Google has announced the release of the stable version of Android 16. The operating system has received an updated design, as well as a number of important improvements in terms of security and everyday user interaction with the device.
One of the most notable innovations was Live Updates. These are real-time notifications that display, for example, the current status of a ride from a taxi app or grocery delivery. The user can interact with them without going into the program itself.
To reduce information overload and confusion, Android 16 now groups notifications that come from the same app together. This approach provides a more convenient presentation of information and helps you pay attention to important messages.
Another addition was made for hearing aid users. Most of these devices work on the basis of LE technology and capture the voice of the interlocutor only during live communication. Android 16 will allow switching during calls between the microphones on the hearing aids and the conversational microphone of the smartphone for a clearer transmission of the user’s speech.
Additionally, it is now possible to control hearing aids directly from a smartphone. With its help, you can now change their volume and adjust other settings.
There are also security improvements. Android 16 introduces Advanced Protection 2, which is billed as Google’s most powerful mobile security. It includes a range of features that protect against online attacks, malicious apps, unsafe websites, scam calls, and other threats.
In addition, the developers have “pumped up” the interface for devices with large screens. In Android 16, you can now not only split the display, but also move and resize multiple windows on one screen. This innovation will become available later this year. At the same time, the company plans to launch support for custom keyboard shortcuts and the ability to connect tablets and smartphones to an external display.
In addition, among the innovations, Google highlights a new image editor with professional filters and effects in the standard Photos app, HDR screenshots and an adaptive refresh rate.
The stable version of Android 16 is currently only available for Google smartphones no older than the Pixel 6.
