Quick settings controls, multi-locale support, multi-window views, and 72 new built-in emoji icons are some of the new features packaged with the latest full-version upgrade to Android that Google pushed out to its Nexus-branded devices on Monday.
We won’t keep you waiting for the new emoji available, here they are, direct from Google’s blog post:
Other than emoji, Android 7.0 users will also be able to natively run two apps side-by-side on their smartphones, resizing the windows by dragging a split-screen divider. Samsung previously introduced a multi-window function to its Galaxy devices via its TouchWiz UI layer on top of Android, but now any new Android device will be able to perform this function.
And iOS users might be familiar with another new feature to Android 7.0, Direct Reply. It allows you to reply directly to notifications – like responding to an incoming message, by typing into a small window at the top of your device, without having to open a new app.
Quick Switch is another short-cut feature, letting you quickly flip back and forth between your two most-recently used apps. Google says it’s also improved the battery-saving “Doze” feature to drop your smartphone device into low power mode when it’s being gently jostled around in your bag while you’re moving.
A series of security updates will also be benefitting Android 7 users, such as the new “Seamless updates” to install software updates in the background instead of requiring you to wait for the installation to complete and reboot. File-based encryption has been improved to better isolate and protect files for individual users. Direct Boot promises to boot your device up faster, and have apps run securely in the background before you unlock your device upon reboot.
It's official! #AndroidNougat starts rolling out today on select #Nexus devices (5X, 6, 6P, 9 and Pixel C). https://t.co/jJsMMxvAia
— Android (@Android) August 22, 2016
As with all Android updates, Nexus-branded devices will get first access to Nougat. Other devices will be dependent on manufacturer and carrier schedules for pushing out the update. Also expect several new devices to launch in the last quarter of 2016 running Android 7.0.