Google will launch the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL on 4th October. There have been a number of leaks about the specifications of both new Pixel devices and now, new images of the Pixel 2 XL have been leaked by Droid Life. The images reveal that the Pixel 2 XL will come in two colour variants – Black and White, and Just Black.
Along with the images, the website also revealed that the Pixel 2 XL will be priced at US$849 for the 64GB variant and US$949 for the 128GB storage variant. Google, in its teaser for the new phones, hinted at a solution for phones running out of storage, which means that there might be microSD card slot for storage expansion on the new Pixel devices. Google will offer to finance both the phones as well. The 64GB Pixel 2 XL will cost US$35.38 per month over 24 months and the 128GB version will cost US$39.54 per month over 24 months.
The black and white colour variant looks like an interesting choice for the new Pixel 2 XL and will definitely help the phone stand out from the crowd of the same old black and gold coloured phones. The all-black colour variant also has a two-toned shade and with the “glass window” at the back being black and the rest of the back is dark gray.
As far as specifications go, the Pixel 2 XL is expected to have a 5.99 inch QHD display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and minimal bezels around the screen. The smaller variant, the Pixel 2 will have a 4.99 inch 1920 x 1080 px display with the same thick bezels around the display like last year’s Pixel and Pixel XL. Under the hood, both the phones will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset and 4GB RAM. The new Pixel smartphones will run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box and will be the first devices in line to receive Android P update next year. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will also ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack this time.
There isn’t much known about the cameras on the Pixel 2 devices except the fact that both the phones will have a single-camera setup. If last year’s Pixel cameras are anything to go by, the new phones will have a great camera performance.
In 2016, India was among the first 6 countries to receive the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, and it is expected that this year as well, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be launched in India soon after the global launch.
Google has announced the launch of its new India-centric UPI based mobile payments app, Tez. The search engine giant’s new app will let users link their smartphones to their bank accounts to pay for goods securely in physical and online stores, and for person-to-person money transfers.
Send money home to your family, split a dinner bill with friends, or pay the neighbourhood chaiwala. Make all payments big or small, directly from your bank account with Tez, Google’s new digital payment app for India
The app will be available to download on all iOS and Android devices. The payments app will tie up with several banks through Unified payments Interface (UPI), a payment system backed by the government in its push to bring more integrated banking services in the Indian market. Supported banks include Axis, HDFC Bank, ICICI and State Bank of India and other banksthat support UPI. Online payment partners include food chains like Dominos, transport services like RedBus, and Jet Airways. To help address one of the most important factors that make or break an online service in the Indian market, the app has support for English, Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu. Tez features a technology called audio QR that allows users to transfer money using sounds to pair two devices. Called the “cash mode option,” phones negotiate a connection using audio to identify the payer and payee.
It is worth noting that the app is not a digital ‘wallet’ like PayTM wherein the money is stored in the app and is topped up for purchases. The Google Tez is more like Apple Pay where the app links your phone with your bank accounts to let you use your phone as a way to deduct payments from those accounts. There is also has a separate business portal for sellers to register themselves and accept payments through Tez itself.
India has seen a fast growth of online payment apps like PayTm in the past few years and last year’s demonetization further fueled this growth. UPI is a payment system launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India which makes the instant fund transfer between two bank accounts on the mobile platform possible. There have been reports suggesting that the infrastructure of digital payments in India is expected to grow three-fold by the end 2017. Talking about the meteoric growth of online payments in India, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and IT said
We expect that by December, the number will actually go up to five million PoS(Point of Sales), which means that the infrastructure for digital payments is going to grow three times in the short span of one year.
Tez enters the Indian market at a time when the online payment industry has just started seeing an exponential rise. The app offers a different service than PayTM, the most successful UPI payments app in India right now and might be able tp differentiate itself from PayTM but it may take a while before people accept Tez as their primary mobile payments app.
Google just announced that the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be launched on October 4th. The two of the most anticipated Android OS devices will go on sale subsequently in global markets in late October. The price of the two new phones has not been revealed but, rumours suggest that the phones will be priced a little higher than the previous gen because of the bumped up storage variants. Here’s what to expect from the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2
The smaller sibling of the two will have a 5-inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display with thick bezels around it. A recent FCC filing leak revealed that the Pixel 2 will have HTC U11’s ‘Active Edge’ feature which allows users to squeeze the frame of the device and launch an app or perform an action like taking a picture. Under the hood, it was rumoured to have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 chipset but, Qualcomm came out and said that it has no plans of launching a Snapdragon 836 chipset, which means the Snapdragon 835 will make its way into the Pixel 2. Google’s event announcement video said that the new Pixel phones will solve the issue of storage. This could mean 64GB onboard storage will replace 32GB as the base variant and might also introduce microSD card support. The fingerprint sensor will remain at the back of the device and the “glass window” will be smaller this time around.
In terms of optics, the Pixel 2 will have a single camera at the back but leaked images suggest that camera sensor will be bigger this time. Last year’s Pixel and Pixel XL were very well received for their camera performance and expect something similar in the 2nd gen smartphones as well. The headphone jack is expected to be missing on the Pixel 2 as well.
Pixel XL 2
The Google Pixel XL 2 will have a 6 inch 2560 x 1440 AMOLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio due to thin bezels. this translates into a more 2017 flagship look and will be a departure from last year’s Pixel devices’ design. The glass window at the back will reportedly be smaller and the fingerprint sensor will sit below it. Improved Google Assistant functionalities are expected to enhance the user experience. Although initial leaks of the Pixel 2 suggested a missing headphone jack, Google might remove it from the Pixel XL 2, too.
As is the Pixel 2, the Pixel XL 2 will have Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset and run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. The base storage variant will be 64GB with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. The ‘Active Edge’ technology will make its way into the Pixel XL 2 as well and is expected to an improvement over HTC’s implementation in U11. The battery capacity will likely remain 3500 mAh, just like the Pixel XL from last year. The Pixel XL 2 is expected to have a single camera at the back, which is not a bad thing, as many phones with a single camera still perform and compete with dual-camera setups.
The launch will unveil all the features and pit it against the Galaxy Note8 and iPhone X as the flagships of late-2017. With reports of Google acquiring HTC mobile division, the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 might be last two phones before Gppgle starts making the devices its own and invest in the hardware the way it wants to. iGyaan will keep you updated with all the news following up to the Google launch event. Let us know what you feel about the leaks of the Pixel 2 series so far.
Google has confirmed that it will be launching the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 on October 4th. The company tweeted a video suggesting that all the issues people have with their smartphones like battery drain, inadequate camera, and bad AI integration will be solved by the new Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2. It was earlier reported that the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 would be unveiled on October 5th. Google’s two new phones will compete with the likes of Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+, Galaxy Note8, iPhone 8/8Plus and iPhone X for smartphone supremacy.
Interestingly, the teaser talks about smartphones running out of storage, which was the case with Pixel and Pixel XL 32GB variant as it did not have a microSD card slot. This may mean that either the new Pixel smartphones will come up bumped up storage even for the base variants or have a microSD card slot for storage expansion. Other pain points mentioned in the teaser are “why doesn’t my phone understand me?” and “why is my phone so dumb?” The new Pixel phones may have an improved Google Assistant functionalities and a wider language support.
Last year’s Pixel and Pixel XL were well received for their cameras and the teaser for the launch suggests that Google has improved on the camera front this time around. Early leaks suggest that the two phones will have a similar “glass window” at the back, just like last year’s Pixel device, albeit a smaller one. The Pixel XL 2 is expected to look like a 2017 flagship with thin bezels while the Pixel 2 will retain the last year’s thick bezels design.
All the speculations will finally rest in peace when Google announces the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 on October 4th. Stay tuned for more updates on the launch and all the news about the new Pixel smartphones.
HTC has reported a consolidated revenue of USD 99.69 million for the month of August, the Taiwanese giants’ lowest monthly figures in 13 years. The revenue for the month of August represents a 51.5% decline from the previous month and 54.4% from a year earlier. Also, HTC’s total sales in the first 8 months of 2017 were NT$39.86 billion, representing a 14.4% decline from last year. According to latest reports by The Commercial Times, Google is in the final stages of taking over HTC’s mobile division. This would either result in a complete takeover for HTC’s Mobile division or a partial investment from Google into HTC’s dimming business. According to the report, the deal could be announced by the end of the year.
The fact that HTC is producing the Pixel 2, launching this year on October 5 has further fueled these rumours that Google will outright buy the mobile division of HTC. The Pixel XL 2 is being made by LG this year, unlike last year when HTC made both the Pixel and Pixel XL.
This acquisition will help Google compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple in the smartphone market. The last year’s Pixel devices were well received but never challenged the dominance of the iPhone or Samsung’s flagship S series phones. Acquiring a smartphone company would make it possible for Google to invest in hardware research and come up with competitive smartphones at a consistent rate.
This is not the first time that Google will be acquiring a smartphone company. In 2012, it took over Motorola Mobility for USD 12.5 billion, only to sell it to Lenovo for USD 2.9 billion a couple of years later. Google then retained all the patents owned bay Motorola, to help defend the company from potential patent disputes from the likes of Apple and Samsung. HTC has a vast library of patents, if Google acquires HTC’s Mobility division, the company will own a large chunk of modern smartphone patents which can then help it design and sell technologies in the future. Google may also end up reselling HTC to a different buyer, like last time, however, the company seems keen on retaining a mobility division. Expertise from HTC will help Google in growing its own Pixel brand.
There were reports in late August that HTC was holding talks with companies like Google to potentially buy its virtual reality division or even the entire company. With the latest revenue reports representing plummeting sales of its devices, the deal looks more than certain to go through.
The new iterations of Google’s Pixel lineup, the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are rumoured to be unveiled on October 5 this year. Several leaks have suggested an omitted headphone jack and Qualcomm Snapdragon 836chipset, and the latest image of the Pixel 2 from 9To5Google hints at more features.
The images, that are heavily blurred to keep the source’s identity intact reveal a ‘Slate Grey’ colour variant that the source confirmed is being tested internally as of now. Previous images of the phone show a variant that has aluminium black color with a black glass on the top third of the back. The image also shows two holes under the camera’s flash which is the “send” and “receive” sensor’s for the Pixel 2’s AutoFocus feature. The same report confirms that Google has indeed removed the headphone jack and is that the company is preparing to push its own Google Assitant powered headphones as a worthy replacement. A USB C to 3.5mm headphone jack dongle will come bundled in the Pixel 2 retail box.
Some light was shed on the storage capacity of the phone as well, suggesting that the 64GB variant will be the base variant this time around with a 128GB storage variant as the second upgrade. The Pixel 2 will retain the 4.7 inch 1920 x 1080 px display and thick bezels of the previous gen Pixel phone as well. The report reveals that the Pixel 2 will also have IP68 water and dust resistance which was dearly missed last time around. With no real information on the camera front, the source did confirm that the new phones will continue with EIS and low-light performance will remain the primary focus. Another noteworthy information is that the Pixel 2 will reportedly come with an Always-On Display option, which has been rumoured in the past. It also claims that the Pixel 2 will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo, and it will be the first device to launch with the previously-announced Google Lens app.
The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will also be slightly more expensive than the previous gen, and the Pixel XL 2 will reportedly have a bezel-less design much like a lot of 2017 flagship and budget devices.
Android security has always been a priority for Google and in order to offer a more secure and stable experience to the users, the company has introduced a Google Play Protect logo. Although, Google has been certifying Android devices for a while, but now Google will make it easy for potential buyers to identify Certified devices.
Today, Alphabet inc. announced that in a bid to make it easier for users to spot a Google certified Android device, Google Play Protect logo will be put on the boxes of smartphones which are certified to adhere to Google’s Android security and permissions model.
Google certified Android devices come with latest security updates, automatic virus scanning and support Google’s Find My Device feature. Many Android devices are already Play Protect-certified, but this program will ensure additional safety and security. To identify the Google certified device,users will just have to look for the Google Play Protect logo on the packaging.
The company blog stated that , “When you shop for a new Android phone or tablet, we recommend asking for a certified device or looking for the Google Play Protect logo on the box, to make sure it brings the benefits of certification and additional layers of security provided by Play Protect.”
Google Play Protect runs compatibility tests to verify that the authenticity of the pre-installed Google apps. Furthermore, Play Protect is trained to look for harmful apps based on scans of 50 billion apps each day. Each and every app is analysed before being available on the Play Store. Google previously offered the same feature within Android, labelled as “Verify Apps”.
Google has also released a list of certified partners, which, besides manufactures like Samsung, OnePlus, Nokia, LG, etc. include a number of lesser brands out of China. By rolling out the Play Protect branding, Google is making it easier for customers to recognise the devices that have been certified by the company.
Leaks surrounding the second generation of Google Pixel devices, the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 continue to surface as the October launch approaches. The latest iterations of the two smartphones are expected to feature different screen sizes. Apart from the size difference, the latest leaks reveal that the Pixel XL 2 is reported to have a bezel-less display, whereas the Pixel 2 will most likely retain the first generation Pixel’s design.
Unlike last year, when HTC was the sole manufacturer of the pixel devices, Google has chosen two manufactures to build the the next generation pixels – while HTC will continue to make the Pixel 2, the Pixel XL 2 will be manufactured by LG.
LG-made Pixel XL 2 is reported to have a 5.99-inch 2960 x 1440 px OLED bezel-less display. The Pixel 2 on the other hand, will most likely sport a 4.97-inch 1920 x 1080 px OLED display withlarger bezels, much like the original Pixel. There also have been reports of Google giving the 3.5mm audio jack a miss in the upcoming Pixel series.
Among the other reports surrounding the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2, rumour has it that the next Pixel iterations will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 chipset and 4GB RAM with 64GB onboard storage. The devices will run on 3,ooo mAh battery and 3,500 mAh battery respectively. And with the latest launch of Android 8.0 Oreo, both the Pixel devices are expected to run the latest Android OS. Google is reportedly planning to unveil the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 on 5 October.
Samsung launched the highly-anticipated Galaxy Note8 in New York on August 23 during its ‘Unpacked 2017’ event. Priced at Rs 74,999 the Galaxy Note8 is the first Samsung to feature a dual-camera setup. Both the cameras are 12 MP and both have OIS, one has a wide lens while the other a telephoto lens. The Galaxy Note8 also has an IRIS scanner on the front, sadly the fingerprint sensor still sits on the back of the phone next to the cameras.
Apple looks all set to launch the new iPhone on September 12. Apple has been hosting its iPhone launch events in September since 2012. September 12 also falls on a Tuesday, which is in line with the previous iPhone announcement events. It is rumoured that the main iPhone 8 will be available in extremely limited numbers at launch. Along with the new iPhone 8, the launch of the iPhone 7S, 7S Plus, Apple TV with 4K video output, LTE enabled Apple Watch is also expected.
The follow-up to last year’s lineup of Pixel devices, the pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 could be launched on October 5th according to a tipster. This tip comes after specifications of the Pixel 2 were leaked through an FCC filing document. In his tweet, Evan Blass claims that both the devices will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 chipset, instead of the much-anticipated Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset.
Google officially launched the next generation of its Android OS, 8.0 Oreo during the first Solar Eclipse in the USA since 1917 on August 21. The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are tipped to be the first sdevices to run Android 8.0 Oreo while many other smartphones will soon follow suit.
Features such as the new picture-in-picture mode, auto fill framework, notification dots and much more will be available when the Android 8.0 Oreo starts rolling out to devices later this year.
Lenovo-owned Motorola is set to launch the Moto G5S Plus in India on 29th August. The smartphone will be an Amazon exclusive in the beginning and will be available at offline retailers later.The Moto G5S Plus’ widely speculated feature, the rear mounted 13MP dual-camera with an f/2.0 aperture and dual tone LED flash, comes with video stabilization and 4K video recording at 30 FPS.
Google Chrome will soon allow users to permanently mute websites, a long awaited feature that will cheer millions who suffer from auto-playing videos on websites. According to a report, the feature is currently available in the experimental Canary build of the browser and will soon roll out with future Google Chrome update. For those of you who want to give this feature a try, run it with the –enable-features=SoundContentSetting switch, as the feature is off by default.
Google’s François Beaufort announced on his Google Plus account, that the Chrome team is still “experimenting with a setting to mute/unmute a website directly from the Page Info bubble.” explaining that “This will give you more control about which website is allowed to throw sound at you automatically.”
As of now, a user can mute tabs in Chrome by right clicking on them, but the process is canceled out once you close the tab or the Chrome window. But with this feature, a user will be able to permanently block sound on a particular domain. In short, websites on which you disable sound will remain disabled or muted until you turn them back on.
Google Chrome already has various toggles for Flash, JavaScript, notifications, etc. and the soon-to-be-added sound toggle will work in a similar way.
According to the update given by François Beaufort, it might be a few weeks or months before we see the feature on Google Chrome.
Google officially launched its latest Android OS, 8.0 Oreo during an event that ‘eclipsed’ the Solar Eclipse on August 21. Developers have had access to a preview version of Google’s latest mobile operating system since mid-March, with updated versions releasing in May, June, and July.
The new OS comes with a lot of new features and under the hood upgrades for better user experience. Highlights of new features in Android 8.0 Oreo
A new picture-in-picture feature allows users to continue operating the device without interruptions for things like watching a video.
Users can now organise notifications into custom channels and modify the alerts for the entire channel.
An auto fill framework in the operating system makes the repeated filling of forms easy for the user.
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) can specify a look and feel for the UI by choosing between various icon shapes by using Adaptive Icons
Smart sharing feature allows the operating system to guess the context of a photo, and pick the best application to hand the image over to.
There are also background execution limits, which ensures that applications running in the background don’t use up a lot of system resources.
A lot of you must be wondering whether your Android device will be updated to 8.0 Oreo or not. Let’s find out
Google Devices
This is a no-brainer. If you own the Nexus 5X, 6P or the Google Pixel or the Pixel XL, an Android O update isn’t far away. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be the first devices running Android 8.0 Oreo when they’re launched and an update to the Nexus devices and previous gen Pixel smartphones will follow soon.
Samsung
Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 8 running Android 7.1.1 Nougat and promised an update to Android Oreo in the coming months. This suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ may also receive an update before the mid-2018 launch of the Galaxy S9. Samsung’s mid-range devices may also receive an Android Oreo update but later next year.
HTC
HTC has officially announced that the HTC 10, U Ultra and the new flagship U11 will receive the Android Oreo update in the coming months.
OnePlus
Carl Pei has announced that Oneplus 5, 3T and 3will all receive Android 8.0 Oreo update. However, it was also announced that this update will be the last Android OS update for last year’s OnePlus 3 and 3T.
Motorola
Moto Z2 Force, Z2 Play, G5S, G5S Plus, G5 and G5 Plus are all in line to receive an upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo keeping up with Lenovo-owned Motorola’s promise.
Lenovo
Lenovo recently dropped its custom VibePure UI for pure Android skin and promised that the K8 Note and other K Note devices will receive the Android Oreo update. The timeline though is not confirmed.
LG
LG is on the verge of launching its late 2017 flagship, the LG V30 on August 31. The phone will most likely run Android 7.1 Nougat and will be updated to Android Oreo later on. Along with the LG V30, LG G6, LG V20, and V10 might also receive the update in the coming months.
Google Pixel and Pixel XL launched last year on October 4th to great anticipation. A new leak claims that the second generation Pixel phones will debut exactly one year after their older siblings, on October 5th. The tweet sheds light on another component of the device which is heavily rumoured, but, with no real evidence.
Google's second-generation Pixel handsets, powered by Snapdragon 836 SoC's, will be unveiled on October 5th.
In his tweet, Evan Blass claims that both the devices will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 chipset, instead of the much-anticipated Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset. More details about the new Pixel devices were leaked through an FCC filing by HTC confirming that the Taiwanese smartphone maker will be handling the smaller of the two variants, the Pixel 2.
Also, back in March, Bharat Nagpal had posted on his official Facebook account sharing information about the same chipset (Snapdragon 836), and that it will first show up in Pixel devices.
An interesting detail revealed by the filing was a feature called “Active Edge”, which is similar to the squeezable frame feature on the HTC U11. The difference here is that the squeeze will be programmed to launch the Google Assistant. In the filing, the “8998” in the baseband revealed that the device would either have a Snapdragon 835 or the updated, as-of-yet unreleased 836. There have been renders of the Google Pixel 2 suggesting that the 2017 flagship will ditch the headphone jack. The device will also sport a design similar to its predecessor’s with big bezels around the screen and a smaller glass window at the back.
The smaller Pixel 2 will reportedly sport a 5 inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display and still have large bezels around the screen, unlike many flagships of 2017. The Pixel XL 2, on the other hand, will feature a more “2017 flagship design” with thin bezels around a 6 inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display. The devices will run on 3,ooo mAh battery and 3,500 mAh battery respectively.
Google is reportedly planning to compete with the Amazon’s smart speaker, Echo Dot by releasing a miniature version of its own Home smart speaker. The unveiling of the miniaturised Google Home is expected to be at a hardware event planned for the upcoming Pixel sequel.
Planning to rival the Amazon’s Echo Dot, the Google Assistant powered smart speaker will allow you to access voice command interfaces for audio systems, connecting multiple Home units, playing music etc.
It is still unclear as to what all features Google’s smaller Home Speaker will come with but we are hoping that the voice-activated Assistant hub will host the similar features like its sibling. Some of which are expected to be hands free calling, accessing smart home devices, personalised experience by disguised voice feature, getting real-time answers related to traffic, weather reports etc.
No specific details about the mini Home speaker’s pricing, dimensions and feature set have been spilled yet. But given the massive popularity of Amazon’s Echo Dot which is priced at $50, a smaller, cheaper version of Google Home makes much more sense, as the original Google Home costs $129.
It has also been reported that Google will also launch the new Pixel-branded Chromebook at the Pixel event. This will be the first Chromebook after the launch of the original Chromebook Pixel in 2015. At present, no information about the specifications for this laptop has surfaced. It has been widely reported that the new Pixel Chromebook is a byproduct of Google’s Project Bison, but, it appears not to be the case . Google may be planning to target the higher-end notebook market once again. It is safe to say that the new Pixel-branded Chromebook is intended to be a serious contender to Apple’s MacBook lineup and Microsoft’s Surface Pro.
Google officially launched the next generation of its Android OS, 8.0 Oreo during the first Solar Eclipse in the USA since 1917. Developers have had access to a preview version of Google’s latest mobile operating system since mid-March, with updated versions releasing in May, June, and July. Rumours of the new version being named Oatmeal Cookie were put to rest when Google launched Android 8.0 Oreo through a live stream.
So, what has changed from Android 7.0 Nougat to 8.0 Oreo? Let’s take a look
User Interface
Users can now organise notifications into custom channels and modify the alerts for the entire channel. This can be specifying the sounds if the notification triggers a vibration, and if the notification is allowed to override the do not disturb setting. An autofill framework in the operating system makes the repeated filling of forms easy for the user. This can range from sign up information to a new service, or credit card information to make a payment. The feature will prevent frustration and repetitiveness by allowing users to quickly fill in a form. Users will have to opt-in for the Autofill framework, after which new and existing applications can make use of the feature.
Picture-In-Picture Mode and New Notifications
A new picture-in-picture feature allows users to continue operating the device without interruptions for things like watching a video. Another interesting change in the UI this time around is Adaptive Icons. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) can specify a look and feel for the UI by choosing between various icon shapes. Different shapes can be used on some models. The feat is achieved by applying masks over a base layer. The supported shapes are Circle, Squircle, Rounded Square and Square. Adaptive icons can be created using Android Studio.
Behind The Screen
Each application is now allocated a cache budget. When the system is low on resources, the applications that exceed the cache budget the most will be the first to have their cached files deleted. Content refreshing is now a more streamline experienced. Also, there is now an easier way for applications to check if they are displaying the latest content on the screen. Developers can also set custom triggers to update the content when it is stale or outdated, even without a specific request from the user. There are also background execution limits, which ensures that applications running in the background don’t use up a lot of system resources.
Media playback should be significantly improved for users, as now there is fine-grained control to scrub to a particular frame in a video. Applications can also now mix multiple audio and video tracks at once, for streaming purposes. This can be useful in gameplay videos where users can capture the screen, themselves through the front-facing camera, the audio from a game, and any commentary from the user.
A smart sharing feature allows the operating system to guess the context of a photo, and pick the best application to hand the image over to. For example, if you click a selfie, social networking applications are pulled up but, if you click a photo of a receipt, expense tracking applications will open up. The more you use your phone, the more your smartphone will learn about your behaviour and act accordingly. A smart copy feature enables similar functionality but for text, where the smartphone recognises if the text copied is an address, a phone number or name of an entity, and suggest opening a relevant app. For example, if you copy a phone number, a floating bar will suggest opening up the Dialer app or the Contacts app.
Connectivity
Android 8.0 Oreo has support for Wi-Fi Aware, an energy-efficient way by which supported hardware can discover and chat with each other without a Wi-Fi hotspot or an internet connection. There is also a support for the new Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) 5.0 standard.
It is expected that the first smartphone to run Android 8.0 Oreo will be the new Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 while the Pixel and Pixel XL will get an update soon after the launch.
Expected devices to receive Android 8.0 Oreo update
Nexus
Nexus 5X
Nexus 6P
Samsung
Samsung will push out the Android 8.0 update when it launches the Samsung Galaxy S9 next year. Devices expected to receive the update are-
New details leaked through an FCC filing by HTC, all but confirm that HTC will indeed be the maker of at least one of the new Pixel smartphones, while LG will be handling the larger variant, the Pixel XL 2. It is also worth noting that the FCC filing comes exactly a year after the commission received similar documentation for the Pixel and Pixel XL phones suggesting that the new smartphones will indeed launch in or around October.
An interesting detail revealed by the filing is a feature called “Active Edge”, which is similar to the squeezable frame feature on the HTC U11. The difference here is that the squeeze will be programmed to launch the Google Assistant. The filing has also revealed that the Pixel 2 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Chipset and have 64GB of onboard storage. As expected, the smartphone will run on Android 8.0.1 which is rumoured to be officially unveiled on August 21.
There have been renders of the Google Pixel 2 suggesting that the 2017 flagship will ditch the headphone jack. The device will also sport a design similar to its predecessor’s with big bezels around the screen and a smaller glass window at the back.
The first-gen Pixel smartphones were launched at a premium price and the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be no different. The main difference between the two variants apart from the screen and battery size will be the design. The smaller Pixel 2 will reportedly sport a 5 inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display and still have large bezels around the screen, unlike many flagships of 2017. The Pixel XL 2, on the other hand, will feature a more “2017 flagship design” with thin bezels around a 6 inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display. The devices will run on 3,ooo mAh battery and 3,500 mAh battery respectively.
Although, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL received a lot of flak for their design, the software and camera performance was appreciated by a lot of people. The new Pixel lineup seems to be following the same design pattern and will have to up their camera game and software performance to compete with the likes of the Apple iPhone 8, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and the LG V30, all slated to be launched around the same time as the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2.
