatibility with standard AVRCP 1.4, allowing you to explore the library of songs.
• Support for Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) 5.0 Standard.
• Integration of the Sony LDAC codec into the Bluetooth Stack.

Multi-screen

Android Oreo has added a support for multiple screens. This allows us to connect our device with an external screen and see what we are watching on our android devices. On the mobile screen, we will see one activity in the resolution of our device. The bigger screen that the users are connected to would provide access to the other simultaneous activity taking place. It’s just like the screen sharing software we use in our computers to connect to other people.

More Limits for Background Applications

Finally, to further improve the performance and fluency of the operating system, Google has added new limits of execution in the background. This reduces the resources that consume more battery. In order to limit the active applications from consuming a lot of power, users have to control the apps running in the background.

Guys, that’s all for today! Hope you liked our features list for the new Android Oreo. Please do tell us about your experience with the new interface.

Happy Android Updating!