Google's Android 7.0 Nougat update
The day has finally arrived – Google has officially launched the consumer-ready version of Android 7.0 Nougat! While factory images are just now starting to roll out, many users who were already signed up for the Android Beta Program have already received their OTA updates.
Android 7.0 "Nougat" is the 7th major version of the Android operating system. First released as a beta build on March 9, 2016, it was officially released on August 22, 2016, with Nexus devices being the first to receive the update.
On March 9, 2016, ahead of the Google I/O developer conference, Google released the first beta of Android "N" as
part of a new "Android Beta Program" intended for testing by developers
and enthusiasts before official release "this summer".
There are a lot of really great features in Android Nougat – split-screen mode, Doze on the Go, bundled notifications, direct reply – the list goes on. At the same time, we’ve heard many folks say that Nougat is a tad underwhelming. Manufacturers and carriers have to rework their own version of the software and push it out to users - and that can take months.
There are a lot of really great features in Android Nougat – split-screen mode, Doze on the Go, bundled notifications, direct reply – the list goes on. At the same time, we’ve heard many folks say that Nougat is a tad underwhelming. Manufacturers and carriers have to rework their own version of the software and push it out to users - and that can take months.
What are the Main Features?
Android Nougat VR (Virtual Reality Mode)
Android now comes with an inbuilt Virtual Reality mode that will be compatible with Daydream-ready phones.
A buried menu for VR helper services
in the Android N Developer Preview 4, and an equally buried release
note for "Android VR" in Unreal Engine 4.12 beta hints at a big push for
a Google Cardboard successor - and Google confirmed its VR intentions during IO.
The
Play Store, StreetView, Photos, YouTube and Play Movies will all
support VR, allowing you to jump into games, locations and videos - all
via Google's Daydream VR platform. Daydream is due to be released in the
fall and isn't in the Android N update yet.
Smarter notifications ( Direct Reply Notifications)
You won't have to navigate away from your current window (or, now, windows) just to answer an incoming message. You can just reply within the notification that appears at the top of the screen.Android 7’s new notifications pane has been overhauled with a bunch of new options. For example, notifications from the same app now bundle themselves together for easier viewing. Simply tap on the main icon to see the rest. Each app also has its own notifications settings. This means you can adjust features like vibration or silence notifications at the app level.
Multi-window Mode
Quick Switch
You can now switch back and forth between apps with a double tap of the menu button.Icon size adjustments
In addition to text size, you can now change the size of the icons on your device. If your vision isn’t the best this is obviously a nice option to have.Advanced file manager
Android’s built-in file manager has always been a bit crap, necessitating the use of third-party tools like File Commander or ES File Explorer. The new-look menu makes it a lot easier to access specific file types and directories. You can also rename files and move them to different folders.Data Saver
Data Saver is a new tool that lets you limit how much data your device uses. When activated, non-essential apps that run in the background won’t be able to access your data.Doze Mode 2.0
One of the (literal) sleeper hits of Android Marshmallow has been Doze Mode, Google's crafty way of saving battery life whenever your device is stationary. It's amounts to a deep standby mode. This is a new battery saving feature that automatically activates low power usage when you’re carrying your phone around without using it.
Customise Quick Settings
You can now rearrange your Quick Setting tiles to prioritise the ones you use most. A neat little time saver.Direct replies from notifications bar
You can now reply directly to messages and emails from the notifications bar without opening the required app.Multi Locale language settings
If you’re bi-lingual, you can now use two or more languages at the same time.72 new emojis
Android now has over 1500 emoji built in. We’re too old for this shit, but plenty of users are going to be chuffed.Vulkan API
Android’s latest application programming interface (API) is designed to work across different mobile and console and desktop gaming platforms and is purportedly easier to develop for. This is a boon for anyone that’s into mobile gaming or uses graphically taxing work applications.JIT Compiler
The latest version of Android’s JIT compiler optimises apps for your phone’s unique hardware specifications. This has the potential to significantly reduce the storage space needed for certain apps and should also make updates run faster.What phones will get Android N?
Android 7.0 Nougat was officially released on August 22, 2016, with the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G as the first devices to receive the update. The Android Nougat release date is here, at least for some phones and
tablets. Find out which Google-powered devices are getting the Android
7.0 update besides Nexus phones. HTC has also announced its update
schedule, but there's no word on which HTC Desire phones will see the
upgrade.
It's been months since the announcement of Android 7.0 Nougat,
but now – finally – the official public release is out, meaning you can
update to it without jumping through too many hoops. Or at least you
can if you happen to own one of the few devices that Android Nougat is
initially launching on. These include the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Google Pixel C and Android One devices.
The latest version doesn’t bring anything notably different from the
previous beta, although you can expect that a ton of bugs were squashed
in order to bring the most stable experience possible.Besides the visible stuff though, Google previously teased several tidbits of information about the Android 7.0 Nougat update during Google I/O. For starters, Android 7.0 will introduce seamless updates so future Android updates happen silently in the background via A/B partition switching. We’re sure that we’ll find a few other interesting new features and changes that lie under the surface as we dive deeper into Android 7.0 in the weeks to come.
Are you hoping to get your Android 7.0 Nougat update? Nexus owners are already getting the sweet treat, but the rest of us will have to wait in line. In fact, some of you will be lucky to get it in a few months! Regardless, Android 7.0 Nougat is not out of your reach.
Other devices and third-party ROMs are likely soon to follow suit, so it’s a matter of time before you can flash Nougat right into your own gadgets. It continues to be a mystery when these updates will be ready, but I can bet the developer community will be much faster than manufacturers and carriers.
When Samsung Phones Will Get Android 7.0 update?
Samsung isn’t exactly speedy when it comes to rolling out Android updates, and we sadly don’t expect that to change significantly with the Samsung Android 7.0 update.
There was a five-month timeframe between the Android 6.0 launch on September 29, 2015 and the first U.S. update to Marshmallow with the Verizon Galaxy Note 5 on March 3, 2016. Galaxy owners could easily be waiting until late February or early March 2017 for the first Samsung Android 7.0 update.Even then, it will likely only be the Galaxy Note 7 to get it first, with the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge following a little later and the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge and S6 Edge+ after them. With any luck, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Edge will both arrive in early 2017 running Android 7.0 out of the box.
Best case scenario: Five months after Android 7.0 launch (January/February 2017)
When HTC Phones Will Get Android 7.0 update?
If HTC follows the same path this year, the first HTC Android 7.0 update should roll out to existing devices less than two months after Android 7.0 is made official. HTC’s next flagship, presumably the HTC 11, should arrive with Android 7.0 at launch.
Best case scenario: Two months after Android 7.0 unveiling (October 2016)
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