These smartphones are expected to get Android 8.0 Oreo update soon

'Android Oreo' features a new picture-in-picture mode, new notification dots to the Operating System (OS) and improvements to Bluetooth audio playback, Google's Android website posted in a blog on Tuesday.

'Android Oreo' lets a user see two apps at once and makes multitasking convenient. Photo: AP

NEW DELHI: The next version of Google's mobile operating system 'Android Oreo' that has been rolled out in the US is packed with never-before-seen features and improvements in its various tools. 'Android Oreo' features a new picture-in-picture mode, new notification dots to the Operating System (OS) and improvements to Bluetooth audio playback, Google's Android website posted in a blog on Tuesday. Recently-launched premium smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+ and HTC U11 are expected to see the software updates before the end of this year. Around 85 per cent of Android devices used, according to the latest numbers, have not upgraded to Android Nougat that was released last year. The update is currently undergoing carrier testing for Pixel phones and the Nexus 5X and 6P. The new OS is expected to be two times faster than 'Nougat' and also helps minimise background activity in the apps that are used less. 'Android Oreo' lets a user see two apps at once and makes multitasking convenient. For example, if you are watching a video on YouTube and have to respond to an email simultaneously, all you need to do is press the home button and that will shrink the video tab to a corner while you write a response. The feature is called picture-in-picture (PIP), and it's already available in Samsung Galaxy phone and Moto Z2 Play. 'Android Oreo' also makes copy-paste job easier. A user would just need to long press or double-tap anywhere on the text to select it. On the security front, Android Oreo makes the scan of apps more obvious while downloading them to ensure a user that they are safe to use. It also auto-connects a the phone to a high quality open Wi-Fi and secures the connection with a VPN back to Google. Oreo's accessibility button allows users to quickly access from the navigation bar accessibility features, like magnification, and functionality within accessibility services, like 'Select to Speak'. Here's a list of smartphones expected to get latest Android 8.0 Oreo update soon: Google Pixel Pixel XL Nexus 5X Nexus 6P Nexus Player Samsung Galaxy S8 Galaxy S8+ Galaxy S7 Galaxy S7 Edge Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition Galaxy A7 2017 Galaxy A5 2017 Galaxy A3 2017 Galaxy J7 2017 Galaxy J7 Prime Galaxy J5 2017 Galaxy Tab S3 Galaxy C9 Pro HTC HTC U11 HTC U Ultra HTC U Play HTC 10 HTC 10 Evo OnePlus OnePlus 5 OnePlus 3T OnePlus 3 Motorola Moto Z2 (2017) Moto Z2 Play Moto Z Play Moto Z Force Moto Z Moto G5 Plus Moto G5 Nokia Nokia 8 Nokia 6 Nokia 5 Nokia 3 LG G6 G5 V20 Asus ZenFone 4 (ZE554KL) ZenFone 4 Max (ZC520KL) ZenFone 4 Max Pro (ZC554KL) ZenFone 4 Selfie (ZD553KL) ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro (ZD552KL) ZenFone Pro (ZS551KL) Zenfone Go (ZB552KL) Zenfone Live (ZB501KL) Zenfone 3s Max Zenfone AR Zenfone 3 Zoom Zenfone 3 Max Zenfone 3 Deluxe 5.5 Zenfone 3 Zenfone 3 Ultra Huwawei Honor 8 Pro P10 Plus P10 P10 Lite Mate 9 P8 Lite (With inputs from IANS)