Android 7.1 Developer Preview coming soon, final version to be released in December

Google has officially announced that the Android 7.1 Developer Preview is coming soon. The company had showcased some of its features, during the launch of the Pixel phones. And here are the new features of the upcoming incremental update to Android 7.0 Nougat.

Firstly, the update will add support for Android’s new Daydream VR. The update will bring seamless system update support for certain devices, this is what Google calles A/B system updates.  There are some new features to the UI and functionality of the OS itself.

Round icons, App Shortcuts, and Image keyboard:

We have seen the circular icons in the Pixel Launcher.  These hideous ones, will apparently come with its own APi, which will let developers create similar round icons for their apps, to make them compatible with launchers. The more interesting API, is the one for app shortcuts. Using these, app developers can add various functions to the app’s icon, like sending a new message using Messenger, and directly choosing a contact. Android Nougat’s code has had a 3D Touch API, which is reportedly a software implemented feature, possibly via long press gestures. This is not a new feature in smartphones, as iOS has had app shortcuts for quite a while, along with 3D Touch.

Live Wallpaper developers can include metadata of the app, which can be previewed in wallpaper pickers. Devices with limited storage, such as the Pixel and other phones with no microSD cards, often run out of space very quickly. Android 7.1 aims to help the user, when this happens, with a new Settings screen which will prompt the user to clear unused files to free storage space.

The Android 7.1 Developer Preview will be released soon, under the Android Beta Program, for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Pixel C devices.

The final release of the Android 7.1.x platform, will be available for the Nexus 6, 5X, 6P, 9, Player, Pixel C, Android One, Pixel and Pixel XL devices, in early December.

via: Google