Here it comes…
Google has launched the first Developer Preview of Android Oreo 8.1 on 25th of October. This new evolved and updated version of Oreo focuses mainly on the criterion of ‘speed and security.’ There are improvements like memory optimizations which makes it possible for smartphones with lower RAM to browse through multiple apps swiftly.
App developers and beta testers will soon receive the new codes as the new Android 8.1 DP is a one step further Oreo version.
The newly added features of Oreo 8.1 are listed below-
Neural Networks: The newly updated Application Programming Interface (API) will allow apps to efficiently use hardware acceleration, and thus, boosting up the processing speed. With this version, apps will now create notification alert sounds only once per second, just to fit in the user’s convenience.
RAM optimization: With this new version, the devices with lower RAM could be taken out easily. The two additional features allow the developers to split their Android Application package (APK) versions-one for the normal ones and the other for the memory-constrained handsets i.e. with lower RAM’s.
Smarter Autofill: The new version has implemented the Autofill function too. To keep the user’s data more privated, developers can now create custom descriptions so that the system only reveals the characters partially. It’s a major step to protect user’s sensitive information.
Safe Browsing: Developers can now customize how apps respond to known bad URL’s as the new Safe Browsing API allows apps to detect WebView attempts and locate the known threatening URL’s.
Memory Sharing: Now developers can create, map and manage anonymous shared memory that can be used by the applications.
Fingerprint reader upgrade: Google has added new features to the Android fingerprint reader. Users can now permanently lockout the fake users who fail too many times attempting to unlock the device with their unmatched fingerprints.
Preview for the new version is presently available for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL devices, along with Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. Users who don’t currently own one among the above devices can set up an Android 8.1 emulator for testing instead. The consumer launch will be made in December.