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Google rolls out Nougat to Nexus

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 24 Aug 2016
Google's new OS was named after the company crowd-sourced the public for 'delicious' suggestions.
Google's new OS was named after the company crowd-sourced the public for 'delicious' suggestions.

Google's latest operating system (OS), Android 7.0 Nougat, will be rolled out in an update to Nexus devices, with other models to follow.

Sameer Samat, Android and Google Play product management VP, says this OS is differentiated from previous versions in two ways.

Firstly, developers were invited to take a sneak peek in March, so they could bring their apps to the new platform earlier. Secondly, Google asked the public to help come up with a name for the OS.

The company has traditionally named its operating systems after sweet treats and desserts, with others called KitKat, Lollipop and Cupcake.

There are over 250 major features in Android Nougat, including new ways to customise handsets, expanded emoji options, apps that can tailor their content based on locale settings, multi-window, direct reply, and an option to quickly switch between most used apps.

The update also makes the smartphone's battery 'smarter', with a feature that drops it into a lower power usage when it senses the device is in a pocket or bag.

To make the OS more secure, Nougat includes seamless updates which allow devices to install software updates in the background, and file-based encryption.

In the coming weeks, the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and Android One will get an over-the-air software update to the new OS.

Any devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program will also receive this final version.

The upcoming LG V20 will be the first new smartphone that comes with Android Nougat out of the box.

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