Google officially unveils Android 8.0 Oreo, mascot and all

As expected, Google has taken the wraps off its newest version of Android and revealed some information about the devices that will be upgraded in the coming months. First off, it's Android Oreo, not Android Orellete as a previous report wrongfully claimed.

Android Oreo is supposed to be faster, smarter and more powerful than any of the previous versions of the mobile platform. It comes with picture-in-picture and Autofill, these two features being available in the latest Developer Preview builds as well.

New notification dots will now allow users to see what's new in their apps and then decide on what action to take. On top of that, Android Oreo adds fully-redesigned emojis, including no less than 60 new emoji.



Google also emphasizes the need for extra security, so Android Oreo will now come with something called Google Play Protect, which should help make the new OS more secure. More improvements to the battery usage have been implemented too, as Android Oreo is supposed to minimize unintentional overuse of battery from apps in the background.

In case you're wondering when exactly you'll be able to get the new Android 8.0 Oreo on your smartphone, Google says it's going to push the sources to AOSP (Android Open Source Project) for everyone today.

Furthermore, Android Oreo builds for Pixel, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P devices are now being tested by carriers and expected to be released in phases soon, along with builds for Pixel C and Nexus Player.