Google launched the latest version of its hugely-popular operating system – Android 8.0 Oreo – at an event in New York City earlier this week.
The launch follows months of beta releases and tweaks from the US technology company.
Android Oreo includes a slew of tweaks and minor improvements to the smartphone and tablet operating system.
The eighth major software iteration includes notification dots on app icons, picture-in-picture video playback, and autofill to quickly and securely enter passwords and other personal information in website forms.
Oreo will also restrict background apps from draining the battery to help eek more usage from each charge.
Google has completely overhauled its emoji design – ditching the Flubber-like blobs in favour of a round design closer to those seen on the iPhone.
However – somewhat confusingly – despite the launch even in New York City last night, you won’t find an outstanding update waiting for you on your Android smartphone this morning.
Following the release date, Google has pushed Android 8.0 Oreo out of developer preview and public beta and into its Android Open Source Project.]
This enables third-party Android smartphone manufacturers (Samsung, HTC, OnePlus, LG, Huawei, HMD Global) to start working on the operating system for their own devices.
Different smartphone manufacturers work to different timescales to roll-out the latest version of Android to their hardware.
The number of tweaks to the design and functionality of Google’s operating system can also determine how long it takes to appear on third-party devices.
As for those running Google’s own hardware – like the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Pixel C, Google Pixel and Pixel XL – the California-based company has confirmed that Android 8.0 has entered carrier testing.
It expects the new operating system to be available as an over-the-air update from the settings app in the near future.
The final version of Android Oreo will be pushed-out to those signed-up to the program today.