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After updating to Android 8.0 on launch yesterday, I've gone through the different features and I'm here to explain the ones that are, in my opinion, the most important. Listed from most important to least. TL;DR The update process can be difficult(And risky) for some, giving you only minor updates with battery management being the only important one. Bottom line, if you want to be that guy who takes full advantage of owning a Nexus/Pixel with an earlier OS update schedule then update to it and you won't be(terribly) disappointed. Here is an extensive "How To" update guide. WARNING: Before you update, if you're not familiar with image flashing or unlocking the bootloader read my step by step guide below. It's not a simple system update(as you're probably aware) and you'll really have to understand how to navigate with CMD prompt to accomplish the update. Here's a very brief rundown of what you need to do to unlock the bootloader and update(DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK I AM NOT AT FAULT IF YOU BRICK YOUR PHONE), Googles update guide hasn't been changed in a while so some of their instructions are incorrect. This is how I updated my phone, Android 8 update files: https://developer.android.com/about/versions/oreo/download.html Download the SDK platform tools from google when you go to get the system image SDK platform tools: https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/platform-tools.html Unzip it to the desktop. Open CMD prompt and type cd desktop Press enter, now you're in the desktop. Now type platform-tools (This is the name of the SDK platform tools file after the unzip) Press enter and now you're in the platform-tools folder Now turn your pixel off, then hold the volume down button and then the power button simultaneously to launch into fastboot, plug it into the computer. Now type fastboot devices (This will tell you if your device is detected) Press enter and your device should pop up, it'll say something like "FA6982894" as the device name Now type fastboot flashing unlock Press enter, go to your phone and use the volume up and down buttons to navigate to "yes" then press the power button to select "yes". Now the bootloader is unlocked. To update, download the Android 8.0 update from googles site for your phone, unzip it to the desktop. Then, copy and paste everything from the platform-tools folder into the sailfish android 8.0 folder To go back to the desktop type cd.. (in the CMD prompt) Here's the tricky part, check the name of your Android 8.0 file, their names are all different. For instance, my file name was sailfish-opr6.170623.011 So, Type cd [Name of your Android 8.0 file] Press enter and now you're in the update file, Finally, ensure your phone is plugged into the computer and type flash-all Press enter and do NOT touch the phone whatsoever. It took me about 5 minutes, in total, for the update to finish. Don't unplug it under any circumstances. Now that it's updated you can lock the bootloader using the same steps you used to unlock it, but this time you'll want to type flashing lock instead of flashing unlock. Below are, in my opinion, the most important updates and the ones I'll notice most. 1. Battery management. I'm using a pixel phone and as everyone knows, it doesn't have the best battery life (3 hours screen on with everything cranked, background processes etc.). Well, with Android 8.0 the new battery management is actually quite good! As we speak, my phone has been sitting on my desk at 18% full brightness with Discord, Instagram, YouTube, Chrome, Hangouts, and John GBA emulator running in the background. The battery hasn't budged from 18% for, what's been, 13 minutes. While my testing isn't scientific, and you can say "Gee, that's not very impactful", you will notice the difference over the course of a day. It really sips the battery and prevents apps from going too crazy in the background, I really did notice this yesterday when I tried to run the battery down. 2. UI. The UI changes are minor but address some of my pet peeves from Android Nougat(7.0). When you go into your app tray, instead of the buttons remaining white, thus blending in and looking unpolished, they turn black which is a nice touch. A double tap on the screen brings up the time in a smaller font and shows the app icons that have a notification. I find this to be the most important because I am concerned with privacy, so instead of it just showing what the notification is, say a text, it only shows the icon on a double tap which I really appreciate. Another nice touch is when you're playing music and open the notif tray, the music player will match the color theme of the album. For instance, if I'm playing a song off of Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN." album, the background of the Spotify app in the notif tray is a blackish brown and the buttons are a pastel red. This doesn't work with Pandora, perhaps there is future integration for it but at the moment there's none. 3. Apps/Accessibility. When you long press on, pretty much, any application you can open app info or quick shortcuts. With Instagram, if you long press it brings up an option to open app info, while not at all useful, I'm expecting more options to be available. The settings are much less "intimidating" as one reviewer has stated. They're, subjectively, easier to navigate with everything being in it's own category now having substantially less options plastered all over the landing page of settings. Also, it's worth noting that there will be notification dots on your respective apps displaying shortcuts which is going to be one of those things you'll have to train yourself to use to the point where it actually becomes more efficient instead of opening the app. I liken the dots to using CMD prompt over file explorer, once you learn to use it extensively and get past the point of training your brain it becomes more efficient in some areas. 4. Bluetooth. This one many people won't appreciate but it's one of my personal favorites. You can, FINALLY, change Bluetooth CODEC to several different standards, SBC, AAC, aptX, aptxHD, LDAC(sony) etc. Personally, I'll be using LDAC because I use sony wireless devices (i.e. SRS XB3) but your mileage will vary. Also available, are the options to change the sample rate, bits per sample, channel mode and playback quality. All of these will be useful in case you have a spotty BT connection, have audio difficulties or really want to make the most of your experience.

I am wondering if there is an app to change UI colors on Android? I really hate how my pixel XL has a white notification with black icons and how the settings (in fact most if not all of Google's apps) are white. It just hurts my eyes when the brightness needs turning up. Is there an app that can allow me to do that?

Hi, Just been trying to find any info regarding the roll out of Android Oreo update for my Sony KDL55w800c tv. Whether my tv model will receive it. Any help on research would be great. Cheers.

It was working a few days ago but now when I try to pin a memo to the home screen of my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S7 running Android Oreo it never shows up. I've tried restarting the phone, turning it off & on completely & clearing cache via the built in optimizer tool. Anyone got ideas?

I'm very disappointed with a couple of issues: 1 - Not so accurate white levels in screen (bluish tint) 2- No OTA yet (hoping to get fast charging and below fprint problem resolve soon with that) 3- Fprint reader sucks (takes 1-1.3 secs on avg) (not enough load...only 180 avg. apps installed) 4- laggy, stuttery, and slow performance overall (app animations are so damn laggy) 5- Camera app hangs at video rec. times 6- volume/ringer/alarm/media bar doesn't disappear after 1.5-2 secs. (takes forever or around 1 minute to self close)!! 7 - RAM usage never goes below 3.1 GiGs (Already the phone is advertised at 4gb) I'm still cautious about: 1 - I'm a fan of restoring to previous customized state so that after reformat/full wipe, i don't need to do the same hassle and start over. 2 - I wanna root my device but for only and only my favourite audio player viz. "Poweramp alpha build 704" (because of it's exquisite variety of settings and customizations ?). So I just want to ensure proactively if my device will whether return to normal state (as formerly unrooted) or not? Want a detailed and expert reply. ty in adv. ?