As expected, the upcoming latest iteration of the world’s most widely used mobile operating system, Android P, had taken a starring role in this year’s annual Google I/O developer conference. And those looking to experience Android P first now get an opportunity to do so -- the beta version can now be downloaded (go visit the official preview web page here).
Of course, it should be mentioned that for now, Android P Beta will only work for a limited list of mobile devices. Naturally, owners of any one of Google’s own Pixel smartphones can fully expect their handset to be compatible. Considering that the tech giant has collaborated with a number of third party developers, this should mean that more prospective first adopters this time can get to try the beta version of Android P, that is as long as their Android phones are supported.
So aside from the Pixel devices, which other phones can download Android P Beta? The list includes specific models from Essential (the Essential Phone), Nokia (the 7 Plus), OnePlus (the upcoming OnePlus 6), Oppo (R15 Pro), Sony (Xperia XZ2), Vivo (the X21), and Xiaomi (Mi Mix 2S). Yup, there are some notable omissions, including super familiar names such as Samsung, LG, HTC, and Huawei.
Android P is already starting to generate some buzz, especially after Google showcased some of the newest features at this year’s I/O developer conference. While it is true that the current latest version, Android Oreo, offered various enhancements, they were mostly focused on the back end side. Android P, however, appears to be putting more emphasis on improving the visual side of things.
Google has also added some fresh gesture driven features that should allow Android P to compete with similar functionalities present in Apple’s iOS platform as seen on the iPhone X. And there is also the new Adaptive Battery feature, which helps manage battery power more efficiently by minimizing usage on under used apps.
The most popular mobile OS in the world is even addressing mobile device addiction, with new features that should help users manage and monitor how much time they (or their family members) are spending on handsets. This is fully encapsulated in the new Android Dashboard tool, which not only displays the mobile apps that attract the most usage, but also shows the frequency in which people unlock their devices, as well as the number of alerts they get in any given time.
To know more about Android P, check out its official developer web page now.
