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| Android Nougat | |
|---|---|
| Name | Android Nougat |
| Developer | |
| Initial release | August 22, 2016 |
| Family | Android (operating system) |
| Source model | Open source with proprietary components |
| Latest release | 7.1.2 (as of 2017) |
| Marketing target | Smartphones, tablets, set-top boxes |
| Written in | C, C++, Java |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| License | Apache License 2.0, GNU GPLv2 |
Android Nougat Android Nougat is the seventh major version and a significant update in the Android family developed by Google. It introduced multitasking refinements, performance optimizations, and security improvements for devices from manufacturers such as Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola, and Sony. Nougat served as a bridge between earlier releases like Android 6.0 Marshmallow and later releases such as Android 8.0 Oreo, aiming to improve responsiveness, efficiency, and ecosystem integration across mobile, automotive, and embedded platforms.
Nougat emphasized incremental advances in user experience, runtime performance, and platform security. It built on projects and technologies associated with Project Treble, Google Play Services, and the Android Open Source Project while interacting with vendor efforts from Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Samsung Exynos. The release was shaped by contributions from partners including NVIDIA, Intel, Sony Mobile, HMD Global, and chipset vendors working with carriers like Verizon and AT&T.
Development occurred within Google engineering groups and the Android Open Source Project repositories, with preview builds distributed to device makers and members of the Android Beta Program. Public revealed previews were announced at events tied to Google I/O and staged rollouts used carrier testing processes involving companies such as Sprint and T-Mobile. The final launch followed certification and compatibility testing with partners including Bluetooth SIG, Wi-Fi Alliance, and USB Implementers Forum. Over-the-air updates were coordinated with manufacturing partners like Foxconn, Pegatron, and Quanta Computer.
Nougat introduced a refined notification system compatible with standards from the Notification API and included bundled notifications used by apps such as Gmail, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. The split-screen multitasking interface was intended for use on devices from Samsung Galaxy, Google Nexus, and later Google Pixel lines. Support for Daydream VR platform features tied to Google Cardboard and Oculus initiatives appeared alongside Vulkan API support championed by the Khronos Group for improved graphics in games by studios like Epic Games and Unity Technologies. Nougat also added enhancements to the Android Runtime (ART), JIT/AOT compilation strategies influenced by projects in the OpenJDK ecosystem, with impacts on applications from Google Play Store publishers including Spotify, Netflix, and Snap Inc..
Hardware enablement targeted System-on-Chip platforms from Qualcomm Snapdragon, Samsung Exynos, MediaTek Helio, and processors from Intel Atom for certain tablets. Power management and background process controls interacted with low-level drivers provided by manufacturers such as Broadcom and Marvell. Performance gains were measurable in benchmarks published by outlets like AnTuTu, Geekbench, and GFXBench, and were relevant to device lines including Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Pixel C, OnePlus 3T, LG V20, and Sony Xperia X. Camera and sensor frameworks were updated to support modules from vendors like Sony, OmniVision, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics.
Nougat introduced seamless updates and improved encryption support aligned with standards from the OpenSSL and Linux Kernel security models. Security hardening reflected best practices promoted by CERT Coordination Center and techniques compatible with hardware-backed keystores in devices from Samsung Knox, Trustonic, and Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment. Monthly security patches were distributed through collaboration among Google Play Protect, OEMs, and carriers, while enterprise management features interfaced with solutions from VMware AirWatch, Microsoft Intune, and MobileIron. The platform also addressed vulnerabilities cataloged in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures system.
Industry coverage of Nougat appeared in publications such as The Verge, Engadget, Ars Technica, Wired, and TechCrunch. Analysts from Gartner and IDC discussed adoption trends, noting gradual uptake due to carrier and OEM fragmentation issues highlighted by organizations like the Open Handset Alliance. Market response influenced handset launches from Alphabet Inc. partners and shaped update policies at companies including Samsung, LG, HTC, and Motorola Mobility. App developers from Facebook, Adobe Systems, Microsoft, and Amazon adapted software to Nougat APIs, affecting distribution via the Google Play Store and alternative marketplaces managed by Samsung Galaxy Store and carrier app stores.
Nougat set groundwork for modularization and updateability that fed into later initiatives such as Project Treble and the architecture of Android Oreo and Android Pie. Concepts tested during Nougat influenced efforts by standards bodies like the Khronos Group and industry consortiums including the Open Invention Network. The release informed enterprise mobility management strategies adopted by organizations including IBM, Deloitte, and Accenture, and left a technical lineage visible in successors used across products from Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, and Xiaomi lines. Nougat’s role in the broader Android timeline connected it to upstream work in the Android Open Source Project and downstream OEM customizations maintained by manufacturers and carriers worldwide.
Category:Android (operating system) versions