Facebook Messenger already had it, and now Google Messenger has GIF support too. Additionally, the GIF support is now built into the default Google Keyboard, although, no other app supports the feature as of now. While you are reading this, keep in mind that the feature is only be available on your phone if you are running Android 7.1 Developer Preview.

Just in case you are running the Developer Preview on one of the compatible devices, here's how you can use the GIF button in Google Messenger. Once you bring up the keyboard, locate and tap on the emoticon button. Now tap on the GIF button to bring up the GIF menu with a few highlighted choices like "Thank you," "Sorry" or "Wink." If the desired category cannot be found, simply type in the right category and search for it.

Although it is solely compatible with Messenger at the moment, we are pretty sure that support for more apps such as Gmail, Hangout and may be a few popular third party apps too will arrive in the final version of the Android Nougat 7.1 OS. The "Image Keyboard Support" is a nice new addition to the upcoming OS, albeit a non-essential one.

Android 7.1 is coming to your Nexus phone by the end of the month, albeit in the form of a Developer Preview. Now that Nougat 7.1 is confirmed by Google as the first maintenance release since it became available, we expect both new features as well as overall improvements.
The incremental update will add brand new features to Nougat like A/B system updates, support for image keyboards, Daydream, rounded icons and app shortcuts API access for developers. Unfortunately, Google Assistant won't be a part of this preview, unless you are using a Pixel phone. The virtual assistant will probably not be a part of even the final build on most smartphones for a while at least.

The Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and the Pixel C will be the three devices that will be getting the Developer Preview this month. The Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus Player and certain Android One phones will also be getting the final build, but Google hasn't mentioned them as eligible for the Developer Preview. The Pixel and Pixel XL on the other hand, are supposed to get exclusively updated to Android 7.1.1 (expectedly) or later in December.

Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)

As always, Google has once again started to roll out OTA security updates for this month to its own brand of devices. In fact, the factory images and OTA zip files have also been made available for download since yesterday. You can always wait for the OTA update to arrive on your device, but if you are impatient and it has not arrived on your device yet, the factory images and the OTA zip files are there to be flashed, if you so wish. Carriers and OEM partners should also be in the process of preparing their own version of the October security update for their own respective devices, based on these files.

If you own a Nexus 6 or a Nexus 9 LTE, this security update will still be based on Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 instead of Android Nougat 7.0 unfortunately. It is unclear as to why Google isn't rolling out Nougat to the two aforementioned devices, in spite of them being eligible for the update, as per Google's own official declaration. Nevertheless, the update will bring all the necessary fixes and patches to all Google devices irrespective of the Android version that's running on the device.

If you are not really comfortable in going through with the complicated process of updating your device by manually flashing a ROM File or a factory image, there is actually an easier method to experience Android 7.0 on your Nexus device right now. You just need to opt into the Android 7 Nougat Beta program, now extended further by Google. Read on to find out how and if you are eligible for the beta.

· Go to the Android Beta Program portal on your device and sign in

· Remember to use the account that you have associated with your target Nexus smartphone, while logging in

· Scroll down and you should see a list of Your Eligible Devices

· The Nexus smartphone or tablet that you are trying to enrol into the Beta program should be on that list

· Tap on Enrol Device and follow the steps as directed from there on

· An OTA download should now begin which will upgrade your system to Android 7.0 Nougat

The list of eligible devices include Pixel C, General Mobile 4G (Android One), Nexus Player, Nexus 9, Nexus 6, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P as of now. The good news is that unlike earlier builds, now you won't actually need to factory data reset your smartphone if you decide to opt out of the Beta program. It can be done by simply leaving the program from the Android Beta Program Page.

As we reported earlier, Android 7.0 Nougat will be bringing in changes and modifications to the old emojis, along with adding brand new ones to the list. Here are a few of the prominent changes which you will see on your Nexus device soon.

Emojis with gender differentiation

The emoticons will now look more human in appearance and many of the previously gender-neutral characters will be gender-defined to make them more relatable. This will also make them recognizable across different platforms.

Skin tone modifier

In order to compensate for the fact that making an emoji human-like comes with the risk of it losing its interracial appeal, the new Android Unicode-recommended emoticons will now come with a skin tone modifier. There's also a hair color modifier attached to them to make the emojis look more personalised than ever.

New ones

There are multiple new emoticons/emojis embedded in the new Android OS; 72 to be exact. Avocado, paella, bacon, the black heart, boxing gloves, chestnut, Olympic medals, athletes, clown, face palm, shrug, selfie, fingers crossed and many others are a part of this list. Check the images to have a look for yourself.