Some phone models, such as Essential Phone and OnePlus, released in late 2018, while others, including Samsung and its higher-end Note and S9+ models, didn’t have updates until January and February 2019. ..
If you’re a fan of Android, or if you just want to be up-to-date on the latest changes in the OS, then Android Pie is definitely worth checking out.
The most important changes in this update are: -A new tutorial that walks you through the basics of the game -A new map that takes place in a haunted house -New enemies and bosses to fight -And more. ..
Pros
The new Material Design API rules should make for better, more consistent apps going forward. Improved battery life and battery saver are two of the many features that will be made available through this update. The rotation button is also a simple but ingenious addition, and it will be easy to use for those who are not familiar with it. Digital Wellbeing is the Alcoholics Anonymous for millions of smartphone addicts, and it offers a variety of helpful resources to help people get help if they need it. There is a long list of new or improved features that have been added in this update, so be sure to check them out!
Cons
The recent apps and features (including Digital Wellbeing) not offered to third-party developersNew gestures and navigation bar replacement are a bit much, confusing, but at least you can turn them off.
Overall, Android 9 is an improvement over version 8, but Google is hording some of the more impressive features for its own phones; even so, the expanded AI and other improvements are well-implemented. While there are some drawbacks to Android 9, such as a lack of features for certain types of users, overall it’s a much more user-friendly platform than previous versions.
Google has been using a screenshot feature on its Pixel and Pixel XL phones for some time now, but it has recently been updated to support taking screenshots by holding down the Power button and then choosing Screenshot from the ensuing menu.
Some Samsung phones, as well as devices from other manufacturers, do not have a Power menu screenshot option. ..
Some manufacturers have a process where they update their Android phone with new features, but for some people, the updates may not include all the features that are available on the latest version of Android. This means that depending on your phone, you may not get all of the new features or they might not be exactly the same.
Google is using a monopoly to force its partners to offer Android 9 on their phones. If you don’t want to use Android 9, you have to contact your manufacturer or the company web site.
A New Look
Android 9, also known as its Material Design, has a different appearance from its predecessor in that it has more rounded corners, one-color icons, more white space, and is flatter than it has ever been. ..
In iOS, macOS, and Windows, the default interface is a flatter, basic one with simpler icons. This has been the norm for some time now.
You can customize the interface to look more like you want it to. I especially like the night mode option, which reverses the interface from black text on a white background to white text on a black background, as shown in the image below. ..
The new phone’s “night mode” is designed primarily to make the phone easier to use in the dark, but I think it actually makes it easier to see and use all the time, and it’s really more attractive. ..
The new design is designed to make the app more visually appealing and easy to use. It features a more rounded corners in search results, more color in the Settings drill-downs, and more.
With the release of Android P, Google has introduced a new API standard for third-party app developers, requiring them to adhere to stricter Android design standards. This means that Google is now implementing Play Store quality rules for app submissions for the first time. ..
Starting from today, Play Store will only accept app submissions that adhere to new API restrictions and support new features—or developers will not be allowed to post updated or new apps. This behind the scenes update may be the most significant change to Android.
The new design features a new battery percentage indicator at the bottom of the screen in Ambient Display, saving you from having to wake the phone to see battery life remaining. Weather, too, is displayed in Ambient Display.
Android P has a bunch of new emojis that you can use in your lock screen.
New Navigation Features
Android P is Google’s latest operating system and it comes with a lot of new features. One of the new features is navigation. Navigation in Android P is different than in previous versions of Android. Before going into the new navigation features, it’s important to note that Google has not always made all its latest navigation options available to other phone makers. This means that some of the features may not be available on other phones yet. Android P comes with a new way to navigate called “Direct Access”. Direct Access allows you to access certain apps and functions directly from the home screen without having to go through the main menu or search bar. For example, you can access your contacts, messages, and calendar right from the home screen without having to open any other app first. Another feature of Direct Access is that you can quickly access settings for specific apps by pressing and holding on their icons on the home screen. Direct Access is only available on certain devices at this time, so if you have an older phone or don’t want to use Direct Access, you will need to use another method of navigating. Android P also comes with a new way to switch between apps called “App Bundles”. App Bundles are collections of apps that are pre-selected for you and they are located in the app drawer under “App Bundles”. You can add or remove apps from App Bundles at any time by tapping on them and then selecting “Add App Bundle…” or “Remove App Bundle…” from the menu that appears. Overall, Android P has many new features including navigation which is different than in previous versions of Android ..
Some Pixel navigation options and navigation on non-Google devices are sometimes notably different. With Android 9, Google has made the nav changes available to all manufacturers, but not all, such as Samsung, for example, have chosen to implement them.
Swipe up on the home button to access the single-button navigation option.
To launch Google Assistant, long press on the home screen. To open the recent apps menu, swipe right. To open the app drawer, swipe up.
If you are in a location where the home, or navigation, button is the only button on the screen, other buttons temporarily display beside it. For example, if you are in a restaurant and there is only one button to pick from, then the home button will be to the right of that button.
With auto-rotation turned off, the operating system recognizes apps in which you might want to ignore that setting (say, a video player, for instance), allowing you to rotate the screen without having to change the setting. ..
The recent apps screen on Android P has two versions: one with a Google search bar and suggested apps at the bottom, and one with app preview cards.
The first card presents a row of app cards for you to swipe through. You can remove apps by swiping upwards, enter apps by swiping down or tapping the card, display the Clear All button by swiping right. Tapping the app’s icon at the top of the card displays other options, such as App Info, App Pinning, and Split-Screen.
Swiping and holding the navigation button to the right launches a set of Recent App cards. To open an app, you simply release the button when the desired app is selected. ..
The OS will suggest apps for you based on what you’ve selected. You can copy and paste text from the individual app preview cards to get a sense of what each app offers.
New Convenience
and Productivity Features
Android Pie is a major update with more new features and appearance changes than you can shake a stick at. Here’s a list of new productivity and convenience features: -A redesigned Settings app with more options for customization, including an “Advanced” section for more in-depth settings control -A new “Notification Channels” feature that lets you manage which apps can send notifications to your device, and when -The ability to add multiple accounts for different types of devices (PCs/Macs, Android phones/tablets, etc.) in the Google Accounts settings -A revamped Quick Settings panel that includes expanded battery life information and quick access to frequently used settings like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Airplane Mode, and Location Services ..
Android 9 has a new feature called Adaptive Battery that uses machine learning or AI to predict which apps you’re likely to use in the next few hours and which you’re not likely to. This way, battery power is expended more wisely by using the most used apps first.
Adaptive Brightness is a AI-driven feature that remembers your preferred brightness level in different lighting environments and adjusts lighting accordingly. This makes it easier to find the right brightness level when you’re trying to adjust your lightening environment.
If you fidget with your lighting much, the AI won’t have much to work with, of course. A cool feature is that the brightness slider moves by itself to respond to various lighting changes.
Google is introducing a new feature called App Actions. This feature predicts what you’ll want to do next based on context and displays that action, saving you time by not having to launch the app in question itself.
If you plug in your headphones, the OS might launch the default music player and offer a link to a playlist you were listening to earlier that day.
Google is working on a new app slicing feature that will allow users to execute specific tasks within an app. This is still in development and has not yet been released to the public, but it is expected to be released in the near future. The main use case for this feature would be having Uber hail a driver, for example.
Android Pie introduces a new Battery Saver app that offers more options for how to conserve power on your Android device. You can now tell the OS to conserve power once your battery reaches 70 percent or below, and the updated Battery Saver no longer features an orange bar. ..
The Bluetooth feature in the iPhone has always been a bit of a letdown. But with the new 5-speaker Bluetooth system, things have gotten much better. You can now connect to multiple speakers and get a true stereo sound or surround sound. However, if you get a call, the OS will restrict the sound to one speaker so it doesn’t get too weird.
Android P also includes a new volume control that remembers the volume you left your Bluetooth speakers or earphones at, so you don’t have to blast your ear drums and have the delay between your phone and your earphones.
Digital wellbeing is a term used to describe the way people use technology. It is designed to protect people from themselves and their obsessive use of technology. The Digital Wellness app is only available on the Pixel phone, but there is a hack that can install it on other phones. ..
Do Not Disturb mode is a new feature of the iOS 11 app that allows you to set time limits for when notifications can be received. This is great for people who want to focus on their work without being disturbed by constant notifications. The app also incorporates app timers, which are great for setting specific time limits for when you want to receive notifications. This is great for people who want to focus on their work and not be disturbed by constant notifications. Finally, the app has a new mode called Wind Down mode. This mode gradually turns the UI to grayscale, reminding you that it’s time to stop working and take a break. ..
Android 9 and Android 8 have different features for Digital Wellbeing. For example, Android 9 has a new feature called DND which is only available on Google phones. If you want to use this feature, you need to follow the instructions in the link in the paragraph above. ..
Android now has four modes: Normal, Priority, On, and Off. You can also choose to have no notifications at all. ..
Android 9 now supports external USB / UVC cameras on certain mobile devices. This allows developers to create more immersive and realistic video experiences by streaming videos from multiple cameras. Additionally, Android 9 now supports depth, bokeh, stereo vision, 3D, and more video experiences using streams from two or more physical cameras.
The article discusses how biometric technology has been improved greatly, but much of the improvement is designed to help developers and manufacturers make better use of biometric hardware.
This is a major security feature on Samsung phones, and it’s something that many people are likely to be unaware of.
Samsung has developed a feature that allows users to require both face and iris recognition for extra security or either/or for faster login. This new feature is great for smartphone manufacturers and app developers who want to create features that are more secure and efficient.
Google’s new motion and gesture feature, Lift to Wake, allows you to unlock your phone by lifting it up. After you turn on the feature in Lock Screen > Motion and Gestures, use face or iris recognition to activate it when you lift the phone. ..
If your biometric authentication fails, you’ll need to enter a passcode, password, or pattern unlock. This may seem like a minor change, but I find it more convenient than the normal routine of waking my phone each time I wanted to check or look at something. Often it took longer to log in than the time for what I wanted to do on the device took. ..
Apple’s Lockdown mode clears all notifications and personal information from your lock screen.
To unlock your phone, you’ll need to enter a password, pattern, or PIN. There is no biometric option that will unlock your phone- no fingerprints, face unlock, or iris scanning. This feature prevents thieves or anyone else who might force you to show your phone your face or force your finger onto the reader from being able to access it. ..
This change is available on most messaging apps, and it’s a way to give users a more immersive experience when receiving notifications.
-MP4 -3GP -AAC -WAV -FLAC -OGG -MP3 -WMA The update also includes a number of bug fixes and improvements.
High Dynamic Range VP9 Profile 2 is a new profile that allows you to watch HDR-enabled movies on YouTube, Google Play Movies, and other services soon. HDR widens brightness and color range of video to improve picture quality and the overall experience.
Android 9 offers another 157 emojis you can add to your emails, messages, and documents, as if the 2,275 or so we had already weren’t enough.
This new edition of the game includes a variety of new creatures, buildings, signs, sports, and more. You’ll also find people in various shapes and styles - including superheroes and supervillains.
Apple has added support for devices with cutouts, or notches, to make use of available screen space. This is in addition to edge-to-edge screen support for devices with 18:9 and taller aspect ratios.
The new security features in Android 7.0 Nougat include randomized MAC addresses, making it difficult to track or exploit your phone in public access Wi-Fi environments. This makes it more difficult for attackers to track or exploit your device, and helps protect your privacy.
Android has added a new permission system to help keep your apps from collecting data that you don’t want them to. If an app asks for your permission before it starts doing something, you can say no. This way, the app can’t collect data that you don’t want it to and might not be able to use if you give permission.
Android 9 blocks unsecure HTTP connections by default, requesting that apps use HTTPS connections instead. This is consistent with Chrome’s recent switch to HTTPS on the desktop. ..
The power menu now has a screenshot option. Additionally, there’s a new Lockdown option you can add to the power menu that hides all notifications, blocks Smart Lock and disables the fingerprint scanner.
You can find the option in your lock screen settings, and once enabled it appears in the main interface as well. In addition, if the screen dims during a timeout, you can now reverse it by touching the fingerprint scanner.
With Android P, there are new ways to take screenshots and an editor that becomes available immediately after you take the shot or in other image editors. You can resize, crop, add text, and draw on your screenshots as desired.
Android users can select text in messages, emails, and documents to have it displayed in a magnified box just above the cursor. This feature is popular on iOS devices. ..
With Android Pie, Google has added the ability for all apps to send notifications with smart replies. This makes it much easier to see what your selecting, as well as providing a way for apps to respond automatically. Smart replies are still in development, but Google has said that it will be part of a new toolkit designed to provide developers with machine learning APIs.
The ML Kit, launched in May of last year, offers APIs for face detection, text recognition, image labeling, landmark detection, and barcode scanning. The toolkit also includes the ability to create smart replies. ..
Now, you can activate a screen rotation button in each instance that you want to rotate your phone’s screen. ..
Android Pie now allows users to control the media volume with the volume buttons, rather than adjusting the system volume. This new setting is convenient for those who want to keep their media volume consistent regardless of where they are in the app or on their device. ..
The volume slider on Google phones and other devices has changed from horizontal to vertical. This is a change that may be helpful for those who are used to using the horizontal slider on older devices.
Verdict
Google is saying that it believes that your phone should be personalized, and, therefore, should adapt to your life instead of vice-versa. Hence, Android is much heavier on artificial intelligence that tries to learn and adapt functionality—such as the app drawer, display, battery usage, and several other apps and features—to the way you work.
The app tries to help you become more productive by simplifying your workflow and making it more attractive. It also has some features that are not available on other apps, such as a “quick view” of all your tasks so you can see what’s most important at a glance.
After a thorough look at the new Android OS, I found very little to complain about—and that’s usually an indication that the new version is a success.
