1. Android 7.1 Nougat Manual
2. Android 7.1 Nougat Download

Android Nougat 7.1 does not equal to Pixel phone (or Pixel XL) phones

About official Samsung Galaxy Note 5 user manuals with Android Nougat update In most regions, Samsung updated Galaxy Note 5 to Android Nougat (Android 7.0). These official Samsung Galaxy Note 5 user manuals with Android Nougat update in different languages will help you to use Galaxy Note 5 with Android Nougat update. Android Guide: Tips, Tricks and How-Tos for Nougat and Marshmallow. Android Nougat arrived last year, bringing a number of welcome improvements, such as fast app switching and a productivity. Jun 09, 2019  Add swipe gestures to any Android, no root. One handed mode. Make your phone easier to use with one hand, no root. News, & Discussion SM-A720S Nougat user manual by geekYFK. Samsung Galaxy A3, A5, A7 (2017) Guides, News, & Discussion; Samsung Galaxy A3, A5, A7 (2017) Questions & Answers. 7 Plus, and 7.1. November 5, 2019.

Android Nougat 7.1 was released with Google’s Pixel (and Pixel XL) phones on October 4, 2016. It is actually an incremental maintenance release for Android Nougat 7.0.

So, you should not expect so many new features in Android Nougat 7.1 as in 7.0.

Because new features in Android Nougat 7.1 were mixed with Pixel phone’s unique (exclusive) features, some users are a bit confused on the new features in Android Nougat 7.1.

This Android Nougat guide will explain to you the new features in Android Nougat 7.1 (compared to Android Nougat 7.0) and exclusive features of Pixel (and Pixel XL) phones.

Top 5 new features in Android Nougat 7.1

In addition to general bug fixes, the major new features in Android Nougat 7.1 include night light, fingerprint swipe down gesture, Daydream VR mode, app shortcuts support, circular app icons support.

#1. Night Light

In Android Nougat 7.1, you can add blue light filter to your screen. This may be good for health of your eyes according to this post because of “exposure to blue light at night, emitted by electronics and energy-efficient lightbulbs, harmful to your health”.

Although I am not fully convinced by such researches, I do feel more comfortable when the ambient is dark if night light is turned on. This Android Nougat 7.1 new feature will make the display a bit yellowish.

So, night light, as suggested by the name, is nice for reading when the ambient light is turned off.

Just FYI, the abandoned Galaxy Note 7 also have this similar feature although it was running Android Marshmallow.

Please note, as many other Android features, some Android vendors may not implement this night light feature in Android Nougat 7.1 phones.

#2. Fingerprint swipe down gesture

In Android Nougat 7.1, you can swipe down on the fingerprint scanner from any screen to see your notifications (access notification shade).

Of course, this requires a fingerprint scanner.

But some fingerprint scanner may not support this feature. At least Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X will not get this feature.

#3. Daydream VR mode

Daydream VR mode was mentioned in Android Nougat 7.0. But it is fully functional only in Android Nougat 7.1

For Daydream VR mode, there are two types of Android Nougat phones:

• Daydream VR ready. The phone is certified for Daydream VR mode. It requires the device to pass some tests. The display should be responsive enough. And the phone must have sufficient processing power (CPU/GPU).
• Daydream VR compatible. The phone can be used for Daydream VR mode. But the experience may be not optimal. For example, all current LCD panels cannot meed the low-power consumption requirements. So, currently only phones with LED panels can certified as Daydream VR ready. But for most users, you can still enjoy Daydream VR in decent phones with LCD display.

Please note, currently, only Google released Daydream VR viewer. Other vendors may release their own models in coming months.

#4. App shortcuts

Android Nougat 7.1 also update the API level to 25 (Android Nougat 7.0 is on 24).

Some new features in Android Nougat 7.1 were added for developers.

One of the most useful new features for developers is app shortcuts support.

App shortcuts like context menu on the home screen. The developer can define shortcuts to specific actions in the app. These shortcuts can be displayed in a supported launcher. Currently, Google Now launcher and Pixel launcher support this feature.

When a user tap and hold the app in the home screen, these shortcuts will be shown and can be used just like a context menu.

#5. Circular app icons support

Yes, circular app icons support was also added in API level 25.

The developers now have more choices for their app icons.

Exclusive features of Pixel (and Pixel XL) phones that are not part of Android Nougat 7.1

As mentioned, Google Pixel and Pixel XL phones have some exclusive features that are not part of Android Nougat 7.1.

Of course, these features may be ported back to future Android versions.

Currently, the exclusive features of Pixel and Pixel XL phones include:

• Pixel Launcher. Although this launcher was released in Play store, it is only for Pixel and Pixel XL phones.
• Google Assistant. You can use Google Now and screen search. Google assistant is available inside Allo, which is available for most Android phones.
• Unlimited original quality photo/video backup to Google Photos.
• Pixel Camera app.
• Smart Storage. When the internal storage is full, Pixel phone automatically removes old backed up photos/videos.
• Phone/Chat support.
• Quick switch adapter for wired setup from Android or iPhone.
• Dynamic calendar date icon.

Anyway, some of these features requires special hardware, for example, camera app, and probably will not be ported back to Android. Google always leaves this to individual vendors.

What’s your thought on new features in Android Nougat 7.1? Do you know the difference between Android Nougat 7.1 new features and Pixel phone exclusive features now?

If you have any questions on new features in Android Nougat 7.1, or if you want to share your thoughts on Android Nougat 7.1 new features, please let us know in the comment box below.

For questions on Android Nougat (Android 7.0 and 7.1), please check Android Nougat guides page.

For questions on Android Marshmallow (Android 6.0), please check Android Marshmallow guide page.

For question on Android Lollipop (Android 5.0 and 5.1), please check Android Lollipop guide page.

For other Android questions or problems, please check Android 101 page.

Please note, this is a owner-help-owner community. If you need official technical support or have warranty/sales related questions, please contact the vendor directly.

Earlier this week, Google released the first developer preview of Android N, the next major version of Android. The company usually releases a new version of Android at its yearly Google I/O conference, but this time around to gather more feedback and help OEMs and app developers to better prepare for the update, the company unveiled the OS a few months earlier than usual.

Unlike Marshmallow, Android Nougat comes with a number of new user-facing features, including some that have long been yearned by advanced Android users. Some of these features are also already found in many Android OEM skins like that from Samsung, LG and Huawei.

While Android N is still more than six months away from its public release, the developer preview gives us a good idea of all the new features that the OS will pack. Below, we have a look at every such major or minor new feature introduced by Google in Android N.

Update: Google has announced the next version of Android and the successor to Nougat, Android O. The latest version of the OS is not as feature packed as Nougat, but instead aims to build on all the features that Google debuted with Nougat. You can read about all the new Android O features in our post.

➤ Android O Features: All the New and Hidden Features We’ve Found So Far

#1. Split-screen multitasking

This is the probably the biggest new feature of Android N. Split-screen was among the most requested features from seasoned Android users, and Google is finally adding it to the OS. Google’s implementation is similar to how the multi-window feature works on Samsung’s TouchWiz: you put an app in split view mode by long pressing the recent apps button, which then also brings up the recent apps switcher at the bottom of the screen to allow you to select the second app you want in split view.

By default, the split-screen mode gives both apps 50% of the usable screen area, but this can be changed to one’s liking by dragging the handlebar between the apps up or down. Even better, you can drag ‘n’ drop text from one app to another in this mode, which can come in incredibly handy in some situations.

You can read more about split-screen multitasking in Android Nougat here.

#2. Recent Apps button

Don’t worry if you think that split-view is not going to be useful for you. Google has also greatly improved the functionality of the recent apps button in Android N that will make it a boon for heavy multi-taskers.

On Android N, pressing the recent apps button while in the recent apps UI will toggle between the applications that you have opened, instead of taking you back to the foreground app or your home screen. You can also switch between two apps that you are using by quickly double pressing the recent apps button. This feature is very common in custom ROMs, though they require a long press to toggle between your two most recent apps. Google’s implementation, in my opinion, is faster and will make switching between apps a breeze.

Additionally, the Recent Apps UI now features larger app cards that makes it easier to tap on them.

#3. Picture-in-picture

Taking a cue out of Apple’s book, Google has also introduced a new picture-in-picture mode in Android N. Think of this feature as how you can minimise a video to a corner in the YouTube app, while you can continue to browse within it.

Picture-in-picture brings that same functionality to a system level, though this feature is currently missing from the first developer preview of Android N. And if the way Google has worded things on the Android N developer preview page, it looks like this feature will only be making its way to Android TVs. However, with the final release of Android N still more than a few months away, there is always a possibility that Google has a change of heart and brings this feature to Android smartphones and tablets as well.

#4. Revamped notifications

With Android N, Google is giving one of the strongest parts of Android — the notification shade — a major revamp. Apart from a new look, the notification panel in Android N comes with many new features like Direct Reply, bundled notifications and more.

First, let’s talk about the new look of the notification panel, which is now sleeker and more information-packed than before. At first glance, this might seem a bit overwhelming, but I think this new design makes better use of the high-resolution screen found on most Android devices today. However, I do think there should be a better differentiation between notifications from two different apps, which right now is just a thin line that does not help much.

#5. Direct Reply

Direct Reply builds on the quick reply feature introduced by Google in Marshmallow. On an actionable notification and a supported app, you can tap on the reply button and respond to the message right from within the notification panel itself.

#6. Bundled notifications

Bundled notifications will allow developers to group multiple notifications from their app into one. Each notification can also be individually expanded to reveal more information. So, for example, a Gmail notification for multiple emails will occupy the space of only one notification, but when you expand it using a one finger gesture, it will expand to take more place and then display relevant information of each email that you have received.

#7. Quick Settings

The top of the notification panel in Android N now also features quick toggles for Wi-Fi, Data Saver and other important system settings. Previously, accessing quick tiles required a second swipe on the notification panel, but that could be slightly cumbersome in certain cases. This change will make it easier for users to access the frequently used quick toggles, especially on Android device with a large screen.

The Quick Settings panel is still present in Android N, and it can be accessed just like before: using a two finger swipe down gesture from the home screen or by swiping down once with the notification panel open. The Quick Settings panel now opens with a slick new animation, and quick tiles are now spread across multiple pages. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth tiles are no longer given special attention, with each column now having 3 tiles each.

The option to customise the tiles being displayed in Quick Settings has now graduated to a full-fledged feature in Android N. You can not only add new tiles but also rearrange the existing tiles in the order you like.

#8. Quick Settings Tile API

Building on the improved Quick Settings, Google has also added a Quick Settings Tile API in Android N that makes it possible for app developers to add their own custom tile to Quick Settings.

Even better, apps can now also add their own custom tiles to Quick Settings in Android N.

#9. Redesigned Settings menu

Google has given the Settings menu a major visual overhaul in Android N. Just like with the notification panel, the redesigned Settings menu now offers higher information density to take better advantage of the higher resolution displays of today’s Android devices.

The new Settings menu in Android N features a navigation drawer that can be accessed by swiping from the left edge of the screen. Google uses the same UI/UX in most of its apps and it is a part of the Material Design guidelines, so this change should not really bother seasoned Android users much. There is also a new suggestions panel at the top of the Settings menu that recommends some system settings you should play around with.

Scrolling down the Settings menu, you will notice that the status of key system settings are now displayed right below their listing. So, for example, the Wi-Fi listing contains the name of the Wi-Fi network your device is currently connected to right below it, your data usage is shown under the Data usage listing, etc. This way, you can have a quick glance through the Settings menu to know some key aspects of your device.

#10. Data Saver

Google offers a built-in data saver mode in Chrome for Android, but with Android N, the company is integrating this feature into the OS itself. The new Data Saver mode in Android N helps in reducing mobile data usage by restricting background app data usage. This feature was already present in previous versions of Android. The new addition here is that Android can now also restrict data usage for apps while they are in the foreground.

Google has not exactly mentioned how the data saver mode works while an app is in the foreground, though, the onus is on app developers to make sure that their apps use less data while in the foreground when this mode is enabled.

You can also whitelist apps to have unrestricted access to the Internet when the Data Saver mode is enabled.

#11. Improved Doze mode

Google released multiple power saving features in Marshmallow, with Doze mode being one of them. As its name suggests, this power saving feature puts your Android device to sleep while it is lying dormant on a table. To improve battery life, Doze ensures that wakelocks from apps are kept to a minimum, and it also regulates CPU and network data activity to achieve this.

The biggest issue with Doze in Marshmallow was that it only kicked in once your device was lying on a table for sometime. With Android N, Google is making doze smarter, and it will now trigger itself even your device is moving. How exactly has Google achieved this is not yet known, but whatever the case might be, if you loved Doze on Marshmallow, it is going to get even better in Android N.

#12. Automatic Night mode

Google had included a hidden Night mode in the developer preview of Marshmallow, but the feature never graduated to ‘stable’ with the final release of the OS. In Android N, Night mode continues to be tucked under the hidden System UI tuner menu, but it has now received a few enhancements.

With the relevant options enabled, the OS can now automatically enable night mode for you depending on your location and time of the day. Even better, it is now possible to adjust the tint and brightness of the display when night mode is enabled.

#13. Manual display calibration

Google included an sRGB mode option on the Nexus 6P in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, activating which made the display on the handset more accurate. With Android N, the company is now straight up offering an option to tweak the custom white balance of the display to once’s liking. This feature is hidden under System UI tuner -> Color & Appearance -> Calibrate Display.

#14. Hide (more) icons from status bar

The ability to hide icons from status bar was also present in Marshmallow, though hidden under the System UI tuner menu. The option is still hidden in Android N, but now it offers even more options for icons to hide.

#15. Powerful File explorer

In Marshmallow, Google introduced a rudimentary new file explorer that did not even allow you to copy or rename files. With Android N, Google is fixing these flaws and making the built-in file explorer in Android more powerful. You can now rename files, move them around, and even have multiple explorer tabs opened.

While still not an ES Explorer or Solid File Explorer replacement, the Explorer app in Android N is now good enough for basic use.

#16. Call blocking

Google updated its Contacts and Phone app to add call blocking capabilities to it. However, the feature was half-baked, and did not work as expected. With Android N, Google is integrating call blocking feature right into the OS itself. Not only will blocking a number block texts from it as well, all your blocked numbers are now stored in your Google account, which means they will persist across resets and even carry over to your new Android device. Third-party apps can also access blocked numbers to ensure that you don’t get messages in other apps from a blocked number.

#17. DPI scaling

With Android N, Google is adding DPI scaling as a default option in the OS. Previously, DPI scaling usually required entering some commands in adb, though that led to some usability issues. In Android N though, Google has made changes to the framework of the OS that allows users to adjust the DPI of the screen according to their liking in real time.

This is a great inclusion in my opinion, and will allow users to adjust the DPI of their device according to their taste.

#18. No more optimising apps

If you have ever installed an OTA update on your Android device, you must have gone through the ‘Optimising apps’ screen once your Android device boots up, which depending on the number of apps you have installed, can sometimes take longer than installing the OTA update itself.

Android N comes with a quick path to app installations, which leads to painful task of ‘optimising apps’ finishing in almost a few seconds. Additionally, the JIT compiler in ART now allows for much faster app installations.

Here’s how Google explains this feature:

One of the most tangible benefits of ART’s JIT compiler is the speed of app installs and system updates. Even large apps that required several minutes to optimize and install in Android 6.0 can now install in just a matter of seconds. System updates are also faster, since there’s no more optimizing step.

Android 7.1 Nougat Manual

#19. Improved Project Svelte

Android 7.1 Nougat Download

Google introduced Project Svelte with KitKat to optimise Android for low-end devices. With Android N, the company is further optimising Android to make it run smoother on low-end devices by reducing RAM usage. The company is doing this by removing three intent broadcasts, which could wake up multiple apps at once thereby affecting battery life and increasing memory usage.

#20. Redesigned Battery menu

Along with the Settings menu, Google has also revamped the Battery menu screen in Android N. The redesigned menu does not offer any new feature, but it does come with a higher information density now.

#21. Emergency Info

Android N comes with a new Emergency Info screen that displays your name, address, date of birth, blood type, known allergies, any medication, and more. In addition, you can now also set an emergency contact. Google will prompt you to enter the emergency info when you first go through the setup screen in Android N. Alternatively, you can enter this information again from Settings -> Users.

Once entered, the emergency information will be displayed on your lock screen, but only if you have some kind of lock screen security setup.

#22 Freeform Windows

Amidst a bunch of other multitasking related features, Google also snuck in a freeform multitasking mode in Android N. Disabled by default, the feature essentially turns the OS into a desktop-like OS where you can run multiple apps in windowed form at the same time, just like you would on a desktop. You can even increase/decrease the size of a window, and the OS also supports a mouse under this mode. The freeform mode of multitasking is not meant for smartphones, but targeted at devices like the Pixel C. You can read more about Android N’s freeform window mode here.

Keep in mind that Google has only released the first developer preview of Android N. With the final release of the OS still more than a few months away, it is possible that certain features can be removed or modified further. We’ll keep updating this post as we discover new features and improvements.

If you find anything new that hasn’t been mentioned here then please send us an email to [email protected]