Google gave Nexus users a tasty treat on Monday with the announcement its Android 7.0 Nougat operating system is now out of beta and available for installation on their devices.
According to Google, the release will be available starting today and over the next several weeks as a free update on a number of Nexus smartphones and tablets, including the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One). Nexus users can check if the update is available via the “About Phone” option in their settings menu.
Devices that are enrolled in the Android Beta Program will also be able to get the final version of Nougat, Google said. Roll outs to other Android deices will come further down the line once manufacturers like Samsung and HTC make their own iterations of the OS available to users.
LG’s next flagship device, the LG V20, will become the first smartphone to ship with Android Nougat already installed when it launches in the third quarter, Google said.
Android Nougat comes with a number of new features, including more ways for users to customize their device via homescreen widgets, adjustable Quick Settings controls and expanded emojis; productivity enhancements via support for side-by-side multi-window capabilities, direct replies to notifications without having to open apps and a Quick Switch feature for a users’ two most used apps; and smarter battery usage via the Doze feature. The update will also come with a Data Saver feature for data conscious users that will block background apps from accessing cellular data.
Google said it also worked to make the Android OS more secure with new features in Nougat, including background software updates, file-based encryption and Direct Boot to allow apps to run securely before a device is unlocked.
The release of Nougat comes just ahead of the expected release of Apple’s latest iOS update next month.