Along with Pixel and Pixel XL launch, Google also announced the Android’s newest version aside, the 7.1 Nougat. We didn’t know the complete changelog yet, but Android Police dug up into some google sources and came up with a full changelog of both Pixel-exclusive and non-exclusive changes.
And here comes the full changelog. So, take a deep breath and start reading.
Pixel product-specific
- Pixel Launcher – swipe up for all apps, new Search Box, date/weather header on home
- Google Assistant
- Unlimited original quality photo/video backup to Google Photos
- Smart Storage – when storage is full, automatically removes old backed up photos/videos
- Phone/Chat support (new support tab in settings), screen-share functionality
- Quick switch adapter for wired setup from Android or iPhone
- Pixel Camera:
- Electronic Image Stabilization (“video stabilization”) 2.0
- Pro Features
- White Balance Presets
- Exposure Compensation
- AE/AF Locking
- Viewfinder grid modes
- HW-accelerated (on Qualcomm Hexagon coprocessor) HDR+ image processing
- Smartburst
- Sensor Hub processor with tightly integrated sensors (accel, gyro, mag) + connectivity (Wi-Fi, Cell, GPS)
- Cosmetic
- Solid navbar icons with home affordance for Assistant
- SysUI accent color theming
- Wallpaper picker with new wallpapers and sounds
- New setup looks and feel
- Dynamic calendar date icon
Android Nougat 7.1
- Night Light
- Touch/display performance improvements
- Moves (Fingerprint swipe down gesture – opt-in)
- Seamless A/B system updates
- Daydream VR mode
- Developer features:
- App shortcuts / shortcut manager APIs
- Circular app icons support
- Keyboard image insertion
- Fingerprint sensor gesture to open/close notification shade
- Manual storage manager Intent for apps
- Improved VR thread scheduling
- Enhanced wallpaper metadata
- Multi-endpoint calls support
- Support for various MNO requirements
- PCDMA voice privacy property
- Source type support for Visual Voicemail
- Carrier config options for managing video telephony
- Manual storage manager – identifies apps and files and apps using storage
After reading all of that, we can say that the Pixel Launcher, Google Assistant, unlimited original quality Google Photos backup, “EIS 2.0” (Google’s alternative to OIS), solid navbar icons, new blue SystemUI theming, wallpaper picker, new setup look, and dynamic calendar date icon will remain exclusive to the Pixels.
And those who are getting Android 7.1 without the Pixel devices will get Night Light (a blue light filter), performance improvements to touch and display, fingerprint swipe-down gesture (a welcome surprise), a Daydream VR mode, and a “manual storage manager”.
