Google releases release candidate of Android O

Google has released its latest test version for Android O. After this version, the next one will be the final release. The search giant still does not say what the final version of its new mobile operating system will be called.

Users in the Android Beta Program will receive the update in the coming days, Google says. Developer Preview 4 is the release candidate of Android O and thus the last version before the release. There will also be minor updates to developer tools such as the sdk and emulator.

With that, the release of Android O is almost ready. The release will follow later this summer, according to Google. The American company released Android 7.0 Nougat in August last year and it is obvious that this new version will come out around the same time of the year. Android O will first appear as updates to existing devices such as the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.

Google has not yet revealed the final name and version number. The new developer preview includes an easter egg of a squid (octopus), where the previous test version had an orange (orange). Android’s names are alphabetical, and Google names them after sweets, such as nougat, marshmallow, and lollipop.

The Android version contains changes that affect apps. For example, Android O automatically puts limits on what apps can do in the background. The software will limit apps in the field of ‘implicit broadcasts’, ‘background services’ and ‘location updates’.

Furthermore, ‘O’ marks the arrival of notification channels, picture-in-picture, multi-screen support, better keyboard handling, color profiles, support for Sony’s ldac and Qualcomms aptX and aptX-HD bluetooth audio codecs and dynamic icon shapes. In addition, there is Project Treble, with which Google separates the Android OS Framework from the ‘vendor implementation’ for faster updates.