Android P aka Android OS v9.0 is the next version of Android that is being beta tested by Google and a few other OEMs at the moment, prior to its full commercial release. In case you are wondering about the OS, know that there will be a number of big changes this year and they can be summarized as follows.

Overhauled Navigation System

Android P is taking a gesture-based route to navigation, so check out the following gesture commands to get an idea of what to expect.

·         Access to the recent apps tab will be granted by a swipe up

·         Long swipe/double quick swipe to access the app drawer

Also, the back button will only appear where applicable.

A More Colorful and Faster UI

Circular and colorful icons are immediately visible on the Developer Previews and the improved animation system makes it feel superfast.

Better Battery Life

Every version of the new Android OS promises this and while it might be true, we are not sure if the new OS versions really do make too much of a difference though. Nevertheless, Android P promises to maximize your battery life through machine learning. Adaptive brightness, adaptive battery use  and limited CPU usage are all things that Google is aiming for with this version of the OS.

App Actions and Slices

If you use an app for a certain purpose often on your phone, App Actions will recommend and create shortcuts that will help you do it faster the next time around. Slices on the other hand is an even more advanced functionality of the Google Assistant that will make more intelligent decisions, based on your voice commands.

Other Improvements

There are also multiple other minor but helpful improvements to the OS as well, like an instant screenshot editor and pop-up zoom while highlighting text. The fact that volume changes made via hardware button is now always mapped to media by default is a very welcome change.

Third Party Smartphones are Also getting Beta This Time

Unlike every other year, Google has surprisingly opened up the early access Beta doors to Sony, Nokia, Xiaomi, Vivo, OnePlus and Oppo via Project Treble. Just in case you are wondering, yes, it's definitely available on all the Pixels as well!

That about wraps it up for now, but this is far from being the complete list. We will keep you updated once the final version releases in August (hopefully).

Saikat Kar

Google has released a free Motion Stills app that allows any Android phone with a built-in gyroscope that runs Android 5.1 or higher access to the latest augmented reality technology. Google's latest app was built with editing videos and GIFS in mind. It allows the user to capture short videos and change them into stunning cinemagraphs or sweeping cinematic pans using their advanced rendering and stabilization technology. Now you can combine AR stickers and clips into movies or create looping GIFS that you can easily share with your friends.

Not Just For Pixel 2

Google Pixel 2 owners have already been enjoying adding a host of fun AR stickers, including R2-D2 and Stranger Things characters, into the real world using the device's built-in ARCore technology. Pixel 2 owners with the Android Oreo 8.1 update received early access to Google's library of AR stickers since December last year.

This is no longer an exclusive club of AR aficionados as Google's Motion Still app is opening the market by making it easier to access. The latest version of the Motion Stills app brings all the fun of these AR stickers to a decent cross section of Android devices, making it easy for anyone to insert 3D objects into the surroundings before recording.

Motion Still Features

With Motion Still, you can:

●        Use the AR mode to add fun characters to your surroundings.

●        Create a short, 3 second clip with a simple tap of your screen.

●        Condense up to a minute of video into a short clip by using the Fast Forward mode.

●        Combine clips to create movies with a simple swipe to the right.

●        Share your Motion Stills as short videos or cool looping GIF's directly with your friends.

The AR functionality is by far the most appealing feature of the app. Using this function you can stick an animated 3D object on any surface, even if it is moving. You can then record a video or GIF of the animated character's actions in the real world and share your Motion Stills clip directly with your friends. Sounds pretty awesome!

How Does the App Work?

You can get into the finer technical details of the app on Google Research's blog but the short explanation is that the app will track your phone's 3D rotation and location in relation to the ground or any flat surface that is in view. With this data, it is able to insert a 3D object into your real world surroundings and will scale up and down proportionally as you move closer or further from the AR character. This could be implemented in many ways and would also making playing at River Belle casino and any other gaming site so much more interactive.

Accessing AR Technology is Becoming Easier

Google is paving the way in terms of making the wonders of augmented reality technology more accessible to a wider audience. You'll probably have noticed that some of the best and most recent apps in the augmented reality category are confined almost exclusively to more advanced phones that run the latest operating software. So it's a great thing that Google is trying to grow the market by making these AR features available on any Android device that runs Android 5.1 or higher. Of course, the hope is that these new users will enjoy the taste of AR so much that they'll be more inclined to upgrade to the Pixel 2 which comes standard with the more advanced ARCore tech.

If you are searching for a good-looking phone, the Google Pixel 2 is not the one. But if you are looking for exceptional battery life and a few sneaky extras, then it's worth a look.

Looks

We have become accustomed to the latest smartphones being things of beauty but there is something exceptionally bland about the latest offering from Google. It has the same back panel and the same glass front. And nothing more. But where its looks let it down, it makes up for in other departments.

Screen and Size

At 5 inches, the Google Pixel 2 screen is a full inch smaller than its 6-inch screen cousin but in all honesty, this doesn't disappoint. It has a regular OLED display with top and bottom bezels that house a set of speakers, which are also fairly good in terms of sound quality.

It may not have the sleekness of the new iPhone X and if you can afford the £1,000 price tag for that, then you wouldn't be considering the Pixel 2. It is, however, simple to use and has a fantastic responsive screen with a decent colour reproduction, making gaming on high-end sites such as slotsites.com a pleasant experience.

Battery Life

Another plus for gamers and avid social media fans is the rather splendid performance of the battery. Other phones have long struggled to power the numerous apps as well as all day connection to Wi-Fi and/or data without the power source being drained. Although all smartphones manufacturers have upped their game when it comes to battery efficiency, the Pixel 2 has a battery beefy enough to last all day without it collapsing.

Functionality

The Google Pixel 2 runs the latest version of Android 8 Oreo, giving it a smooth, optimised and polished performance. Its snappy response works well with Google Assistant. There are some nifty extras such as the ‘playing Now' feature which recognises music around your and the new Google Lens feature recognises objects in photos, identifies landmarks and so on.

Camera

The front and rear cameras on the Pixel 2 are identical to those on the Pixel 2 XL. At 12.2 megapixels it can certainly hold its own, although avid photographers are disappointed at what they see as the lack extensive manual controls. But the picture quality is certainly more than good enough.

What Users Are Saying

Some users are reporting a clicking or whining noise during operation, but this doesn't seem a widespread problem. The speakers are loud and clear, and with unlimited photo back-up included in the price, the £629 handset will no doubt prove popular with some.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is slightly cheaper at £540 with the iPhone 8 coming in at £699 which puts the Pixel 2 right in between the two. Does it deserve to be there for the price? If you want a long battery life, a great screen, squeezable side and the latest version of Android, then yes.

But, if you are all about looks and lack of headphone jack, and want to experience wireless charging, then you may want to hang on for Samsung's Axon, the world's first foldable, dual-screen smartphone.

If you are searching for a good-looking phone, the Google Pixel 2 is not the one. But if you are looking for exceptional battery life and a few sneaky extras, then it's worth a look.

Looks

We have become accustomed to the latest smartphones being things of beauty but there is something exceptionally bland about the latest offering from Google. It has the same back panel and the same glass front. And nothing more. But where its looks let it down, it makes up for in other departments.

Screen and Size

At 5 inches, the Google Pixel 2 screen is a full inch smaller than its 6-inch screen cousin but in all honesty, this doesn't disappoint. It has a regular OLED display with top and bottom bezels that house a set of speakers, which are also fairly good in terms of sound quality.

It may not have the sleekness of the new iPhone X and if you can afford the £1,000 price tag for that, then you wouldn't be considering the Pixel 2. It is, however, simple to use and has a fantastic responsive screen with a decent colour reproduction, making gaming on high-end sites such as slotsites.com a pleasant experience.

Battery Life

Another plus for gamers and avid social media fans is the rather splendid performance of the battery. Other phones have long struggled to power the numerous apps as well as all day connection to Wi-Fi and/or data without the power source being drained. Although all smartphones manufacturers have upped their game when it comes to battery efficiency, the Pixel 2 has a battery beefy enough to last all day without it collapsing.

Functionality

The Google Pixel 2 runs the latest version of Android 8 Oreo, giving it a smooth, optimised and polished performance. Its snappy response works well with Google Assistant. There are some nifty extras such as the ‘playing Now' feature which recognises music around your and the new Google Lens feature recognises objects in photos, identifies landmarks and so on.

Camera

The front and rear cameras on the Pixel 2 are identical to those on the Pixel 2 XL. At 12.2 megapixels it can certainly hold its own, although avid photographers are disappointed at what they see as the lack extensive manual controls. But the picture quality is certainly more than good enough.

What Users Are Saying

Some users are reporting a clicking or whining noise during operation, but this doesn't seem a widespread problem. The speakers are loud and clear, and with unlimited photo back-up included in the price, the £629 handset will no doubt prove popular with some.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is slightly cheaper at £540 with the iPhone 8 coming in at £699 which puts the Pixel 2 right in between the two. Does it deserve to be there for the price? If you want a long battery life, a great screen, squeezable side and the latest version of Android, then yes.

But, if you are all about looks and lack of headphone jack, and want to experience wireless charging, then you may want to hang on for Samsung's Axon, the world's first foldable, dual-screen smartphone.

After months of speculations, the two latest smartphones from Google are finally here. As everything became official just a few hours ago, we have a full list of specs and a few pictures for you to enjoy.

Google Pixel 2

5-inch Cinematic full-HD (1080x1920) display with 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC

4GB of RAM

64GB/128GB internal storage

2700mAh battery

12.2-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture and optical and electronic image stabilization

8-megapixel front camera with an aperture of f/2.4

$649 for the 64GB variant and $749 for the 128GB variant

Google Pixel 2 XL

6-inch QHD+ (2880 x 1440) P-OLED at 18:9 ratio (538ppi); 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC

4GB of RAM

64GB/128GB internal storage

3520mAh battery

12.2-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture and optical and electronic image stabilization

8-megapixel front camera with an aperture of f/2.4

$849 for 64GB and $949 for 128GB

Android Oreo 8.0 along with Google lens will be powering the two devices as well. Do you like what you see? Let us know in the comments.

Saikat Kar (tech-enthusiast)