It also introduces Slices API, ML Kit, and many new features

May 8, 2018 18:25 GMT  ·  By

Google announced today during the Google I/O 2018 event some of the major new features coming to the next major release of its Linux-based Android mobile operating system, Android P.

We already knew about some of the new features in Android P when Google released the first Developer Preview two months ago, but now Google finally gave us a first look at some of these enhancements that we bet most Android users out there can't wait to enjoy on their devices.

Among these new features coming to Android P, we can mention adaptive battery to help you save battery life on your Android-powered device, adaptive brightness to also improve the battery life by allowing the device to adapt the screen brightness to the environment, app actions, and a new touch gestures.

"In Android P, we partnered with DeepMind to build Adaptive Battery, which prioritizes battery power only for the apps and services you use the most, to help you squeeze the most out of your battery. We also used machine learning to create Adaptive Brightness, which learns how you like to set the brightness slider given your surroundings," said Sameer Samat, VP of Product Management, Android.

Additionally, Android P will come with App Actions, a new feature that promises to help you do your daily tasks more easily and quickly by using AI to predict what you will be doing next. For example, you'll see new actions when you connect your headphones, such as to continue listening to your Spotify playlist. New system navigation is also coming to Android P with new gestures to swipe between running apps from your device's homescreen more easily.

Android P Beta now available for public testing

Of course, Android P will introduce dozens of other new features and improvements, some of which were announced in the past few months. Among those highlighted today at Google I/O, we can mention a new Android Dashboard to fight smartphone/tablet addiction, App Timer to set time limits on apps, new and smarter Do Not Disturb mode, Wind Down to automatically turn on Night Light when its dark, DNS over TLS and encrypted backups for better security, as well as protected confirmations.

To enjoy all these new features, Google announced today that Android P Beta is now available for public testing on the Pixel, Pixel 2, Pixel XL, and Pixel XL 2 smartphones, as well as on the a limited number of other Android smartphones from Sony, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Nokia, Oppo, Vivo, and Essential, including the Nokia 7 Plus, Essential PH‑1, Sony Xperia XZ2, OnePlus 6, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Oppo R15 Pro, and Vivo X21.

Android Dashboard, App Timer, and Wind Down

Android P (3 Images)

Android P
Android DashboardAndroid Dashboard, App Timer, and Wind Down
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