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Android 7.1 Developer Preview now available for Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and Pixel C

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CIOL Android 7.1 Developer Preview now available for Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Pixel C

Google couldn’t have timed it better. Arriving in sync with Pixel release, the Android 7.1 Developer Preview is now available for the Nexus 5X, 6P, and Pixel C. If you’re already enrolled in the Android Beta Program, you should receive the update shortly.

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Notably, the developer preview is meant to test out a device-specific issue, with updates coming for other supported Nexus and Android One devices later on.

CIOL Android 7.1 Developer Preview now available for Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Pixel C

The update includes app shortcuts, circular icon support, enhanced live wallpaper metadata, image keyboard support, and storage manager intent. There are also some deeper API changes for developers.

Let’s start with app shortcuts. Accessible from both the launcher and app drawer, the shortcuts can be dragged out as individual home screen icons for much quicker access.

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Google is also granting developers the ability to add metadata for wallpaper pickers — the exact same we see inside of the new Pixel Launcher. With this addition, developers can place labels, descriptions, authors, or context URLs where they are visible by a user.

Next, in line is revamped Quick Settings that add another toggle to the row. The Quick Toggles screen now features a Settings shortcut and next to it a button that slides down the full panel. Previously, the Settings icon was only accessible after another swipe.

Some other minor tweaks include support tab in Settings, Restart option in Power menu, a new Moves screen that has the double-twist gesture to switch in and out of selfie mode in Google Camera.

Google is also bringing “Image Keyboard Support.” With this, it expands the types of content that users can enter from a keyboard, such as stickers, GIFs, and other content.

Please note- this is a developer preview. There are likely to be bugs and only a few devices are supported right now. Google says it will expand support to more devices in November.

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