Google Confirms Nougat 7.1 Developer Previews Will Be Coming To Nexus 6P, 5X, 6, 9

Just two days back, we had leaked out various details of Nougat 7.1 to you. It turns out that everything that our friends at Google had told us is correct.

In a blog post today, Google took off wraps of Nougat 7.1. Nougat 7.1 was initially showcased last week along with the launch of Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL.Although we had covered up the changes which Nougat 7.1 had from it's predecessor Nougat 7.0, certain doubts still loomed over what features would be carried on from the Nougat 7.1 in the Pixel devices to the generic release (or AOSP variant) of Nougat 7.1. The features which have been carried forward from the Pixel devices include Daydream VR support and A/B system updates (seamless update installation in the background).

Raising the API level for apps from 24 in Nougat 7.0 to 25 in Nougat 7.1, this maintenance release of Android brings in App Shortcuts. App Shortcuts is pretty much like the 3D Touch in iOS, which helped in improving user interactions with the applications dramatically. Android is adopting a similar feature in the form of App Shortcuts now and using these a user will be able to divulge more details from an application (as shown above) without actually opening it.

Next up is the native support for circular icons. Pixel Launcher is the launcher which comes aboard the Pixel devices. One of the many features the launcher has is that of circular icons. As you can see in the screenshot above, all the icons on the home screen as well as in the app dock are circular.

Another major change is the image support in keyboards. From now on you would be able to select custom stickers, animated gifs, and more straight from your keyboard. Apps can tell the keyboard what types of content they accept, and keyboards can deliver all of the images and other content that they offer to the user.

Other API changes introduced in 7.1 include multi-endpoint calling and telephony configuration for carriers and calling apps, enhanced live wallpaper metadata and storage manager intent. Using the enhanced live wallpaper metadata API, developers will now be able to pass on key information regarding the image in context (such as label, description, author, a new context URL and title to link to more information) to wallpaper pickers. Developers can now let their users free up storage space which the application utilises  by deleting unused files.

When will it be available?

As we had told you in our leak as well, developer previews will be coming out by the end of this month. Google plans to have three developer previews as of now. The stable release of Nougat 7.1 is slated for somewhere in early December.

The beta builds will be available for the following roster of devices:

• Pixel XL
• Pixel
• Pixel C
• Nexus 6P
• Nexus 5X
• Nexus 6
• Nexus 9
• Nexus Player 
• Android One

Google didn't mention which Android One devices will make it to the eligible list, but we are inclined to believe that the Android One Second (General Mobile 4G) and Third generations (General Mobile GM5 Plus) will be included in here.

How to get it?

To get a notification of the beta builds as soon as they are available, you need to sign up for Android Beta.

Once you have signed up for Android Beta, you will get an OTA notification of the beta build on your supported device once it is available. All you then need to do is download the OTA and your device will look after the rest.

You also have an option to opt out of the Beta program anytime you want to.

 

Krittin Kalra

Krittin Kalra is a 20 year old Android freak. Striving for passions, chasing down his dreams and living a life without regrets is his sole mantra. A bit moody, he also does custom ROM reviews for AndroGuider. Currently pursuing his B.Tech, he aspires to follow his heart.