GOOGLE has just released the final version of its Android P software

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GOOGLE HAS JUST released the final version of its Android P software, which was first previewed at the company's annual developer conference back in May. This also means that we're finally learning what P stands for, after months of online debate. Popsicle? Pudding? Pumpkin pie? In keeping with Google's dessert-themed naming convention for its mobile OS, the new software is simply named Pie—although, as many will be quick to point out, not all pies are dessert pies.

Android Pie rolls out today to Google's own Pixel phones. As for when the update will hit other Android phones, that's a giant question mark as always. Google says devices that were a part of the developer preview program—those from Sony, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus, Essential, and more—along with some Android One phones, will get the new software in the fall. Others will get the new OS sometime "this year." Whenever Android Pie shows up on your phone, here are five new things to look for.

What a Lovely Gesture
In the new Android Pie, the familiar lineup of three navigation icons at the bottom of the phone has been replaced by a single pill-shaped icon in the bottom center of the screen. Long-press this digital button and Google Assistant pops up. Swipe up from it and it will bring you to the latest app you were using. From here you can scroll horizontally through all of your open apps. You can also swipe horizontally on the new icon itself to swipe through open apps. Swipe up from the icon again and it will bring you to your app drawer. Tap on it and it will bring you home.

AI, But for Battery Life
Battery life optimization has been a big focus of Google's past few OS updates, starting with Android 6.0 Marshmallow (with the introduction of Doze) all the way up to Android 8.0 Oreo ("Wise Limits"). Unfortunately, there were a fair number of complaints about severe battery drain with Oreo, particularly with Samsung phones. But Google has made continual improvements, and Android Pie has a new feature called "Adaptive Battery." It applies machine learning to the problem of our ever-draining power cells.

I'll Have a Small Slice
Usually when you search for an app on Android, the app icon itself comes up, as well as any other relevant results on the device or on the web. With Android Pie, Google is going to show you information that's embedded within apps, offering you interactive app functionality from directly within search results. At a high level, Google says, it's the company's new approach to "remote content."

On Background
The idea that Facebook could be listening to our conversations through smartphone microphones is one of the most persistent, and still unproven, conspiracy theories on the web. Android Pie will make that theory even more dubious. The software update "restricts access to mic, camera, and all Sensor Manager sensors from apps that are idle," the company said around the time that the new OS was first announced.

"digital well-being" software
Google's new "digital well-being" software is the only part of the Android Pie OS that will still be in beta for a while longer. This latest software release includes a sign-up flow where people can now enroll in the well-being beta, but again, these features will officially launch in the fall. Also: It will only work on Pixel phones to start.

Source: Google