Android Nougat: Multiple windows, better security and more

The launch of the new Operating System (OS), Android 7.0 Nougat, was a major surprise, as it was rolled out far earlier than when tech experts' expected.

 

Today, and over the next several weeks, the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One) will receive Android 7.0 Nougat through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, said a Google official statement. 

 

Above all, the OS was launched with more than 250 new features, which Google included after accepting inputs from developers around the world. Google had earlier invited developers to submit their contributions for the development of Android Nougat.

 

The list of the features is long. However, Google has highlighted a few important features in a blog post:

 

More personal
 

• Expanded emoji: There are now over 1,500 different emoji built into Android, including 72 new ones.

 

• Expanded settings for the 'Quick Settings' tab. Now you can control what tiles go where. The feature was available in various modded versions of Android and now makes its formal debut on a vanilla Android base.  

 

• Multi-locale support: Apps will now tailor their content based on your locale settings. So if you speak multiple languages, for instance, then search engines can show results in each of those languages.

 

More productive
 

• Multi-window: Run two apps side-by-side. The windows are resizable, too, by dragging the divider.

 

• Direct Reply: Reply directly to notifications without having to open any app.

 

• Quick Switch: Switch between your two most recently used apps by double tapping the Overview button.

 

More immersive
 

Android Nougat will now support VulkanTM (an advanced 3D rendering API) and Daydream (Google’s platform for mobile virtual reality). Daydream-ready phones, headsets and controllers will be released later this year.

 

• Nougat will install software updates in the background, without interrupting the regular usage of the phone. Current Nexus users will find that software updates will install faster.
 

• Direct Boot: Direct Boot helps your device startup faster, and apps run even before you unlock your device when your device reboots.