At this year’s Google I/O, Google gave us a preview of Android P, the next generation Android operating system. In reality, the company has been testing Android P for months to make sure everything runs smoothly at launch.
A number of developers have been a part of Google’s beta testing program in recent months. And, they have come across a lot of exciting features in Android P. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of the best new features in Android P. Before we begin, note that Android P is now available as a public beta and supports 11 devices only.
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Notification muting
Android P introduces a handy feature that allows you to mute any notifications you dismiss. In other words, when you dismiss a lot of notifications from a certain app, you will get an option to mute them in the future. This is a great feature for those users who want to remove those annoying notifications.
In reality, notification muting feature is not something new out there. However, Google is finally adding it to Android. Android Oreo has a number of options that let you have a better control of your notifications. However, there is still something missing. To mute notifications from an app, you simply hit the Stop Notifications button from the popup menu.
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Gestures
Android P comes with some new gestures that make what you do even faster and better. Once you have updated to Android P, you should see a Gestures menu in the Settings app. When you are in, turn on the switch for Swipe up on Home button.
A swipe right on the home button will take you back to your previously-visited app. This is even faster than the previous approach that involves double-tapping the Overview button.
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Battery life
The poor battery is one of the major concerns when it comes to mobile devices. Google has been working on improving battery life in Android since the day one to give users more time to interact with apps. If you have been using your Android phone for a while, then it’s time to see if your battery is replaced.
Android P is making your process much easier, thanks to a new feature called Adaptive Battery. Google’s latest Android version includes an option to tell you when your battery will die. This is a small change but a worthwhile one. Google’s move comes shortly following reports of Apple slowing down old iPhones due to battery issues.
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Volume controls are now smarter
Most of today’s smartphones come with physical control buttons, allowing you to volume up or down your music. In Android P, you can quickly switch between loud and muted options on your phone. All you need to do now is to press one of the Volume buttons and then tap the top button. To go to the settings for sound, just simply hit the cog button on the bottom of the slider.
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Smarter Do Not Disturb mode
Do Not Disturb has become the standard feature on all smartphones out there. Once enabled, the feature quickly mutes notifications, alerts, and calls you get when your device is locked. In Android P, Do Not Disturb is even smarter.
You now can choose what you will get and what you don’t want. Tech experts say that Google is adding a new feature to quickly enable Do Not Disturb by turning over your device. However, it is nowhere to be found in Android P beta.
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Quickly mute your device
Android P introduces a new way to silence your device. From now on, all you need to do is to press power and volume up buttons together. Doing so will quickly mute your notifications or vibrate your device.
To access the muting options, open the Settings app on your device, then hit Sound and hit Shortcut to prevent ringings. Once you are in, you simply need to select your option.
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Edit screenshots
In Android P, Google is finally adding the editing functionality to its operating system. The ability to edit screenshots is not something new out there as it has been available in iOS for a while.
Once you have taken a screenshot, you will get an editing option that lets you spice up your shot. To share a screenshot, hit the Share button at the top right corner of the screen.
Android P is still in beta stages, meaning that it may include bugs and errors. Google has not specified the release date for Android P, but we believe that it won’t come out until fall.
Also read: 6 things Google Assistant can do that Apple Siri cannot
Got any questions? Let us know in the comments below.
