Google has released the final version of Android 8.0 Oreo. The source code was published to AOSP and system images were made available for supported Nexus and Pixel devices. Android 8.0 comes with several changes that can affect how existing applications function.
Android 8 comes with several new features including PIP, integrated Instant Apps, Notification Channels, Autofill, background location and execution limits meant to improve battery life, Play Protect, public WiFi connections are routed through a Google VPN, Adaptive Icons, and others. We have covered some of these features in greater detail earlier in the post Android O: Notification Channels, Background Limits, PIP and More.
Developers are encourage to test their applications for Android 8, following the migration guide. Even if they do not target the corresponding API (level 26), the applications will still work but there are some caveats. Some of these limitations are:
- There are new limits on background execution. When an application with no active components enters the cached state, any of its wakelocks are released. Applications running in the background have limited access to background services.
- The frequency of location updates for background applications has been lowered. All apps are affected including Google Play Services.
- There are multiple changes related to using networking APIs for HTTP, HTTPS and Bluetooth connections.
- Android 8 introduces a number of changes related to security. For example, support for SSLv3 has been removed. Also, if a server does not correctly implement TLS negotiation, Android 8 will no longer fall back to earlier TLS versions.
For a full description of changes that might affect applications we recommend reading Android 8.0 Behavior Changes. Developers need to be aware of these changes because they might affect how their applications behave when running on Android Oreo. The Code Samples site gives developers examples how to code some of the new features introduced in this version of Android.
Supported Nexus and Pixel devices will receive Android Oreo in the following weeks when carriers are ready to push the new version to users. Google is also working with major manufacturers to make Android 8 available to supported devices by the end of the year.