Android 7, also known as Android Nougat is the latest version of the Android operating system. It was previously compatible with only Google phones like the Nexus and Pixel versions, but lately many other smartphone companies are updating their mobile phones with the latest Android version. Nougat comes with a whole lot of new and exciting features useful for all types of users starting from students to corporate officials. While some features are small upgrades of the previous version, i.e., Android Marshmallow, most features are new and also helpful to the users. Let us discuss some of the important features of Android Nougat.

Easy Switching between Applications

Let us take an example to explain this feature. You are presently checking mails using Gmail or any other mailbox. After some time you are thinking of switching to Facebook. You close the mailbox directly from the home button and open your Facebook app and browse for some time. Suddenly a message appears in your message box. You check it and now want to come back to the Facebook application. Previously, what you would do? You would close the message box and then open the Facebook app. But now, with the latest update, just double press on the overview or recent apps button (the square one) and you can switch from the current app to the previous app you were using. To view all the apps you were using, just press the overview button once.

Supporting Multi-Window Mode

If you want to use two applications at the same time in a single window, Android Nougat has come up with a great new feature. In this latest update you can use two apps simultaneously on a single screen without closing one app. But to initiate this feature, there is no option in the settings menu or other locations. You have to open a single application and if you had opened many apps before, click on the recent application button, drag any app from there and place it in the lower half of the screen. Now you can use both apps together. You can increase or decrease the screen of one app by dragging the divider.

When in the split screen mode, you can also drag and drop text and images from one window to the other. You need to select the whole text or image and press it long enough that it starts floating. Now drag the text or an image and drop it on the next screen. You can also open two Google Chrome tabs simultaneously in the split screen feature. Firstly, open one Chrome tab and then click on the menu button (three dots placed vertically). You will find a new option showing up, i.e., “Move to other window”. Click on this option and you will see a separate Chrome window on the second screen.

New Emojis

Nowadays using emojis has become a regular aspect while messaging with friends and other people. The latest update brings in a new set of emojis of male and female genders with different skin tones as well as different professions that you can choose to let your friends know about what profession you are in.

Enjoy Excellent Graphics and Gameplay with Vulkan API

Android Nougat now supports Vulkan API which provides excellent 3D graphics while playing games such as Need for Speed or Dota 2. Through this feature, playing games will become cooler as the visual effects and graphics quality are going to be lot more improved than the previous versions.

Some more features of Android Nougat are:

• Improved Doze feature
• File based encryption
• Can select different lock screen wallpaper
• Redesigned notification with new functions
• VR mode on phones with Daydream feature

These are the important features and updates of Android Nougat. These features are helpful in making the device more user-friendly and easy to use. High-end smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, Sony Xperia X Performance, etc., are getting the latest update by the end of 2017. If your phone does support the latest update then upgrade your software soon.

As per the latest announcement from Google, the eighth version of the Android operating system named Android O is going to be launched soon. If you have Google Pixel or Nexus devices, you can test the latest beta version on your phones by enrolling in the Android O Beta program.

Author Bio: John Tiropanis is a prolific blogger who loves to share his knowledge about latest updates on technology and mobile news. Here he discusses about the latest features of Android Nougat.