First Android O beta (and second preview overall) officially released

Enlarge (credit: Google)

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.-Google I/O is just getting started, and Google has announced the second Android O device preview. This version is officially a "beta," which means it will automatically go out to anyone enrolled in the Android Beta Program. Like the first preview, the beta runs on recent Nexus and Pixel devices: the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C, Pixel, and Pixel XL.

The first preview of Android O launched all the way back in March, bringing a new settings page, snoozeable notifications, a background processing lockdown, and a bunch of other features. Google also finally separated the OS from the hardware and wrapped the Android OS in a modular base called "Project Treble." And while the company didn't highlight many new features onstage at I/O, it did mention Android Go, a new configuration for Android O phones with 1GB or less of RAM.

The roadmap from the initial Android O preview still holds true: Android O will have a Q3 2017 release, with two more preview releases between now and then. We'll be installing the beta and digging deeper later this week.

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