With the launch of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, Google also officially revealed the newest version of Android, Android 7.1.
The version is still called Nougat and it is only a point release, to indicate new features and improvements to the platform and as well. Of course, most of the software features shown off on Android 7.1 for the Pixel are only exclusive to that phone, there are still quite a few that everybody else should receive.
Thanks to Android Police, they have conveniently laid out exactly what the improvements are and they are as follows:
Pixel exclusive
- Pixel Launcher – swipe up for all apps, new Search Box, date/weather header on home
- Google Assistant
- Unlimited original quality photo/video backup to Google Photos
- Smart Storage – when storage is full, automatically removes old backed up photos/videos
- Phone/Chat support (new support tab in settings), screen-share functionality
- Quick switch adapter for wired setup from Android or iPhone
- Pixel Camera:
- Electronic Image Stabilization (“video stabilization”) 2.0
- Pro Features
- White Balance Presets
- Exposure Compensation
- AE/AF Locking
- Viewfinder grid modes
- HW-accelerated (on Qualcomm Hexagon coprocessor) HDR+ image processing
- Smartburst
- Sensor Hub processor with tightly integrated sensors (accel, gyro, mag) + connectivity (Wi-Fi, Cell, GPS)
- Cosmetic
- Solid navbar icons with home affordance for Assistant
- SysUI accent color theming
- Wallpaper picker with new wallpapers and sounds
- New setup look and feel
- Dynamic calendar date icon
Android Nougat 7.1 (non-Pixel exclusive)
- Night Light
- Touch/display performance improvements
- Moves (Fingerprint swipe down gesture – opt-in)
- Seamless A/B system updates
- Daydream VR mode
- Developer features:
- App shortcuts / shortcut manager APIs
- Circular app icons support
- Keyboard image insertion
- Fingerprint sensor gesture to open/close notification shade
- Manual storage manager Intent for apps
- Improved VR thread scheduling
- Enhanced wallpaper metadata
- Multi-endpoint call support
- Support for various MNO requirements
- PCDMA voice privacy property
- Source type support for Visual Voicemail
- Carrier config options for managing video telephony
- Manual storage manager – identifies apps and files and apps using storage
Overall this is exactly what I expected from a point release from Google and it’s just too bad the Google Assistant will only be available on the Pixel. However, I predict Google will eventually roll it out to everyone else sometime in the future.
Google has confirmed that they will release the update as a developer preview by the end of this year.