What’s New in Android 7.0 Nougat That Makes It Worth Installing

Google is in the process of making Android 7.0 Nougat available to the public. When users do finally get access to the mobile OS, these features will make it worth installing.

Google made few design tweaks to Nougat. Those who have been using Marshmallow and other recent Android versions will discover quickly that the feel is the same, with a Google Search bar at the top, easy access to Google apps at the bottom and few design enhancements. That could be a good thing for IT professionals who want employees to be productive and not held back by major design changes that require training.

Nougat now comes with a new feature that lets two apps run side by side, designed to help users be more productive. For instance, users can view Twitter while they’re watching a movie or check the news while they’re updating their to-do lists.

Nougat supports a new application programming interface called Vulkan that’s designed specifically for graphics-intensive apps. The company says the API handles 3D graphics more effectively, allowing sophisticated app developers such as game makers to deliver “sharper graphics and eye-candy effects.” It could dramatically enhance the app experience on Android.

When battery life is a concern, Doze mode could be a useful feature. With Doze, users can go into low-power mode so background applications are kept at bay and battery usage is kept to a minimum. Doze also provides valuable insight into how much battery life is left, so users can determine when to turn it on.

Android’s notifications feature has received a major overhaul in Nougat. Now, when a notification such as a text message pops up, users have the ability to respond without opening another app. In addition, Google has added a feature called “Bundled Notifications” that allow users to see all the notifications they might have missed in a single pane. From there, users can either decide to clear them or tap on them to expand the item and get a full description.

Google, like many other companies, believes virtual reality has a bright future, so it’s built some new VR features into Nougat. The new operating system comes with a Virtual Reality mode that users can flick on and place themselves inside a 3D environment. The mode will work on phones that support Google’s Daydream, a virtual-reality platform it’s launching in the fall.

Where cellular data usage is a concern, Nougat can help out. The operating system comes with a feature called Data Saver that, when turned on, will not allow apps running in the background to access any updates or content over cellular networks. Since many people are still on tiered data plans, that could be a critical feature in saving data—and cash.

Emojis just don’t seem to be going away. In fact, they’re growing in numbers. To get a sense of just how important emojis have become, Google made that feature the first highlight in its roundup of additions to Nougat. The company says Nougat now comes with more than 1,500 emojis, including 72 new items, and users can type responses to text messages and other content in two or more languages at the same time with its new keyboard.

Security is a major concern for both consumers and the enterprise, so it’s perhaps no surprise that Google has upgraded security in Nougat. Now, users will find that “select” devices will have security updates automatically installed in the background. Nougat also includes file-based encryption to protect individual files, and offers a Direct Boot feature to ensure apps are running in a secure environment before a passcode is entered to unlock the device.

Android has helped Google expand the popularity of its many cloud applications and services, including search, Chrome, Google Drive and others. As with previous Android versions, those who download the free Nougat upgrade will have easy access to Google’s apps. And along the way, they’ll get the standard Android experience before device makers add their own proprietary user interface skins.