Get the best Android 7.0 features right now
NOUGAT IS OUT, BUT YOUR MANUFACTURER MAY NOT BE KEEPING UP. NEVER FEAR, YOU CAN SAMPLE SOME OF THE FEATURES BEFORE THE UPDATES ROLL OUT.
FOR THOSE WITH a Nexus device, Android 7.0 (Nougat) has officially been released into the wild, and is already making its way to compatible phones. Sadly, though, many Android users may have to wait a while for their phone’s manufacturers to release the update. Others with older devices will never get all the cool new features of Nougat at all. To help soften the blow, we’ve put together a guide for getting the best of Android 7 right now, without needing root access.
MULTIPLE WINDOWS
One of the most prominent features of Android N is being able to run two different apps side by side. For those with root access, it is possible to turn on and emulate in Android Marshmallow, but non-rooted users have some options too. It’s not quite the same, but using third-party apps, it’s possible to have multiple windows of information displayed, in floating widget fashion. A good place to start is Floating Apps FREE — multitask ( www.floatingapps.net), which offers a collection of floating apps that can be moved and resized to customise the look. Another option is C Floating ( goo.gl/IRdF3R), which can turn your existing widgets into floating windows, or monitor stats such as battery or RAM use.
APP SWITCHING
Android Nougat comes with a handy app switching feature which makes it easy to jump between apps. It’s actually quite simple — double tap the recent apps button, and it brings up the last app used. Double tap again and you switch back. It’s actually a decent time saver, and a similar effect can be achieved on older Android device. One of the best options is Last App Switcher ( goo.gl/2jLFvO), which can either make a long press of the home button switch apps, or create an always-on top app switching ‘bubble’ button. Another option is Easy App Switcher ( goo.gl/slOZsp), which can also create a floating app switch button, or show recent apps by swiping in from the edge of the screen. Both apps also allow you to further customise the switching behaviour.
NOTIFICATIONS
Nougat brings a range of smarter notification updates, including grouping notifications from the same app together. What’s even cooler is the ability to reply to messages and emails directly from the notification bar or lock screen, without having to actually open up the app. Once again, this time saving feature can be emulated with a free app, called Floatify ( goo.gl/5Eblkx). Not only does it allow you to send messages directly from notifications, it can mark messages as read without opening the actual app. It can also send pre-defined
replies such as ‘Ok, thanks!’, wake up the screen when the phone is picked up, and handle music control. The app has loads of notification customisation, too, such as a heads-up mode, quiet hours, message filtering and customisable interactions (such as swiping) with the notifications themselves.
DATA SAVER
Android 7.0 has a new tool that gives greater control over how much background mobile data is used. A similar effect can be achieved with a free app, and a few other options. Under Settings, Chrome already has a data saving mode that saves up to 30% of data, using compression. Under ‘Settings > Data Usage’, Android can be set to restrict background app data use. The same location also shows exactly which apps are using data. Make sure apps are only set to make backups or download updates when connected to Wi-Fi. Otherwise, Opera Max — Data saving app ( www.opera.com) gives deeper control and monitoring of mobile data use, and can reduce data used for tasks such as streaming YouTube videos.
FILE MANAGEMENT
Android has a file manager built into Android 6, but while functional, it’s a little basic for more in-depth use. Nougat has knocked things up a notch, with a much more advanced file manager that allows easy file browsing, moving and renaming. Achieving the same (or better) functionality with older versions of Android is actually super simple, thanks to some excellent third-party apps. Our favourite is the free ES File Explorer File Manager ( www.estrongs.com), which gives in depth access to files, can play or view most formats, and even handles ZIP and RAR files. The app also syncs up with your cloud storage of choice, and enables wireless remote file management from a PC. File Commander — File Manager ( www.mobisystems.com) is also a good choice, with excellent security and encryption options, and the ability to screen share over a network.
NIGHT MODE
There are loads of studies that suggest staring at bright screens late at night can interrupt our natural circadian rhythms and cause sleep problems. One of the major contributors is blue light, which is often a large part of ‘white’ colours. Android N has a feature to combat the problem by automatically using warmer colours after sunset, and hopefully improving sleep. Fortunately, there is an excellent free third-party app called Twilight ( www.twilight.urbandroid.org) that has the same goal. Twilight is vampire-free, and automatically adjusts the screens colour temperature to help. It knows where you are, too, so it adjusts for the local sunrise and sunset times.