Google has released the latest version of its mobile operating system Android with version 7.0, dubbed Nougat, now available.

The new version of Android comes with an impressive range of upgrades from Android Marshmallow 6.0, including new multitasking capabilities that allow users to do two things at once on a device running Android.

Along with multitasking, Google is also promoting a new range of emojis, although how they’ll play being sent to phones that don’t support them isn’t made clear in the marketing material.

Here’s a list of the new features:

• Multitasking changes: while Android was the first mobile operating system to support multitasking that also had a downside: every app you opened remained open and running in the background, draining battery life. Nougat now automatically closes apps you haven’t used in awhile and will only keep open the last seven apps you have actually used.
• New clear all button: Got too many apps open at a given time? Android 7.0 now has a clear all button that not just clears the window preview of the apps but shuts down all open apps as well.
• Multiwindow capability: Android Nougat supports the ability for users to run two apps at once on the screen and interact with them in real time.
• Quick Switch: a new feature that allows users to double tap the recent button to easily jump between apps, not dissimilar to using Command+tab on a Mac.
• Android TV multitasking: an upgrade that delivers picture-in-picture mode for the first time and will allow users to show a video in a small box while working on another app.
• Quick reply: a feature seeming stolen from iOS that allows users to quickly reply to a message without opening the app.
• New emojis: the new Android release supports the latest Unicode 9 emojis meaning that users will now have an additional 72 emojis to pick from … because you can never have enough emojis.
• VR support: the new version of Android ships with support for Daydream, Google’s virtual reality platform for Android that turns any Android phone that supports the platform into a Cardboard compatible VR device.
• Built in encryption: Nougat now supports file encryption natively.
• Background updates: users will no longer need to pause what they are doing to install an update with any new patches or upgrades installing in the background.

Roll out

The first phones to get Android Nougat 7.0 are, not surprisingly, Google Nexus-branded phones, with the roll out starting today and over the next few weeks for the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One).

Among non-Google branded phones, the LG V20 will be the first new phone that ships with Nougat.

Overall the release sees the addition of some positive upgrades with the multi-window ability to run and interface with two apps at once being the highlight of them all.

As to when existing Android users will obtain the update is but for the grace of god, or more specifically a combination of it being released by phone manufacturers, and in some cases telcos.

Image credit: Google