Google is almost done getting the first public release build of the next major Android platform release ready. The company today shipped the final Android O developer beta ahead of the official launch that’s due to take place in a couple of months from now. The final developer build is normally a test run which allows the company to test out all of the features that it’s going to include with the public build before actually rolling it out for countless users across the globe.
Android O isn’t going to be as big of an upgrade as Android N or Nougat as far as the overall look and feel of the operating system are concerned. Some of the biggest changes that Google has made to this release are under the hood. Users should expect better battery life, loading times, and overall performance improvements once they upgrade their handsets.
Some minor changes have been made to the user interface as well. Subtle additions include dots on app icons to signal to users that there are pending notifications. There’s even a picture-in-picture mode which will allow for enhanced multitasking.
Like the previous betas, a Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player or Pixel handset is required to test the beta. No other device is supported for the beta release. Google is yet to confirm precisely when it’s going to release Android O but given the fragmented nature of Android, it’s going to be a long wait before you get it on your handset.
Filed in . Read more about Android O and Google. Source: android-developers.googleblog