Google has rolled out the latest version of its globally popular mobile operating system, Android P. The second developer preview is already here and it has got everyone from users to independent developers and Android mobile app development firms keen on the latest features and some other big updates. The Android P announcement was made during the I/O Conference 2018 held at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA.
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However, the name of the latest Android version is still a mystery. So, until Google officially resolves the mystery of the name of Android 9, let’s dissect the new features and updates to see what’s in store for you and whether installing Android P on your devices will be worthwhile. Let’s check Android P’s features and changes
1 – App Actions:
Actions have been an essential buzzword at I/O 2018. It is an element that connects all of the smart gadgets such as mobile phones, Android TV soundbars, etc. In simple words, an action is a task commonly performed by users within an application. For instance, clicking a picture, sharing a photo on Instagram, playing your favorite song on Play Music, placing a video call through Google Duo, etc. Ideally, these are shortcuts that allow you to complete an action with a just a few taps.
Actions in Android P are placed close to the suggested apps within the app drawer. The make navigation far easier by providing smart suggestions based on your phone usage and habits. It anticipates your next move automatically taking your current action in the account. For example, if you want to connect your headphones to your smartphone, App Actions will ask you if you want to continue listening to songs on a specific music app, thus letting you circumvent the many steps in the process.
Such Actions pop up everywhere across the operating system including Play Store, Search App, Smart Text Selection, Google Assistant, etc.
2 – Logical Volume Controls:
The volume control in Android P has received a major overhaul; much-needed one though. Adjusting the volume is defaulted to modifying the media volume which in the previous Android versions was also paired managing the volume for call or alarm. In Android P, Google has shifted the volume user interface close to the hardware buttons. This means you can easily drag the software bar. In addition, you just need to tap a small button placed above the volume bar to toggle among the silent, vibrate and regular volume modes.
Google had also demonstrated a new combo button that can switch your phone into a vibrate mode automatically without requiring you to unlock it. Briefly click and hold the volume up and the power button together to set your phone on vibrate. You will sense a subtle jolt of vibration that confirms your action. Android P is further expected to come with a new feature that saves your preferred volume levels for Bluetooth devices which ensures your media is neither too quiet nor too loud.
3 – Revamped Home Button:
The new Home button is another feature that underwent a major makeover in Android P. Google has introduced Gesture Navigation which is similar to that in the iPhone X. Despite the similarities, the all-new Home button helps you simplify navigation throughout the operating system.
When you swipe up from the Home menu, a new launcher pops up displaying the apps that are open on your device alongside a few suggested apps. Swiping up again will display the old app drawer which is expected to have a couple of updates soon. Though the standard home navigated is defaulted in Android P, users can switch to the redesigned Home button by enabling it from Setting > System > Gestures.
Instead of the three buttons previously set on the home screen, you can now make use of a single button to swipe to check the recently used apps, swipe left and right to effortlessly switch between apps. In the forthcoming years, it is safe to anticipate that Google will find even better ways to boost productivity when using a smartphone.
4 – Intuitive Dashboard:
Oftentimes we are so engrossed with the phone browsing the social networking apps, playing games, or watching a video on YouTube that we easily lose track of time. That’s when the Dashboard feature comes to our rescue. It breaks down your usage data based on the activities are done and time spent on your device. This includes a pie chart that indicates the actual time spent on each app per day along with hour by hour analysis.
It further includes the total number of hours you spend every day on your phone, the total number of times you unlocked your phone in a day, and the total number of notifications you received.
Summary
Android P is not just another OS update from Google. It is rather a bold move not just for the Android app development community but for the tech world on the whole. In addition to the above-mentioned Android P major updates, there are a ton of other big and small elements including adaptive battery, enhanced security, easier way to take and edit screenshots, improved messaging apps, smarter notification channels, and much more.
With that said, installing Android P to explore and enjoy all of its intriguing updates is a must. Apart from Pixel devices, the Android P early access is available for a range of other Android devices too. So, while the final build unleashes in Q3 this year, get your hands on with Android P beta to become a professional Android P developer, right here right now.
Author – Bio
Shahid Mansuri
Shahid Mansuri Co-founded Peerbits, one of the leading android application development company USA, in 2011. His visionary leadership and flamboyant management style have yield fruitful results for the company. He believes in sharing his strong knowledge base with leaned concentration on entrepreneurship and business. Being an avid nature lover, he likes to flaunt his pajamas on beach during the vacations.
