Google has updated its Compatibility Definition Document for Android. The update document comes with several minor changes along with one major change that makes it compulsory for all OEMs not to obstruct Android Nougat’s native notification features that include notification actions, replies, settings access and grouped notifications. In simpler words, users with any Android Nougat-based smartphone will be able to directly reply to messages from there without requiring to open the app.
All Android “handheld device implementations MUST provide the ability to control notifications directly in the notification shade,” said the updated CDD. The document further says that the OEMS should provide a “visual affordance” to trigger the control panel in the notification shade. Also, it should include “the ability to BLOCK, MUTE and RESET notification preference from a package, both in the inline control panel as well as in the settings app.” Though Google has kept the regular updates as an optional feature for OEMs.
It is worth pointing out here that the new CDD refers to smartphones running Android 7.1 and above. While most of the OEMs do keep up with such features on their Android smartphones, some do go overboard with customizations. Companies like Samsung have already introduced notification grouping in its TouchWiz UI. RELATED: Samsung Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge Android Nougat 7.1.1 update to roll out in January
Google is most probably taking efforts to keep the experience uniform, at least in some aspects, across all the Android smartphones. Already, the company grapples with the problem of fragmentation with a majority of devices running older Android Marshmallow and Lollipop versions. It is still rare to find Android Nougat on smartphones, and recent dashboard numbers suggest the OS’ market share is less than one percent. ALSO READ: Android Nougat still under 1%, Froyo finally extinct: Android distribution for January 2017.
[Source:-BGR]
