Android New Features and Plugins:
Hello Geeks!
My name is Umesh Jangid, In this blog we will learn about
the new android features in last few versions.
Last Versions
Android M : Marshmellow
Android N :Nougat
Newer Version
Android O : Android Oreo
Features:
1.Picture in Picture (PiP) mode:
The split-window mode introduced in Android Nougat is a helpful means for multitasking with most apps, but not all apps.
Picture in picture (PiP) takes this a step further by allowing you to miniaturize a YouTube video feed or a video call on Hangouts or Duo into the corner of your screen so you can carry on with other tasks simultaneously.
This is one of those "I didn't know I needed this until
I tried it" features and one that makes multitasking far less of a compromise than split-window mode. We're excited to see how this feature develops throughout the life of Oreo and beyond.
2.Faster boot time
Speedy boot times are usually associated with a step-up in hardware, but Android Oreo will supposedly bring this benefit to all phones that run the software.
While currently limited to the Pixel lineup, the improvement is certainly noticeable and impressive.
This is a minor feature as most of us keep our phones powered on indefinitely. But for those times when a reboot is necessary, this feature makes it all the less painful.
3.Restricted background activities
This is a power-saving feature that de-prioritizes app functions running in the background, which in turn means that your battery is going to possibly last much longer than it currently does on Android Nougat.
Paired with likely improvements to the Doze function that intelligently saves battery during down-time, it’s feasible that Android Oreo could help squeeze an extra handful of hours out of your phone.
4.Contextual press-to-hold options
In an e-mail trying to copy an address so that you can paste it into Google Maps? No more, says Android Oreo.
By using machine learning, the OS can now recognize which app is best for the string of characters you're working with. Another example included being able to highlight a phone number and pop right into the dialer.
5.Adaptive icons
As the name suggests, Google has introduced strict design guidelines for developers to adhere to that will help to create a unified visual style across more apps.
In addition, these new app icons will animate based on user interaction and...have you seen the animation demo? Look up. It looks awesome.
It seems that Google hasn't rolled out these nifty icons yet, but hopefully we can look forward to them coming in the next update of Android 8.
6.Boosted audio performance
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the first Android phone to come installed with Bluetooth 5, a technology that will widen the bandwidth and raise the speed limit in the wireless pipeline for your content to travel through and thus, enhance the quality of audio content sent wirelessly between your phone and headphones.
And while many devices will follow suit, audio quality on Android is going to get yet another boost thanks to Android Oreo’s native support for LDAC, Sony’s hi-res Bluetooth audio codec.
In the developer options, we’re already seeing tons of options for tweaking the bitrate for audio and we expect more advancements to come down the line. This one could be a big deal, especially for those holding out on buying into the best wireless headphones.
This is all good news, especially since the Google Pixel 2 doesn't have a headphone jack.
7.Notification dots
An oldie that's been knocking around for years on iOS and some third-party launchers, this brings an at-a-glance notification bubble to app icons on the homescreen as a native Android feature.
Unlike iOS, Android Oreo doesn't tell you how many pending alerts you have within a given app, but knowing where to direct your attention at the very least is a good thing.
8.New emoji
Google is finally replacing the gumdrop emoji style from older versions of Android and is now making rounder face icons for Android Oreo.
There are also new emoji in the form of starstruck, throwing up, fairy, mermaid, giraffe, wizard and even more options.
9.Easter egg
It wouldn't be a new version of Android without a new easter egg mini-game to try out. Oddly enough, Oreo also comes with Android Nougat's odd cat-feeding mini game.
But onto Oreo, clicking and holding on the OS' logo takes us to a mysterious, empty screen with nothing but an octopus on it. This mini-game is pretty basic and not really much of a game at all.
You can pull the octopus around the screen, watching as its legs flop all over the place. And...that's it. This game was here before we learnt about Android 8's sweet based name, so it may be set to change now we know it's called Oreo. But then again, maybe not.
Other Android Oreo features
Google is pushing a number of features with the Android Oreo update that we've already seen, but it means we'll likely see more of each feature in the future.
Android Instant Apps - a way you can use apps without installing them and instead using your web browser - is getting a push with Android 8, so expect to see more developers support this soon.
Google is also including an autofill option within Android 8, so it'll be faster to sign into some of your favorite apps.
There are new accessibility features including simple audio controls and quick access from the navigation bar for features such as magnification and Select to Speak.
Plus, there are even more features such as new downloadable fonts, background location limits, notification snoozing, a new Wi-Fi assistant feature, a support window called Tooltips and notification categories so you have more control over what you see.
Now About Useful Plugins
Android Studio plugins to boost your productivity and power pack your IDE
1. Butterknife Zelenzy
Most useful plug-in for Android Studio/IDEA that allows one-click creation of Butterknife view injections.
In addition to injections this can even generate click methods for you!
2. ADBWIFI
It is a Android Studio plugin for debugging your android app over Wi-Fi. Neat i say!
3. ADB Idea
A plugin for Android Studio and Intellij IDEA that speeds up your day to day android development.
The following commands are provided:
Uninstall App
Kill App
Start App
Restart App
Clear App Data
Clear App Data and Restart
4. Key Promoter
Shows to user how easy he can make same action using only keyboard(menus and toolbar button mouse clicks initiates shortcut display). It will alert you when ever you click on the toolbar. Pretty useful if you want to speed up your development.
5. DTO generator
The Data Transfer Object(DTO) generator creates Java classes from a given feed. You can paste the JSON response directly to generate a corresponding POJO for it. Check out the github repository for it.
6. Android Material Design Icon Generator
Android Studio & IntelliJ Plugin for Material Design Icon. This plugin help you to set material design icon in your app resources. This plugin has saved my hours of importing assets into my app. This also provides SVG’s in XML format if you wish to use them in your application.
7. Mirror
Mirror compiles incrementally and only sends deltas to the devices enabling much faster UI changes rather than rebuilding and reinstalling the full APK.
8. Markdown Navigator
The plugin for Markdown language support on Android Studio. This comes in handy if you want to update those Readme and additional markdown format files directly from studio.
9. Android Methods Count
A simple Studio/IntelliJ plugin that parses your Android library dependencies and shows the methods count as an handy hint. Using this plugin you can easily manage your dex limit. Now handling Multi dex is so easy!
10. Code Glance
Embeds a code minimap similar to the one found in Sublime into the editor pane. Works with both light and dark themes using your customised colours for syntax highlighting. Pretty useful if you have a touchscreen.
I hope my suggestions are useful to you and your team. Also if you know some great plugins post it in the comments below.
Credits and Disclaimer
Source:
Google#Techradar#Medium
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