Latest preview for Android 8.1 releases and enables Pixel Visual Core

Google has released the latest developer preview for Android 8.1 on its Pixel and Nexus devices. This release will enable the Pixel Visual Core as previously announced. That’s a separate soc in the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

Google writes that the soc can be enabled through a developer option. Once turned on, apps can capture HDR+ images using the chip. In addition, according to Google, the soc is suitable for performing machine learning tasks. The preview comes out for all Pixel devices, in addition to the Nexus 5X, 6P and Nexus Player. The test release does not entail any further major changes, according to the release notes.

Now that developers have access to the Visual Core, they can get started building apps that leverage the soc. Google wants to release the 8.1 version of Android in December. Included in this release is a neural network API that can be used by machine learning software such as the recently unveiled Tensor Flow Lite for mobile devices. From now on, apps can only send a notification per second.