Google Android O Preview: Focus on Battery Life and Performance

Google has come out with the preview of its next version of Android, Android O. Here’s what the preview says.

Android O won’t get a lot of cosmetic changes to its interface. (Photo: The Quint)

Android 8.0 or O (god, let it be called the Oreo) is just around the corner, and Google has rolled out the preview version for its beta testers.

However, unlike previous years, the testers will have to download the custom ROM and flash it to their devices to get a glimpse into what the Android O will offer. Here’s a look at some of the features that have been mentioned.

Who can Get Android O?

Android O will work on a desktop emulator, or on Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C. Those who are keen on trying it out, they can download the file and flash it manually, or you can sign up for an OTA update.

Music on Wireless headphone will sound better

Bose SoundLink around-ear II. (Photo: Bose)

Bluetooth connectivity, that too for wireless audio, has lacked in quality when compared with iOS. But Google is finally claiming to change that with Android O, and we really hope that Google lives up to this billing.

Support for high-quality audio codec is the need of hour for Android, and seems like Google has finally heard our prayers. They are also making sure that the audio quality of apps that offer support improves with the upcoming version.

Android O now also supports high-quality Bluetooth audio codecs such as LDAC codec. AAudio is a new native API that’s designed specifically for apps that require high-performance, low-latency audio. 

<a href="https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/03/first-preview-of-android-o.html">Android Developers blog</a>

Control apps in the background

More control on apps in the background with Android O. (Photo: iStock)

Apps like Uber, Zomato which require location to work, have also taken a heavy toll on the phone’s battery life. This is where Xiaomi’s MiUi’s ability to cut down the usage of a particular app has been lauded.

Looks like Google is taking MiUi’s cue with Android O, and will let you decide how much an app works in the background, which directly betters the battery life of phone.

Android O puts a big priority on improving a user’s battery life and the device’s interactive performance. To make this possible, we’ve put additional automatic limits on what apps can do in the background: implicit broadcasts, background services, and location updates.&nbsp;

<a href="https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/03/first-preview-of-android-o.html">Android Developers blog</a>

Android built for keyboards

Nexian Air Chromebook (Photo: Google Chromebook)

Now that Google is taking Android to its Chrome OS ecosystem, Android O will make sure that the keyboard compatibility gets to a whole new level. Chromebooks in the past have faced this issue, another reason why an Android tablet, or laptop was never seen in the picture by Google.

With the advent of Google Play apps on Chrome OS and other large form factors, we’re seeing a resurgence of keyboard navigation use within these apps. In Android O, we focused on building a more reliable, predictable model for “arrow” and “tab” navigation

<a href="https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/03/first-preview-of-android-o.html">Android Developers blog</a>

Multi-Display Works

Apple has continuity, available on Mac OS Yosemite. (Photo Courtesy: Apple)

Android O is getting multi-display support which enables users to launch any activity on a remote display. This feature is similar to that of Microsoft’s Continuum and Apple’s very own Continuity. However, it remains to be seen how Google manages to push that out, considering they don’t do to well in the laptop/tablet segment.

Google I/O is slated to take place in May this year, when we’ll come to know if Google is going Oreo with Android O, or some other desert.