Android Marshmallow successor, the Android 7.0 Nougat, is finally here ahead of its time. After a few extensive developer previews, Google has started rolling out update packages with the final consumer build of Nougat for Nexus devices. The OTA update is slowly being pushed to selected Nexus devices that include Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel-C.
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Google has not forgotten its ambitious Android One project and is also pushing Nougat update on Android One-based General Mobile 4G smartphone as well. None of the Indian Android One handsets get the update, though). Nor does the Nexus 5.
The user interface on Nougat appears more of less same as Android Marshmallow, but the OS offers several improved capabilities and has few new tricks up in its sleeves. It is faster, promises an improved battery life, and a better multitasking experience as compared to Andriod Marshmallow.
Android 7.0 Nougat Features
Multi window: In Android 7.0, Google has added a multi-window feature to offer a better multitasking experience on the go. With Multiwindow, phone’s screen splits in two half’s which allow a user to use two different apps at the same time.
This feature has been available on most Samsung, and LG smartphones for years now but with this update, it will become a standard feature across Android. Google has taken a leaf out of Apple’s book and added a picture-in-picture option. Now you can watch a video while replying to an email or scrolling through social media post.
Notifications: Notifications has gone through a lot of change in new version of android. They are now flat and takes entire width of the smartphone display. The most important change in notifications In Nougat is the arrival of quick reply functions. With this feature, it let users reply instantly to messages directly from the notification shade. Each time when a user receives a message, he can tap on reply option type directly from the same space.
Double Tap To Switch App: Now, in Nougat if you do a double tap on the overview button it will take you to the last app that you used. This makes life easier when you have to constantly between two apps. With this feature, copy text from one app and pasting it on another will be less irritating. Some Android smartphones like OnePlus 3 already have this feature.
Doze 2.0:Doze was one of the prominent feature of Android 6.0 Marshmallow and this time Google has decided to make it, even more, clever and efficient. In Marshmallow, Doze used to save battery when the phone is idle sitting on the desk and wasn’t moving. Now with Android 7.0 Nougat, Google has taken it a step further and now it saves battery even when the phone is in moving state in standby mode.
How To Update Nexus Smartphones To Android 7.0 Nougat
This year, Google decided to roll out Android 7.0 Nougat update even prior to the launch of 2016 edition of new Nexus devices. This is how you can update your Nexus 5X, 6P and Pixel C tablet to Android 7.0 Nougat:
- Firstly, a user has to go the Google’s Android Beta Programme page using his Nexus smartphone or Pixel C to check compatibility
- To check compatibility, you have to sign-in using your Google account.
- If the phone is compatible, there will be an option to “Enroll device”. Now restart the phone.
- Now, you should receive an update notification on your phone. However, if by any chance you didn’t receive notification, a user can do a manual check. To do so, just open the Setting menu, and select ‘About Phone’. Next, tap on the System Update and select Check Now.
The total size of the update is slightly more than 1 GB, so we recommend a stable Wi-Fi connection with good download speed. If you have been using Android N Developer Preview then you will receive an update that would tax your data only by 60MB.
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This Android Nougat 7.0 update is being rolled out in batches. So, be patient. It might take a week until it is available for download on your Nexus. Non-nexus smartphone users obviouslyt have to wait a bit longer.
