Android 9 Pie: What's new and why you should be excited
Earlier this year, US-based tech giant, Google, held I/O 2018, where it made a number of key announcements that could have a major impact on the tech world in the coming days.
At the event, the company's CEO, Sundar Pichai, made some blockbuster announcements about artificial intelligence-backed enhancements to some core products such as Google Assistant and the Google Photos app. Yet, it was the announcements related to the upcoming version of its mobile operating system, Android P, that got the most attention.
At the time, Android P was only available as a preview build, and as such, there was no clarity over what its final name or feature list would be like.
However, those confusions have now been put to rest, with Google officially announcing the final build of the OS along with its name – Android Pie.
Given how Android has become the most widely used mobile operating system in the world, and Android P is a major update for it, it's easy to understand the importance of the announcement.
Here are the most interesting features that Android P is bringing with it.
Gesture-based features
Being a major redesign of the Android OS, Google's new operating system comes with a refreshed look. Android P will come with a new, gesture-based system similar to the one on the iPhone X, and will do away with the three button navigation system found on the current iteration of the operating system.
There will now only be a single button at the bottom center of the screen, long-pressing which will summon the Google Assistant while swiping up on it would bring you to the apps that are open in the background. To access the apps drawer users will have to swipe twice. The button will also work as the home button and tapping it will bring users to the home screen.
The new navigation system, though more fluid, would take some getting used to. However, for those who do not like it, Google has also given the opportunity to revert to the old three button navigation system from the settings app.
AI to help improve battery life
Because of being an AI-focused operating system, Android P will also come with new features such as Adaptive Battery that will use machine learning to guess your app usage patterns. Google claims this nifty trick should bring down CPU app wakeups by 30 per cent, thus greatly improving battery life.
However, since it's a machine learning feature, it would take some time for your phone to learn your app usage pattern and show battery saving results.
Another important thing to note here is that Google says the machine learning process will take place locally on the user's device, and not on a remote server, thus quashing any fears of breach of data privacy because of this feature.
Digital wellness feature
Another big thing about the latest Android version is the digital wellness feature.
Android P also comes with a new Dashboard that’s meant to plainly show how you’re spending time on your device, including time spent in apps, how many times you’ve unlocked your phone, and how many notifications you’ve received.
These features are quite similar to ones that would soon be seen on iOS and, as such, point towards a greater push by the industry to help users not get too addicted to their smartphones. However, this feature won't go live just yet and will remain under preview for a while longer.
Push for privacy
Android P will bring with it new privacy features that will help alleviate many concerns.
The OS will restrict applications running in the background, access to the mic, camera, and other sensors, while they are idle. Google says that once an app switches to "background" status, it will lose access to your phone's mic, and if it still tries to access the camera, it will run into an error.
The OS will also bring with it a new permissions category, called Call_Log, which will ask applications to be given explicit permission to access users' call logs, instead of just asking for Phone permissions which club a number of permissions under them.
When will it be available
Even though Android P has gone live, it will not be available to all Android users any time soon. Expect it to ship with flagship devices in the coming weeks, but, for now, the only phones that can support the final build of Android P are the Nexus devices.
Here's what Google has to say on the issue.
"Starting today, an over-the-air update to Android 9 will begin rolling out to Pixel phones, and devices that participated in the Beta program from Sony Mobile, Xiaomi, HMD Global, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and Essential, as well as all qualifying Android One devices, will receive this update by the end of this fall. We’re also working with a number of other partners to launch or upgrade devices to Android 9 this year.’
So, it appears the wait could be long — but hopefully, Android P will be worth it.