Google has just released the update to Android 8.1 Oreo. This Maintenance Release is still dedicated to developers for now, but already has a lot of new features. Here is a list that is intended to be as exhaustive as possible.
While Android 8.0 Oreo still accounts for less than 1% of all Android devices, Google has unveiled its maintenance update: Android 8.1 Oreo. Currently available for a handful of terminals in Developer Preview, this update brings some corrections and novelties more or less important.
An easter-egg worthy of the name
With each update of Android, a number of users flock to the phone settings to frantically click on the system version number to reveal an easter-egg. If some were very popular, we must admit that for Nougat and Oreo this little game was disappointing, displaying a simple colored letter on the wallpaper.
In this version 8.1, the easter-egg improves a little and now displays a small cake filled with cream with a bugdroid drawn on it. It's already better.
More discreet notifications
With Android 8.1, notifications also become a little more discreet, both from a sound and visual point of view. When several notifications arrive simultaneously for example, only one of them will trigger the sound effects every second. What to reduce the noise nuisance.
In another register, the persistent notification of the presence of energy-consuming applications in the background can now be disabled. A somewhat extreme solution for this notification that may be practical, but should please those who do not like to have a map impossible to delete.
Note that system notifications come with a new Oreo icon.
Synchronizing SMS on Chromebook
Among the new features of Android 8.1 Oreo is an APK called "SMSConnectPrebuilt". This hides an option that clearly suggests that it will be possible to send and receive text messages from a Chromebook - and perhaps even from Chrome. This option does not work for now, however, since the APK file is still in its Prebuilt version. The future will tell us more.
Simpler data recovery
On Android 8.1 Oreo, it is possible to restore its data even after completing the reset of a smartphone. Indeed, if we ignored this step during the configuration of the device, we can always go to the Settings where a banner offers to complete the configuration and choose the items you want to restore.
Activation of neuronal APIs
Android 8.1 Oreo allows the use of Neural Networks API (NNAPI), allowing the use of chips dedicated to machine learning elements. This should enable the activation of the Visual Core Pixel, the coprocessor dedicated to the photo capture on Pixels 2.
Applications dedicated to low power devices
Android 8.1 comes with a level of API 27. With this, developers will now be able to design two different APKs that will be distributed through a single page Play Store depending on the amount of RAM on the terminal target. What to offer versions "Lite" without multiplying the pages on the Google store.
An adaptive theme
If it is impossible to change the theme of the phone to adopt an interface a little darker than the current one, it can however darken thanks to the new adaptation of certain elements to the hue of the wallpaper used. If the latter is clear, the quick settings will be on a white background, and on a black background in case the wallpaper is dark.
This affects other items such as the Sound Management window or the application drawer of the Pixel Launcher. The rest of the interface, on the other hand, and especially the parameters, remains on a white background.
Some aesthetic changes
There are also some visual improvements in this update. One can for example quote the search in the settings which now takes the aspect of a static textbox at the top of the screen rather than a magnifying glass icon at the top right.
The quick settings panel also becomes slightly translucent, revealing the wallpaper by transparency. The user icon, allowing to change account, disappears however from here and is therefore only available from the "Users and accounts" sub-menu of the parameters.
Finally, the Power menu (when the power key is held down) is now smaller, vertical, located close to the key itself.
More discreet as a change, the navigation bar has changed slightly. The three buttons are slightly smaller, and therefore more discreet, and their color fades and changes from white to dull gray after a few seconds when not in use.
An eye on the battery of our accessories
Now, the button dedicated to Bluetooth in the quick settings displays a second battery icon, allowing you to see at a glance if the paired accessory still has full autonomy or if it will be quickly necessary to the recharge.
And more…
Many other less notable changes are also present in this update:
- Improvements to the autocomplete function of the data
- Protection against harmful sites in the WebKit
- Information in the status bar is a little farther from the edge to fit rounded-corner screens
- The return of the date on the Ambiant Display
Download manager notifications now have a minimum priority
As always, there may be other small details even more discreet that we will not hesitate to add to this file as and when they discovered.
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