Android update: Google finally offers a huge feature expected by fans

Android is Google's mobile operating platform that is operated worldwide.

In fact, most smartphones not manufactured by Apple Inc. run on Android.

The operating system saw its most recent version, 9 Pie, released last August, which brought many aesthetic and functional changes to users.

Originally, the software was only available on Pixel devices and the Essential phone, but has since landed on a number of other hardware from Sony, OnePlus and Huawei.

One of the main features addressed by Google during the revelation of Android 9 Pie was a new tool, dubbed Digital Wellbeing, which aims to increase user awareness of the time spent on their devices.

The software essentially records the number of minutes that each user spends on each application, the number of times he unlocks his device, and so on.

All data is displayed via the Digital Wellbeing switch in the settings menu.

In explaining this tool, Google said, "While much of the time we spend on our phones is worthwhile, many of us wish to be able to disconnect more easily and save time for the future. other tasks.

"In fact, more than 70 percent of our research respondents said they want additional help, so we've been striving to add key features directly to Android to help." users achieve the right balance with the technology they're looking for.

"In May, at Google I / O, we introduced some of these Digital Wellbeing features for Android, including a new dashboard that helps you understand how you spend time on your device. application allowing you to set time limits for applications and applications. blurs the icon from your home screen when the time is up, the new Do Not Disturb mode, which silences all visual interrupts that appear on the screen, and Wind Down, which activates the Night Light and Do Not Disturb functions and dims the screen's brightness in grayscale before bedtime. "

Although the feature was discussed in detail during the revelation of Android 9 Pie, the feature was not launched with the software.

Instead, a beta version of Digital Wellbeing was available on Pixel devices that did not provide users with the full functionality promised by the tool.

But now, the feature is out of its beta mode and is now available in full form for all Google Pixel and Android One hardware.

The most notable difference between the beta version of Digital Wellbeing and its full version is the implementation of what Google calls a "dashboard".

This screen presents users with a list of applications and details the number of minutes spent on each one.

More importantly, it also allows Android fans to set timers for certain apps, similar to the Screen Time feature of iOS 12.

Wind Down is another new feature that aims to help users use their smartphone less before going to bed.

The feature will enable Do not disturb, which means that notifications will be limited and that it will activate a grayscale flip-flop, which means that the user's display will be presented in black and white .

Although Digital Wellbeing seems to be limited to only Android One and Pixel devices at the moment, Google has announced that the features would also come for "other devices".

However, it's unclear when all Android owners will be able to take advantage of this handy tool.