Google announced its next version of Android and the name is Android O. It is not providing a full-fledged android experience but is an early look at the next version of Android for testing, development, and feedback.
We had earlier covered an article regarding rumors of new features of the supposed Android O. Developer Preview images of Android O are for now available only on Nexus and Pixel.
This Developer Program will run from 21 March 2017 until the public release which is supposed to happen in Q3 of 2017.
Background Execution Limits
Google has introduced many changes. One of the major is Background Execution Limits. Android O imposes limitations on what apps can do while running in the background. This will increase battery life and provide better user experience. An app on Android O is restricted in two ways:
Background Service Limitations: While an app is idle, there are limits to its use of background services. This does not apply to foreground services, which are more noticeable to the user.
Broadcast Limitations: With limited exceptions, apps cannot use their manifest to register for implicit broadcasts. They can still register for these broadcasts at runtime, and they can use the manifest to register for explicit broadcasts targeted specifically at their app.
Notification Channels
To help users manage notifications Android O introduces Notification Channels. These are categories based on the notification content. Developers create differently tuned notification depending on the type of notifications. Also users can manage most of the settings associated with notifications using a constant system UI.
Autofill Framework
Android O brings all new Autofill Framework, which makes it easier filling out forms and making transactions. Users can opt in to autofill and new and existing apps will work with Autofill Framework. Autofill apps will store the user data which will be used afterward for logging in or filling credentials.
Picture-In-Picture Mode
It is similar to mode available in Android TV. It allows activities to be launched in multi-window mode where if you are watching some videos you can still navigate through your other apps. Android O makes this feature available to other Android devices.
Adaptive Icons
Adaptive Launcher Icons introduced in Android O can display different types of shapes across different devices. For example, a launcher icon can display using a circular shape on one device, and display a squircle on another device. Each device OEM provides a mask, which the system then uses to render all icons with the same shape. The new launcher icons are also used in shortcuts, the Settings app, sharing dialogs, and the overview screen.
Wi-Fi Aware
It is based on Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) specification. On devices with the appropriate Wi-Fi Aware hardware, apps and nearby devices can discover and communicate over Wi-Fi without an Internet access point.