Google has officially announced the newest version of Android simply called Pie.
In a blog announcement, the search engine giant took the wraps over Android P, featuring a lot of improvements and changes both in performance and aesthetic:
- Updated Material UI and UX. Google now uses an all-white UI, navigation using one single home button, and swipe up from anywhere to see your recent apps. The company says this would help navigate the app better given that phones are becoming taller and harder to use with one hand. There’s also a redesigned quick settings panel, simpler way to screenshot, easier controls, and better notification management.
- App actions. Google can now predict your next actions based on how you use your phone and what’s on the screen.
- Smart Text Selection. You can now select text from one app to copy to another — all done within the recent apps window.
- Slices. Google uses AI to create fast actions from the Google search bar, based on what you search for it.
- Performance improvements. Adaptive battery will put the apps you mostly use on priority, while Adaptive Brightness learns how you adjust your brightness settings at a given day and automatically sets them depending on your environment.
- Digital Wellbeing. Google has included new features to improve one’s digital wellbeing including a Dashboard to understand how you use your phone, an app timer to restrict your use, an improved Do Not Disturb to disable visual notifications on screen, and Wind Down that enables both night mode and DND, turning your phone into grayscale before bedtime.
In Android Pie, Google harnesses the power of the AI to simplify things and execute unique functions that correspond to your daily use.
It will roll out immediately to Pixel phones via an over-the-air update. Other mobile brands who participated in the beta test such as Sony, Vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi, OnePlus, HMD Global, and Essential are also expected to roll out the new Android version in the coming months.
