Android O Release Date, Features News: Picture-in-Picture, Adaptive Icons and New Notification System Touted for 'Oreo' OS

Though most Android users are only now starting to get the Android 7.0 Nougat update for their mobile devices, the latest reports suggest that Google is already hard at work on the next version of its mobile operating system (OS) — Android O.

Every year, consumers have fun trying to guess the name of Google's new OS. Considering that there aren't a lot of desserts with the letter O, the popular and most likely choice seems to be Oreo. This is supported by the hints that senior vice president of Android Hiroshi Lockheimer has been dropping on Twitter. However, there's no official confirmation on Android Oreo just yet.

According to 9to5Google, Android O will introduce a new notification system. A source previously told the publication that the new notification system is being designed for the rumored Andromeda OS so there is speculation that it could be merged with Android O.

Android-powered devices may also receive new app icon badges for active notifications with the upcoming update. This means users will be able to see how many new notifications there are for each app just by looking at the home screen. Furthermore, Google may also introduce adaptive icons that change dynamically.

Other rumored features include picture-in-picture mode like Android TV, a smart text selection floating toolbar with Google Assistant integration and more restrictions for background apps.

Unfortunately, specific details for these new features are scarce at this time. More details are expected to arrive when Android O is introduced at Google I/O 2017, to be held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on May 17.

The Android O Developer Preview will most likely arrive first and will be available for devices like the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL. Furthermore, Google has the tendency to release new hardware to go alongside the new Android OS. It's possible that the new device could be the second-generation Pixel smartphone, which has been confirmed to arrive later this year.

The final build of Android O is expected to made available a few months later, possibly in August.