Android 8.1 Oreo

With Android 8.1 bringing features found on the Pixel 2 to older devices, the Pixel C has also gained some updates in the form of a revamped launcher. However, the OTA did not go smoothly for early users, with some finding their tablets wiped following installation.
Besides addressing various bugs and issues, Android 8.1 adds a highly requested feature for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL devices on AT&T. This update, which is rolling out now, adds HD Voice Calling support for customers on the network.
Following last week’s release of the final developer preview, Android 8.1 is now officially available for current Pixel and Nexus devices. The latest version of Android brings some of the visual changes and features found on the Pixel 2 to the rest of Google’s lineup. Meanwhile, there are various bug fixes and changes for developers to take advantage of.
At I/O 2017, Google announced Android Go — a version of the operating system optimized on multiple fronts for low-end hardware. Replacing an increasingly upscaled Android One, Android Oreo (Go edition) is launching today with Android 8.1. The first devices from partners will arrive in the coming months.
Google released this month’s Android security bulletin today, but noted that the December images for Pixel and Nexus would be coming a day later. Meanwhile, following last week’s final developer preview, it’s more than likely that tomorrow’s release will also coincide with the launch of Android 8.1.
Android 8.1 brings a handful of nice tweaks to Oreo, but some of the best ones directly relate to issues with the Pixel 2 XL. One of those is the tweaked navigation bar which can now invert its colors and dim the buttons. Now, Google Maps has been updated to take advantage of that.
Android just keeps getting better and better on phones, but Android tablets are very much neglected. There haven’t been any meaningful improvements to Android on tablets in years, but Google hasn’t totally forgotten them. In the latest Android 8.1 preview, the Pixel C tablet has gotten just a bit of attention.
Shortly after the Pixel 2 was released, Google announced that its two new smartphones had a dedicated chip built-in that would be used to handle specialized processes like the camera app’s HDR+ image processing. Weirdly, though, Google didn’t turn on this Pixel Visual Core when it shipped its flagship devices. Now, with Android 8.1 Developer Preview 2, the Pixel Visual Core can be enabled. Here’s how…
After outcry earlier this year regarding Google’s emojis on Android, specifically around its version of a cheeseburger. Now, in the latest version of Android 8.1, Google has fixed a handful of emojis.
Expand Expanding CloseAs most know, the Pixel 2 and especially the Pixel 2 XL have been plagued with bugs and issues since being released back in October. Thankfully, Google isn’t ignoring customer complaints and has been working on fixes. According to several people running the second Developer Preview of Android 8.1, it appears that Google has rolled out a patch that addresses a weird microphone bug that created audio distortion when capturing video…
The first release of Android 8.1 brought over a number of interface and behavior changes from the Pixel 2 to older Pixel and Nexus devices. Google released the second developer preview this morning and it’s currently installing on our devices. We’re compiling a list of all the changes and new functionality, so follow along.
After entering Developer Preview as a beta last month, Google today announced the second release of Android 8.1. “Near-final system images for final testing” are available today for the latest Pixel and Nexus devices and come ahead of next month’s public launch.
Android 8.1 has a few really handy changes, but one of the handiest isn’t live just yet. Spotted over the weekend, Google appears to be working on a new feature for Android that saves storage space by reducing the size of apps that aren’t active.
Google has made a lot of moves in the past couple of years to improve Android’s battery consumption levels, but sometimes you’ll run into a rogue app that drains your battery faster than expected. Now, in Android 8.1, Google is going to call out apps that are hogging your battery.
Following last week’s release of the Android 8.1 Developer Preview, new functionality is still being uncovered. Yesterday, one possible feature emerged, suggesting that Android was making a critical change to Factory Reset Protection. However, Google has confirmed to us that this is not the case and that a bug is to blame.
Android has long had a feature that automatically added shortcuts to the home screen after they were downloaded from the Google Play Store. As this could get annoying, the feature could be disabled within the Play Store’s settings menu. With Oreo, though, Google moved this setting out of the store itself and placed it into one of the operating system’s menus. Here’s how to turn this automatic feature off…
Android 8.1 has a bunch of new little features, but one of the more interesting to show up is actually something we’ve heard about before — the ability to enable SMS sync on your Chromebook. Now, that feature has been uncovered in the 8.1 developer preview.
Android Oreo doesn’t add a lot of new features, but one of the more notable additions has been picture-in-picture mode. However, the rollout of that feature has been incredibly limited. Now, it’s finally expanding to Netflix.
When Google first rolled out Android Oreo, a persistent notification came with it that displayed all of the apps that were running in the background. With the release of the Android 8.1 Developer Preview, this notification has now been renamed to “using battery” and allows users to disable it from always showing (even on 8.0). Here’s how to do just that…
After teasing last week, Google today launched the Android 8.1 Developer Preview. Available for Pixel and Nexus devices, this new version of Android features a number of under-the-hood changes. We’re compiling a list of all the changes and new functionality, so follow along.
Google just announced the Developer Preview for Android 8.1 for a handful of Pixel and Nexus devices. This beta build can either be installed through the traditional flashing method or by OTA using the search giant’s Beta Program. Here’s how to install Android 8.1 using both methods…
As Google teased during the unveil of the Pixel Visual Core, Android 8.1 will be released in the coming weeks for Pixel and Nexus devices. Google today launched the Android 8.1 Developer Preview, with images now available, as well as through the Android Beta Program.
At I/O 2017, Google announced that it would be rolling out the second Developer Preview build of Android O and along with it, the O Beta Program. Just like with Android Nougat’s Beta Program, you enroll in the program online and shortly after, Google will send an OTA update to your registered device. Here’s the how to enroll and unenroll in that program…