HMD Global Oy has been very swift in releasing Android Pie to several of its Android One devices, including Nokia 7 (& 7.1) and 6 (& 6.1), but is having a tough time to expand the roll-out to Nokia 8 series.
Owing to delay, rumours began to run wild on the Internet that the company deliberately delayed Android Pie release for Nokia 8 so that the consumers go for the new 8.1 which comes with latest Google mobile OS out-of-the-box. However, Juho Sarvikas, the chief product officer of HMD Global, flatly denied the allegations and apologised for the delay with the promise of sooner deployment.
Now, HMD Global is offering an opportunity for Nokia 8 owners have a first-hand experience of the latest Android Pie. Interested consumers can enrol for Nokia Beta Lab.
Once registered, users get an OTA update and will be required to give feedback to the company so that they can weed out bugs before releasing it to the public en masse.
Android Pie: Key features you need to know
Google Android 9.0 Pie beta now available to Nokia 8Android/Twitter (screen-grab)
- One of the key aspects Android Pie is the digital wellbeing. It brings Dashboard, which highlights screen time and phone usage including how many times the device has been unlocked and a number of notifications received so that they get an overview on how much obsessed with the phone. It also allows users to set App Timers to put limits on app usage
- Android Pie also comes with Wind Down and Do Not Disturb. With these features, users can set a daily schedule to get the phone ready for bed. Its screen fades to Grayscale, while Do Not Disturb silences notifications for a restful sleep. He/she can activate Do Not Disturb anytime they want to disconnect.
- Android 9 Pie also makes notifications more useful and offer actionable functionalities with conversations such as attach photos and stickers along with suggesting smart replies. Also, helps users get things done faster by predicting their next move and displaying the right action on the phone.
- The new System navigation system offers a single home button that provides intelligent predictions and suggestions (user enabled).
- Besides the usual Google security patch, Android 9 Pie brings several new safety features, including a standardized biometric authentication prompt to provide a more consistent authentication experience across Android.
- After upgrading to the Android Pie, devices will restrict any apps accessing users’ phone microphone, camera, or other sensors when an app is idle or running in the background. (If an app does need to access a sensor, it will show a persistent notification on your phone.)
- Furthermore, Android 9 introduces several new security features, including a standardized biometric authentication prompt to provide a more consistent authentication experience across Android.
- The Pie update also brings important enhancements that protect all web communications and offer private web surfing. It enables encryption of Android backups with a client-side secret (the device PIN, pattern or password) for greater security.
- Android Pie’s Slices feature identifies relevant information of users’ favourite apps to make them more easily accessible when they need them
- Other notable features include full-view screen friendly swipe-based navigation interface option, revamped setting drawer, adaptive battery and display, extend battery life and several others.