Google’s Android ‘Pie’ is out – but you probably won’t be able to get it yet
Android Pie does not have some of its most-hyped features, and is so far only available for Google and Essential smartphones
Google rolled out the latest version of its Android operating system – Android 9.0, officially codenamed “Pie” – on Monday, but only a few of the headlining features that Google announced back at Google I/O are included in the update.
The version of Android Pie includes Google’s personalisation features, powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Those features include Adaptive Battery, which uses AI to learn which apps you use at what time of the day, and prioritises battery towards those apps.
There is also Adaptive Brightness, which learns how you adjust your brightness settings in different lighting situations and automatically changes the display’s brightness.
You will also find App Actions in there, which predicts what you will want to do based on what you are doing on your phone at any given time. If you are getting ready to commute, App Actions will suggest navigation with Google Maps, or perhaps that you start an audiobook.
There are new swiping gestures in Android Pie, essentially introducing a whole new way to use Android phones, that are also included in the roll-out. It is only an option, and you can turn it off if you prefer the old-fashioned way of navigating around your Android phone.
What’s not included in Monday’s Android Pie roll-out
In a strange twist, the version of Android Pie that rolled out on Monday does not include some of the “Digital Wellbeing” features that Google announced at Google I/O, including a new Dashboard feature that Google says “helps you understand how you’re spending time on your device”.
A feature called App Timer, which lets you set a time limit on specific apps, is also coming out later this autumn.
