After the announcement of the ninth version “9.0” and the new Android operating system named “Pie”, it’s time to review a set of amazing and exciting features coming our way. Google focuses this year on making our digital lives more peaceful and organized through Android Pie. The update has started rolling out for Pixel devices and Essential Phone, and will soon be followed by others. The company is trying to make smartphones adapt to users’ habits through artificial intelligence and machine learning. The user interface has undergone a major overhaul, and Android Pie now offers great features aimed at simpler and faster use.
Note: Some features that are part of the Android Pie Digital Wellbeing initiative will remain in the experimental phase. You can subscribe to the free beta version, which will be released later this year, starting with Pixel smartphones only.
Highlights of Android Pie 9.0
1. Indoor Navigation with Wi-Fi RTT
Android P now supports the “IEEE 802.11mc WiFi” protocol, also known as “Wi-Fi Round-Trip-Time”. It is one of the best features awaited by Android enthusiasts. This new feature allows for indoor GPS tracking by pinpointing your location within a building and providing turn-by-turn directions to help you navigate inside buildings. This means you can now find your way through short distances inside shopping centers and large buildings.
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2. New App Switcher Look
Google has redesigned the way navigation works in the operating system by introducing the Gesture navigation feature in Android P similar to the iPhone X. Instead of three on-screen buttons set on the home screen, there is an option to use a new single swipe button that allows you to quickly scroll to view recent apps alongside the interface. Swiping all the way to the left or right will display recent apps and allow you to quickly switch between them.
3. Dashboard
Google has introduced a set of features that allow you to control how you use your phone. The Dashboard divides phone usage data to show how you spend time on your device for each app, through a pie chart indicating the time spent on each app in the day and hour by hour, the total number of hours spent on the phone each day, the number of times you’ve unlocked your phone, as well as the total number of notifications received.
4. App Timer
Another step towards digital wellness is the Time Timer feature that allows you to set time limits on apps you use for longer periods. When approaching the time limit, a warning notification pops up indicating that you’ve reached your limit and the app “pauses”. So, with Android P, you can better manage your time and improve your productivity.
5. Do Not Disturb Feature
Often, meetings and family gatherings require your full attention, and Android P helps with that through the modified “Do Not Disturb” mode. Not only does it silence phone calls and notifications, but also all visual interruptions like notifications popping up on the screen. Another feature built on gestures called “Shush” in Android Pie makes it easier to step away from calls and notifications by enabling the “Do Not Disturb” mode. To activate Shush mode, simply place your phone on the table, and it will automatically enter DND mode.
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6. “Wind Down” Feature
Many of us spend hours on our phones at night before we fall asleep. Wind Down helps reduce this habit by enabling the Night Mode feature and activating the “Do Not Disturb” mode at the bedtime you choose. Simply select the time you want to sleep, and Android P will gray out the screen to help you remember to sleep at the designated time.
7. “Notch Support” Feature
From now on, Android P features edge-to-edge display support with the “Notch Display support” option. The new feature includes different types of notch patterns like tall, narrow, and wide dimensions. You can find this option after enabling developer options.
8. “Actions” App
One of the other great features in Android P is the Actions app that helps you navigate throughout the day better by providing smart suggestions based on your habits. For example, if you connect your headphones to your smartphone, the app will ask if you want to continue listening to your favorite playlist on Spotify, allowing you to skip several steps in the process. Such actions appear across the operating system in Smart Text Selection, Play Store, Launcher, Google Search, and the personal assistant as well.
9. “Slices” Feature
“Slices” is one of the best features of Android P that is handy in several places. It allows you to perform core app activities outside of the app as well, for example, if you search for ‘Lyft’ in Google search. An interactive slice appears on the screen displaying the price and time so you can quickly book a ride. In short, Slices are fully functional UIs that can be embedded externally in other apps to provide a variety of options for the user. This feature, like many other parts of Android, works by deeply analyzing your inputs and contexts to show you the best parts of the apps you use most of the time.
10. “Lockdown Mode” Security Feature
