Android 7.0 Nougat is Out Now

ANDROID N STARTS rolling out yesterday—but only if you have a Nexus device. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait a few months. Most Android phone owners will likely receive a notification to update their phone’s operating system sometime between November and January.

Owners of Nexus devices such as the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel C should start receiving prompts to update their operating system throughout the day. Any devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program will also receive the update. As with other mass updates, it could take longer for some users to receive the update than others.

Google posted the news on their Android blog, as well as launched an Android 7.0 Nougat website explaining the new features of the latest Android operating system.

• Expanded emoji: There are now over 1,500 different emoji built into Android, including 72 new ones, so go ahead: express yourself.
• Quick Settings controls: Quick Settings gives you easy access to things like Bluetooth, WiFi and the all-important flashlight. With Android Nougat, you can actually control what tiles go where, and move ‘em around to fit your needs.
• Multi-locale support: Apps can tailor their content based on your locale settings. So if you speak multiple languages, for instance, then search engines can show results in each of those languages.
• Multi-window: Run two apps side-by-side. The windows are resizable, too, by simply dragging the divider.
• Direct Reply: Reply directly to notifications without having to open any app.
• Quick Switch: Switch between your two most recently used apps by simply double tapping the Overview button.
• Smarter battery life with improved Doze feature.
• Support for Vulkan™ (an advanced 3D rendering API) and Daydream (Google’s platform for mobile virtual reality).
• Seamless updates: New Android devices with Nougat can install software updates in the background which means you won’t have to wait while your device installs the update and optimizes all your apps for the new version. And for current Nexus users, software updates now install much faster, so you won’t have to wait for minutes while your device reboots.
• File-based encryption: Android Nougat can better isolate and protect files for individual users on your device.
• Direct Boot: Direct Boot helps your device startup faster, and apps run securely even before you unlock your device when your device reboots.

Also, Google has confirmed that LG V20, which is expected to launch on September 6, will be the first official smartphone running Android Nougat. “The New LG V20: The first new smartphone that comes with Android Nougat, right out of the box. Coming soon,” says Android blogpost.

HTC had confirmed that HTC 10, HTC One A9 and HTC One M9 will get Android Nougat update, back in July. The Taiwanese company had confirmed the release in a tweet.

A report on SamMobile says that Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, and Galaxy Note 5 could get Android 7.0 Nougat update soon. But the new S7 series will get the update first in all likelihood.