Android 7.0: Nougat

 

Android 7.0 Nougat was a major release of the Android operating system, announced on August 22, 2016. It introduced a range of new features, improvements, and optimizations to enhance the user experience. Here are some key features of Android 7.0 Nougat:

1. Split-screen multitasking: Nougat introduced native support for split-screen multitasking, allowing users to run two apps simultaneously in a split-screen view. This feature enabled users to multitask more effectively by having two apps open and visible at the same time.

2. Enhanced notifications: Nougat brought several improvements to the notification system. It introduced bundled notifications, which grouped multiple notifications from the same app into a single expandable card. Users could also reply directly to notifications without opening the corresponding app.

3. Quick Settings customization: Nougat introduced the ability to customize the Quick Settings panel, allowing users to rearrange and add/remove tiles to suit their preferences. This provided quick access to frequently used settings and shortcuts.

4. Vulkan API support: Nougat introduced support for the Vulkan API, a low-overhead, cross-platform graphics API that provided enhanced performance and graphical capabilities for games and other graphics-intensive applications.

5. Enhanced Doze mode: Nougat improved the Doze mode introduced in Marshmallow. It introduced "Doze on the Go," which enabled Doze mode even when the device was in motion, such as in a user's pocket. This further optimized battery life when the device was not in active use.

6. Data saver: Nougat introduced a data saver feature that allowed users to limit background data usage on a per-app basis. It restricted background data access to conserve mobile data usage and help users stay within their data limits.

7. Direct Reply: Nougat expanded on the Direct Reply feature introduced in Marshmallow. It allowed users to reply to messages and notifications directly from the notification shade without opening the corresponding app.

8. Seamless system updates: Nougat introduced a new system update process called "seamless updates." With this feature, devices with a dual-partition system could download and install updates in the background, making the update process faster and more seamless.

9. Unicode 9 emoji: Nougat introduced support for the Unicode 9 emoji standard, which added new emoji with more diverse representations and a range of new expressions and objects.

10. Daydream VR: Nougat introduced support for Daydream VR, Google's virtual reality platform. It provided a high-quality VR experience on supported devices, with optimized performance and new VR-specific features.

Android 7.0 Nougat brought a range of new features, performance optimizations, and enhancements to the Android platform. It aimed to improve multitasking, battery life, notification management, and overall user experience while supporting the latest standards and technologies.