Google has taken the wraps of the final beta update for the Android 7.1 Developer preview today. Users who are enrolled in the program and who have a Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, and Pixel C should start to see the update available as an OTA patch.
What’s in the update? Near final system UI and behaviors, and continuing support for API level 25. This is really a developer facing update, letting developers test their apps against the new version of Android and the APIs in preparedness for a planned December rollout out of Android 7.1.1.
Let’s hope developers get on board with the developer preview and get their apps ready, some of the new features developers may be looking at implementing include app shortcuts, round icons, image keyboard support and bottom navigation. Google will also roll out the updated APIs to the SDK on Android Studio 2.0.
Are you on the Deve preview? Let us know if you spot anything else hidden away in today’s update.
Has night mode been put back in? If the only thing current Nexus devices stand to gain from 7.1 is app longpress shortcuts, and we still lose night mode, this may be the first update I deliberately avoid installing.
I’m meh about night mode personally. The only thing I used from it when it was in the Nougat beta was the “system wide” dark mode (which for some reason didn’t include the app drawer).
No night mode on my Pixel C running 7.1.1. It is available on my Pixel XL running 7.1 though. Even on their own hardware Google is apparently struggling with fragmentation. Bummer…