The next update of the Android OS, the Android P or Android Pie is now officially available. The OS was released for Google’s own device Pixel and Pixel 2, even Essential phone released the update for their users on the same day of the availability. Android Pie focuses on Artificial Intelligence that learns and adapts to your usage pattern. It features Adaptive Battery, which learns the apps you use most and prioritizes battery for them, and Adaptive Brightness, which learns how you like to set the brightness in different settings, and does it for you.
Android 9 also comes with App Actions that will predict what you want to do next based on your context and displays the action on your phone. For instance, on a weekday if you are preparing for your commute, you will be suggested actions like navigating using Google Maps. Later Google will also roll out the Slices feature that will show relevant information from your apps, for instance, if you type Uber in Google search, it will show ride prices for your destinations like home etc.
One of the highlight of the new OS is also the digital wellbeing. This has also been focus of iOS 12. The Dashboard in Android 9 will provide you insights on what apps and how much time do you spend time on your device. There is also an App Timer that lets you set the time limit on the apps and will gray out the icon on your home screen when the time is up. There is also Wind Down that switches on Night Light and Do Not Disturb, it also fades the screen to grayscale before bedtime.
In terms of display support, Android 9 now supports Notch displays and 18:9 aspect screen ratios which will allow developers to create apps that would fit the displays. In terms of media and entertainment, Android 9 lets you connect up to five Bluetooth devices and switch between these devices seamlessly. Incoming phone calls will be sent to all connected Bluetooth devices that can accept. It will also remember the volume settings on each of these devices, hence when you connect to them another time, the volume level will be the same. Besides this, it also offers sound delay reporting for headsets, this means your video and audio on your headphones will always be in sync.
Android 9 adds built-in support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) VP9 Profile 2, so you can watch HDR-enabled movies on YouTube and Google Play Movies. HDR improves the brightness and color range of video to improve the picture quality and experience.
Google Pixel devices already received the latest Android 9 as soon as it was released. Also, the devices that participated in the Beta program from Sony, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Nokia, Oppo, Vivo, Essential and qualifying Android One devices will receive this update by September.
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