It’s official: Google launches Android 8.0, names it 'Oreo'

Confirming the predictions by most pundits, Google on Monday unveiled its latest operating system the Android O and the O does stand for Oreo, the popular cookie brand. It’s important because it was speculated it could be Oatmeal or Orangina and other such desserts. This is the second such occasion that Google has chosen an existing brand name; the first was Kit-Kat.

The first set of devices to receive the updates from Nougat to Oreo will be the Nexus and Pixel smartphones from the Google stable. The company has said that the new OS is being put to test currently and these phones will receive the updated software in the weeks to come.

Top smartphone makers worldwide, including Samsung, LG, HTC, Sony and Motorola will all be releasing some of their flagships in the coming months and their new phones will be shipped with the Android 8.0 pre-loaded. HMD Global the company that is releasing the Nokia phones has also announced its intentions to update its existing top-end devices and forthcoming releases with the new version of the Android OS.

Now coming to the changes made to the OS and the new features one can expect in the Android O. Google has already said that the overall performance of the system and hence the device has been given the maximum attention. It claims that its Pixel phones can boot at a speed twice as that when working on the Android Nougat OS.

As already suggested through leaks and rumours earlier, the ‘picture-in-picture’ is going to be a highlight. This feature will enable someone, for example, to keep watching a video on the display and simultaneously chat or reply to a mail or such activity.

Another highlight is with regard to the improvements brought in the battery life. This is done through an automatic shutting down of apps running in the background consuming power unnecessarily and this will ensure the average life of the phone’s battery on each charge stands improved.

Google Play Protect is another feature being made part of the latest version of the Android OS though it has been around in bits and pieces earlier. Google Play Protect is a feature to provide a shield to the smartphone users from rogue apps that may be sitting on their app stores. It will do a routine security check of apps and warn you/ block the app from being installed.

Besides these, there are plenty of other updates and improvements one can experience with the new Android Oreo Version 8.0. These include, an improved Autofill process, Bluetooth audio improvements, notification dots and so on.

Google has added 60 new emojis for the benefit of the smartphone users and also support for XML fonts.

You may have to wait till the turn comes for your device gets/your carrier offers the update, depending on which phone you are using and where you are using it. However, Google believes before the year closes, all eligible devices should be able to receive the updates to the new Android O.

It has to be mentioned that though almost a year has passed since the Android Nougat was released, hardly 12-13% devices have used the software so far. Google expects to do a much better job of marketing the new OS in order to improve this figure.