Android Nougat: Promises, Features and Availability


BENGALURU: Many months ago when Google invited suggestions from the public to name the next version of its flagship mobile OS – Android, quite a lot of desserts/dishes from all over the world whose names start with N (next in line after ‘M’) were submitted. Noodles, Nachos, Norwegian Smoked Salmon, Neyyappam, Naan and Noghl were a few suggestions. Couple of days back the firm announced the successor to Android Marshmallow – The all new Android Nougat. Looking at the distribution of Android versions, (as of August 2016) 64.7 percent of all android devices run on KitKat and Lollipop. Marshmallow accounts for just 15.2 percent of all android devices.

Availability

As stated in the official Android website, The New LG V20 which is poised to be the first new smart phone with Android Nougat is expected to hit the market soon, although an a release date is yet to be announced. The Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, or Nexus 6, given they run on stock android would get the update directly from Google. Devices running Android One can also enjoy Android N Developer Preview. It will be a while before phone manufacturers roll out the Nougat to their devices as each manufacturer has to ensure Nougat runs properly with all of its proprietary software and custom features across multiple carriers. Looking back at the time of launching Marshmallow, Motorola was the first manufacturer to start rolling it out among their high-end devices. The rollout was soon followed by LG and HTC. Brands of Samsung and Sony took about five months to deliver the last android update. As of now, none of the major manufactures appears to have mentioned clear dates as to when their devices would be render compatible for Nougat.

Features and Promises

Android Nougat enables you to run two languages at the same time while imparting your device the ability to open two windows (multi-window which remained a manufacturer offering until now) at once. The Vulkan API promises ‘sharper graphics and eye-candy effects.’ with high performance 3D graphics on supported devices. Nougat’s supposed Virtuality Reality (VR) mode, which works in conjunction with ‘Daydream ready’ devices although as of now, the lesser known ZTE Axon 7 is the only such device. However, major manufacturers have reportedly began making Daydream compatible devices.  For those of you unknown to Google’s Daydream, it is supposedly Google’s secret recipe, a next step in the realm of VR after Google Cardboard. Looks like Nougat is apparently a game changer at best or a stepping stone at the least as far as VR for Android is concerned. History repeating itself here, the first version of Android was launched before there ever was a device with supported the OS, and now here we are, where Nougat gives a vague glimpse into the realm of VR before the manufactures have ‘actually’ stepped it. Looks like Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc anticipates going A to Z in the future.

Apart from attempting to take a serious leap into the future, Nougat does not forget to take care of the simple things that make life of existing smart phone simple. Doze, aims to put battery in low power mode when the phone is in ‘pocket or purse’. Custom quick settings, direct reply to notifications without having to open the app, bundled notifications, and enhanced control on notifications, data usage and even display size are some features that pledge to impress users. Seamless update and direct boot endorse the security measures that Nougat has in place apart from the ‘File Based Encryption’ which also assures a leveraged privacy. After all, Android devices were always perceived ‘vulnerable’ from a security viewpoint.

Android now spans across wearable, TV and even Looks Promises apart, let’s hope our expectations from Android don’t get short circuited. Being the version 7.0 of Android, Nougat might just be the token of Google’s Lucky 7. As if the company is not fortunate enough.

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Source: PTI