Android 9: The Latest Features and Updates

Source: Theverge.com

Introduction to Android 9

Overview of Android 9:
Android 9, also known as Android Pie, hit the scene in August 2018. This version brought a bunch of new features and improvements, making it a significant update for Android users. It focused on making devices smarter, more efficient, and easier to use.

Key Features:
One of the standout features of Android 9 was the introduction of adaptive battery and adaptive brightness, which use AI to optimize battery life and screen brightness. It also brought a new system navigation with gestures, revamped notifications, and a dashboard to help users manage their screen time.

Key Takeaways:

Android 9, also called Android Pie, made phones smarter with features like adaptive battery and brightness, saving power and adjusting screen light automatically.
It improved privacy by stopping apps from spying when not in use and added cool tools like gesture navigation and digital wellbeing to help manage screen time and sleep better.

Privacy and Security Enhancements

Privacy Enhancements:
Android 9 took privacy up a notch by limiting access to sensors, cameras, and microphones for apps running in the background. This means that if an app isn't actively being used, it can't spy on you through your device's sensors.

Security Features:
On the security front, Android 9 introduced encrypted backups and biometric authentication improvements. This made it easier and safer to unlock your phone and access sensitive information using fingerprints or facial recognition.

System Usability Enhancements

Navigation Changes:
The new navigation system in Android 9 replaced the traditional three-button setup with intuitive gestures. Swiping up from the bottom of the screen now brings up the recent apps, and a quick swipe to the right switches between apps. This change aimed to make multitasking smoother and more intuitive.

Adaptive Battery and Brightness:
Android 9's adaptive battery feature uses machine learning to predict which apps you'll use next and which ones you won't, saving battery life by limiting background activity. Similarly, adaptive brightness learns your preferences and automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on your surroundings and habits.

Digital Wellbeing

Screen Time Management

Android 9 introduced tools to help users manage their screen time better. One of the standout features is the Dashboard, which gives a detailed breakdown of how much time you spend on each app. It even shows how many times you unlock your phone and the number of notifications you receive.

Another handy tool is App Timers. You can set daily time limits for specific apps. Once you reach the limit, the app icon grays out, reminding you to take a break. This helps in reducing excessive screen time and promotes healthier digital habits.

Wind Down Mode

Wind Down mode is like a gentle nudge to help you prepare for bedtime. When activated, it gradually turns your screen to grayscale, making it less stimulating for your eyes. It also activates Do Not Disturb, silencing notifications to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep.

You can schedule Wind Down mode to start and end at specific times, aligning with your bedtime routine. This makes it easier to disconnect from your device and get a good night's rest.

Media and Notifications

Enhanced Notifications

Android 9 revamped notifications to make them more useful and less intrusive. Bundled Notifications group messages from the same app together, making it easier to manage multiple alerts. You can also see images and stickers directly in the notification shade, which saves time.

Smart Replies are another cool feature. They suggest quick responses based on the context of the message, allowing you to reply without opening the app. This makes communication faster and more efficient.

Media Controls

Media controls got a significant upgrade too. The new Volume Slider appears on the side of the screen, making it easier to adjust the volume without covering your content. You can also control media playback directly from the notification shade, including skipping tracks and pausing music.

Android 9 also introduced Media Output Controls, allowing you to switch audio output between different devices, like Bluetooth speakers or headphones, with just a tap.

Accessibility Features

Accessibility Enhancements

Android 9 made strides in accessibility, ensuring everyone can use their devices comfortably. The Select to Speak feature lets users highlight text and have it read aloud, which is great for those with visual impairments. Magnifier allows users to zoom in on specific parts of the screen, making small text and images easier to see.

Display Customizations

Customization options for the display also saw improvements. High Contrast Text makes text easier to read against different backgrounds. Color Correction and Color Inversion help users with color blindness or low vision by adjusting the display colors to their needs.

These features ensure that Android 9 is more inclusive, catering to a wider range of users with different needs.

Enterprise Features

Work Profile Improvements

Android 9 brought some neat changes for those using their devices for work. One big improvement was in managing work profiles. It made it easier to keep personal and work data separate. This means you can switch between your work and personal apps without mixing things up. Plus, it added more controls for IT admins to keep work data secure. They can now enforce stronger security policies and manage apps more effectively.

Pause OTAs

Another cool feature for businesses is the ability to pause over-the-air (OTA) updates. This is super handy because it gives companies more control over when to update their devices. Imagine you're in the middle of a big project, and an update starts rolling out. With this feature, you can pause the update and resume it later when it's more convenient. This helps avoid any disruptions and ensures everything runs smoothly.

Camera and Media

Multi-Camera Support

Android 9 stepped up its game with multi-camera support. This means your device can use more than one camera at a time. For example, you can switch between the front and back cameras without any lag. It also supports external USB cameras, which is great for those who need extra flexibility. This feature enhances the photography experience, making it easier to capture the perfect shot.

High-Resolution Audio

Music lovers got a treat with high-resolution audio improvements. Android 9 supports better audio quality, so your favorite songs sound even clearer. It also introduced new audio effects, giving you more control over how your music sounds. Whether you're using wired headphones or Bluetooth, you'll notice the difference in sound quality.

Connectivity and Performance

Wi-Fi Improvements

Staying connected got a boost with Android 9's Wi-Fi improvements. One of the standout features is MAC randomization, which helps protect your privacy by changing your device's MAC address when connecting to different Wi-Fi networks. Another cool addition is Wi-Fi RTT (Round-Trip Time). This feature allows apps to measure the distance to Wi-Fi access points, enabling indoor positioning. It's like having GPS for inside buildings, making navigation easier.

Performance Optimizations

Android 9 didn't just add new features; it also made your device run smoother. Performance optimizations included faster boot times, so your phone starts up quicker. Apps also load faster and run more efficiently, thanks to better memory management. These improvements mean less waiting and more doing, making your device feel snappier and more responsive.

Wrapping Up Android 9's Impact

Android 9, or Android Pie, truly raised the bar with its smart features, improved privacy, and user-friendly changes. By introducing adaptive battery and brightness, it made devices more efficient. Enhanced privacy measures and biometric authentication offered better security. The new gesture navigation and digital wellbeing tools like the Dashboard and Wind Down mode ensured a smoother, healthier user experience. Media lovers enjoyed multi-camera support and high-resolution audio, while Wi-Fi enhancements and performance boosts made everyday tasks snappier. All these changes made Android 9 a standout update, showing how tech can make our lives easier and more enjoyable.

Feature Overview

Android 9 introduces Adaptive Battery which uses machine learning to prioritize battery power for the apps and services you use most. App Actions predict what you'll do next based on your context, displaying shortcuts to those actions. Slices bring parts of app interfaces directly into Google Search results, making information more accessible. Digital Wellbeing tools help manage screen time with features like Dashboard, App Timers, and Wind Down. Gesture Navigation replaces traditional buttons with swipes and taps for a more immersive experience. Security enhancements include TLS by default and DNS over TLS for better privacy.

Compatibility and Requirements

To enjoy Android 9, your device needs to meet certain requirements. First, it should have at least 2GB of RAM. Devices with less memory might struggle with performance. Next, ensure your device has a 64-bit processor. Older 32-bit processors won't cut it.

Your phone should also have a minimum of 8GB of internal storage. This ensures there's enough space for the operating system and apps. Additionally, your device must support OpenGL ES 3.2 or higher for graphics. This is crucial for smooth visuals and gaming.

Check if your device manufacturer provides updates. Brands like Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and OnePlus often support newer Android versions. If you own a Pixel 2 or newer, you're good to go. For Samsung users, models like the Galaxy S9 and later are compatible. OnePlus users with OnePlus 6 or newer can also upgrade.

Lastly, ensure your device's battery health is decent. Android 9 has features that optimize battery usage, but a worn-out battery might still struggle. If your device ticks all these boxes, you're ready to experience the latest features and improvements Android 9 offers.

How to Set Up

Power on your device.
Connect to Wi-Fi.
Sign in to your Google account.
Accept the terms and conditions.
Set up a screen lock (PIN, pattern, or password).
Restore apps and data from a previous device if needed.
Customize your preferences (themes, wallpapers, etc.).
Enable Google Assistant.
Update your apps from the Play Store.
Explore settings for additional features.

Effective Usage Tips

Adaptive Battery: To maximize battery life, enable Adaptive Battery in settings. This feature learns your usage patterns and limits battery for apps you rarely use.

App Actions: Use App Actions to quickly access your most-used apps. For example, if you often call a friend, App Actions will suggest their contact when you open the phone app.

Slices: Slices show relevant app info without opening the app. For instance, if you need a ride, Google will show ride options from your favorite ride-sharing app directly in search results.

Digital Wellbeing: Set app timers to limit screen time. If you spend too much time on social media, set a daily limit to help you focus on other tasks.

Gesture Navigation: Switch to gesture navigation for a smoother experience. Swipe up from the bottom to go home, swipe up and hold for recent apps, and swipe from the sides to go back.

Do Not Disturb: Customize Do Not Disturb settings to avoid interruptions. Schedule it for bedtime or important meetings to ensure you stay focused.

Smart Text Selection: When selecting text, use Smart Text Selection to quickly perform actions. For example, if you highlight an address, you can directly open it in Maps.

App Standby Buckets: Manage app standby buckets to prioritize important apps. This feature categorizes apps based on usage, ensuring essential apps get more resources.

Brightness Control: Enable Adaptive Brightness to automatically adjust screen brightness based on your environment and usage patterns.

Security Updates: Regularly check for security updates to keep your device safe. These updates protect against vulnerabilities and ensure your data stays secure.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Battery draining too fast? Check for apps running in the background. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Usage. Identify apps using the most power and consider uninstalling or restricting them.

Phone running slow? Clear cache by going to Settings > Storage > Cached Data. Restart the device to free up memory.

Wi-Fi not connecting? Toggle airplane mode on and off. Forget the network and reconnect by entering the password again.

Apps crashing? Update the app through the Google Play Store. If that doesn't work, clear the app's cache by going to Settings > Apps > [App Name] > Storage > Clear Cache.

Screen freezing? Perform a soft reset by holding the power button until the device restarts. If the problem persists, check for software updates in Settings > System > Software Update.

Bluetooth issues? Turn Bluetooth off and on again. If the problem continues, unpair the device and pair it again.

Storage full? Delete unused apps and files. Move photos and videos to cloud storage or an SD card.

Notifications not showing? Check notification settings by going to Settings > Apps & Notifications > [App Name] > Notifications. Ensure notifications are enabled.

Overheating? Avoid using the device while charging. Close unused apps and give the device a break to cool down.

GPS not accurate? Calibrate the compass by moving the device in a figure-eight motion. Ensure location services are enabled in Settings > Location.

Privacy and Security Tips

Android 9 offers enhanced security and privacy features to protect user data. App permissions now require explicit approval, ensuring apps only access necessary information. Background app restrictions prevent apps from accessing the microphone, camera, or sensors when not in use. Encrypted backups safeguard data stored on Google servers. Lockdown mode disables biometric unlock methods, adding an extra layer of security. To maintain privacy, regularly review app permissions, use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and keep your device updated with the latest security patches.

Comparing Alternatives

Pros of Android 9:

Adaptive Battery: Learns your usage patterns to save power. Similar to iOS’s Battery Health feature.
App Actions: Predicts what you’ll do next. Comparable to Siri Suggestions on iOS.
Digital Wellbeing: Tracks screen time and app usage. Apple’s Screen Time offers similar functions.
Gesture Navigation: Swipe-based controls. iPhone X and later models use similar gestures.
Slices: Shows app info in search results. Google Assistant offers similar quick access.

Cons of Android 9:

Fragmentation: Not all devices get updates quickly. iOS updates roll out to all supported devices at once.
Bloatware: Pre-installed apps you might not use. iOS has fewer pre-installed apps.
Security Patches: Sometimes delayed on certain devices. iOS generally provides timely security updates.
Battery Optimization: Can be aggressive, closing background apps. iOS manages background apps more smoothly.
Customization: Too many options can be overwhelming. iOS offers a more streamlined experience.

Alternatives:

iOS: Known for timely updates and security.
Windows Phone: Limited app selection but good integration with Microsoft services.
KaiOS: For basic phones with essential smart features.
Ubuntu Touch: Open-source, privacy-focused option.
Sailfish OS: Another open-source option with a unique interface.