The web has concentrated a good part of its attention on yesterday's solar eclipse, but the software world hasn't been idle, and its biggest news was the official launch of Android 8.0, which, thanks to an agreement with the people at Nabisco, will carry the name Oreo. The highlights of this new build are a consolidation of entries in the settings menu, advanced controls that affect the appearance of icons, more security when installing apps, better notifications, Picture-in-Picture mode, and greater modularity to combat fragmentation.
Ladies and gentlemen, the new Android is out, and it's called Oreo. The eighth major version of the operating system arrives one year after 7.0 Nougat, which despite Google's efforts is only present on 13.5 percent of devices. One of the main objectives of Android 8.0 is to reduce fragmentation, and that's where Project Treble, which in essence separates updates from hardware through advanced compartmentalization. Of course, Project Treble can't do anything about fragmentation today, but Android Oreo sets a new starting point, and we hope it works as planned.
That said, which devices are ready to receive Oreo? For now there are six, and they all belong to Google: Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, the tablet Pixel C, the smartphone Pixel and its brother Pixel XL. OEMs have promised that updates for their most important phones will be available before the end of the year... something they repeat with every new build. Samsung, Motorola, Nokia, LG, Huawei and HTC are some of the names on the list. Returning to the operating system, Android 8.0 brings several novelties. Picture in Picture is one of the most interesting, and basically enables a floating video screen within another app. The new icon system makes the icons adapt to the device interface, but also allows the user to modify their appearance. Notifications are controlled with greater precision, and include a small dot on the app icon, color identification, and a "snooze" that postpones their appearance. Autocomplete and text selection are much smarter now, and there's a new series of emojis.
On the security side, Android 8.0 Oreo gives the user superior control when installing apps from alternative sources. Download permissions will be divided by app, replacing the classic global system. Another critical aspect is Google Play Protect, an additional barrier that protects us from multiple threats, including malicious downloads through the official store. Technically, Google Play Protect doesn't work exclusively on Oreo, but it's the operating system with the most integration. There is some enthusiasm with Android 8.0, and I'm sure manufacturers won't delay in announcing new devices, however, our wish is that it reaches as many phones as possible that are already on the market.
