Multitasking, Emojis and Better Battery: Features of the new Android Oreo

It's time for the annual renewal of the Android operating system, the most widely used mobile phones and tablets worldwide. In 2017, it goes to its 15th version, number 8.0 and called temporary only "O". But on Monday (21), the world knew its real name, the Oreo - taken once again from a sweet, as is tradition at Google.

The launch took advantage of the fact that the Northern Hemisphere was the scene of a solar eclipse on the same day. Then Google launched a counting down site for the arrival of the new Android, which occurred simultaneously with the natural phenomenon. And what will come again? How about video calls while checking the schedule? Or auto-complete app passwords when you switch phones? And more battery savings by restricting the unrestrained use of apps in the background? See below in detail the main novelties of the new Android:

• "Picture-in-picture": The most interesting novelty of the release. This mode allows users to manage two tasks simultaneously. For example, a little window with a WhatsApp or Hangouts video call while checking appointments in your calendar app, or reading a new recipe while watching a video with a specific cooking technique. Now we can finally see Netflix or YouTube while we do something else on the phone.
  
• Notification Points: These are polls warning that there are new tastings or comments in the Facebook app, for example. Users can also tap the app icon to open a menu detailing notifications. Some modified versions of Android have already made their versions of this feature for some time, such as those of Samsung and LG, in addition to Apple's iOS system. Now this will be native to Android.
  
• Improved autofill: Google promises to simplify the setup of a new device and password synchronization, bringing the Chrome auto-fill feature to all Android, allowing passwords for all applications to be populated automatically. The process can speed up login, but will also open up new security discussions. Would not that help the attacker who had access to the cell phone to take care of all the accounts of the victim?
  
• New Emojis: Goodbye, droplets: in Android Oreo, they will be round, like in other platforms - iOS, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.
  
• Smart text selection: Android Oreo will use machine learning to copy / paste, allowing the system to recognize the data context as addresses, URLs, phone numbers and email addresses and giving indications of apps in which you want to paste the content, based on the data type. This makes the copy / paste experience better, says Google. Example: It will note when you are trying to copy an address, already selecting it, and will suggest that it be pasted into Google Maps.
  
• Limits to background system usage: Until now, apps have abused mobile phone hardware while in the background. For Google, this can adversely affect system performance. So, in Android Oreo have introduced limits to locate the geographic position and movements of the user. They also limited sweeps to the Wi-Fi network and changed the way apps run in the background. All this should increase battery life and free up memory.
  
• Adding shortcuts and widgets within the app: Anyone using Android shortcuts and widgets (windows and icons with special functions of a particular app) knows that you need to enter the home screen settings to do this. It is a process that not all dominate well. It is now possible to create this shortcut or widget within the application itself, and it will also identify with a "mini-icon" of which app came the shortcut. It is a way to guard against malware tricks.
  
• Adaptive icons: With this feature, Android Oreo implements a stiffer visual guide so that launchers (programs that reformat the look of Android) used by different companies such as Samsung, Sony and LG, can have a better visual identity in the icons. So, the same app that can be circulated on an LG cell phone can be square in the Samsung device. In addition, they can move, as in the image below.
  
• Google Play Protect: This is a Google security suite for Android. It will update and act automatically to keep data and devices safe. For example, it will detect and remove apps that can be harmful. Another feature is "Find My Device," allowing you to locate, block and delete your Android devices from a distance in case of loss or theft of the phone.
  
• System Optimizations: On Android Oreo, Google says it has worked harder for apps to run faster and smoother. For this, they included new process optimizations, such as simultaneous compiling of garbage files and locating codes.

And there will be a version of the Play Store that highlights apps specifically designed for the next billion users online while still offering the entire application catalog. These three items will be joined as a unique experience, starting in 2018.