Android Oreo 8.1: Faster, safer, smarter phones ahead

Google has released the first Developer Preview of Android 8.1 Oreo on October 25. The new codes will be available to app developers and beta testers as the new Android is a major leap from the existing Oreo version. The Android 8.1 DP includes a significant number of under-the-hood changes. From memory optimizations where Oreo and other apps can be swiftly run on smartphones with lower RAM to security features on browsers and the fingerprint, Oreo seems to be heading the direction which was the need of the hour. So basically, speed and security seems to be the major highlight of Android Oreo’s next update. Listed below are the new features added into the next Oreo.

Neural Networks: This new API will be the highlight of Oreo 8.1. It will allow apps take advantage of hardware acceleration, mainly for on-device machine learning operations. Oreo 8.1 will also have massive changes to notifications where apps will now create notification alerts (sound) only once per second.

RAM optimisation: The new Android version will also help developers target devices with lower RAM through two new hardware features that will allow developers to split their apps (APK) into two versions — one for normal and another for memory-constrained handsets.

Autofill: The new beta version will also mark improvements to the system’s ‘autofill’ behavior. Developers will be able to create custom descriptions so that the system can only show partial text strings. This is a major move to protect users’ data, which include credit card numbers and similar sensitive information.

Safer browsing: Google has also made it easier to take advantage of the Safe Browsing API. This new feature allows apps to detect WebView attempts which could navigate to known bad URLs. Developers can then customise how apps respond to known threats.

Memory sharing: A new shared memory API will also allow developers create, map, and manage anonymous shared memory that can be used by multiple processes or apps.

Fingerprint reader upgrade: The fingerprint reader on Android handsets will also see new features. With the new Oreo update, users will be able to permanently lockout other, or unknown, users who fail too many times when attempting to unlock the device with an unregistered fingerprint.

The Android 8.1 Oreo Developer Preview is presently available only for registered developers and Android beta testers. Google has made the new update’s system images available for direct installation on most compatible handsets. The new preview update can be easily installed over-the-air. The Developer Preview will be available for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL devices, as well as for Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P. If you don't have a Pixel or Nexus device, you can set up an Android 8.1 emulator for testing instead. The consumer launch for Android 8.1 Oreo will be available to all users n December.