WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GOOGLE’S ANDROID 7.1.1 UPDATE

Late in the year, Google did something that we have been expecting for a while and gave us the new step on the level of Android this year, stepping up their dessert game to the Nougat 7.0 platform. When this launched, we have expected it to bring a lot of cool features, and it did that. The Marshmallow was a great addition to the Android platform itself and had us excited on what Android has to offer. The first on the big 6 was the embedding of a fingerprint scanner into the software technology to mean that this would be the basic requirement for anyone that wanted this function to run well on their units. Then we had a lot of power and battery options to choose from, not to mention the improved application permissions and as well, cool features such as pinning and a whole lot of other security options. With the serving of a new Nougat, we knew we were bound to get these and more.

The Android Nougat 7.0 did get out and instead of Google to make the first device that it would run on, LG beat them to the punch with their V20. Not to be derailed in their bid to be pioneers, Google made sure they debuted the 7.1 with their set of device – the Pixel and Pixel XL. Now, they have the Nougat 7.1.1 ready to roll out, and in the midst of everything, the speed at which they are rolling out the updates could have caused heads to spin so much that we won’t even be able to keep track of changes. To curb that, we present to you just what you should be expecting with this new brand of the same dessert.

IMPROVED EMOJI PACK

Earlier in the year, Google recognized the good fight that women were putting up on the levels of gender equality and decided to make a statement alongside them with an emoji pack which just shows us how great women are, alongside men, at different locations. This new emoji pack launched with the Pixel set of devices, and now, they have found a way to embed it in the software of this new update. This means that as soon as your unit gets the bump to this new platform, you also get access to tons of women-centred emoji which shows the womenfolk holding different positions in the society. Making a stand with the smileys, don’t you think?

INTEGRATED KEYBOARD SUPPORT

Google has made its integrated keyboard have a fancy variety of uses over various apps that has been developed mainly by the company itself. Right now, you can do as much as send GIFs from the comfort of your keyboard. The supported apps on this kind of platform are Google Allo, the Google Messenger and also, Hangouts. There is no information from Google yet to know whether or not this feature would be extended to other applications created by third party developers but given the open-source nature of the software giant; they are likely to go this route in the future. Developers, get ready to jump on this new package.

EVEN MORE SHORTCUTS

You don’t have ever to sweat again when you are using your Android device because there have been improvements in the area of shortcuts present in the OS already. Long pressing an application icon can now help you do even more things right from the icon menu, rather than having to click and start searching for what you have to do in-app. Just think about being able to launch different actions on the Twitter or Instagram app by long pressing its icon or continue an existing conversation on Google Messenger without having to open the application. Isn’t that cool?

IMPROVED SUPPORT FOR PIXELS

For those that have been using the Pixel smartphones already, you might think you have it all on the Nougat, but Google has put in a special treat just for you. There are improved gestures to help you get the best out of your device such as the double tap to awaken the feature and also, raising the phone from a flat surface to induce awake in it. The latter feature would ensure that you get access to all your notifications and lock screen and for the former, you would have an even better way to see your alerts. Is it just us or is Android killing the show?

SECURITY PATCH

Google has been in the habit of releasing security patches to their devices for a while now, and these are released monthly. With the Nougat 7.1.1 is expected to come to the security bump for the month of December, raising the security levels on your units to the latest one. This is a cool move from the company, rolling everything out at once to the supported devices instead of having to split the update into two different packages. For those that are big on security, this is a big thumb up to Google and to those that done even care anyways, just take this as a little December present from your software developer.

As outlined by the software and search engine giant themselves, those are the things to expect from the new software and it is expected to start rolling out soon. In other related news, it is expected to it units of the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player. Other devices that are eligible should start getting theirs from their respective OEMs a while after.