Android Go is here, and the world's "feature phones" will become history

In May 2017, at the I/O 2017 Global Developers Conference, Google Vice President of Engineering Sameer Samat officially announced a system called Android Go. It is a system specifically launched for ultra-low-spec models with 512MB or 1GB of memory. Google wants to acquire the next 1 billion users through the Android Go system. At that time, Google stated that it would launch the Android Go project in the next generation of Android system.

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On December 5, 2017, Google officially released the Android 8.1 update news. Android Oreo (Go Edition) also officially came into everyone's sight with the 8.1 update. Android Oreo is the Android Go released by Google at the I/O conference.

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Android Oreo (Go Edition), born for ultra-low-spec models

Android Oreo (Go Edition) is a system optimized for entry-level devices with 512 or 1GB of memory. Simply put, Android Oreo is a simplified version of Android O launched by Google. It is not an independent operating system, but just a configuration scheme in Android O. Hardware manufacturers can configure low-end models through Android O, turn off those functions that occupy more resources, and the system built-in applications also use "lightweight" versions according to the configuration, so as to ensure smooth operation on ultra-low-end devices.

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Compared with the official version of Android O, the Android Oreo (Go Edition) system is much smaller in size. At the same time, Google also provides an optimized Google Play for the "Go" system, which provides lightweight application services specifically for Android Go.

At present, Android Oreo only supports the installation of "light applications" through Google Play, which is not available in China for the time being. I believe that in the near future, Google will support third-party app stores. At that time, the old and low-spec devices abandoned at home can be reborn by reflashing.

In order to cooperate with the Android Oreo (Go Edition) system, Google has launched a number of APP applications with the suffix Go, including Google Go, YouTube Go, Google Maps Go, Chrome, Gmail Go, Files Go, etc. These Google-owned applications have lightweight versions, and the file size is much smaller than regular Android applications, but in terms of functionality, they are castrated versions like WeChat mini-programs.

Google said that the Android Oreo (Go Edition) system has a built-in data compressor for network access. Compared with Android O, Android Oreo consumes only 40% of the traffic at most. At the same time, the size of Android Oreo's lightweight applications does not exceed 5MB, allowing users to experience a smooth "light system" while also saving traffic.

The launch of Android Oreo (Go Edition) allows hardware manufacturers to ensure smooth system operation while reducing hardware costs. Around the world, most people still do not have "mobile phones" or "smartphones". People in most areas are still using 2G feature phones. Many people give up buying "smartphones" because the prices are too high or the "data traffic" is too expensive.

The goal of Android Oreo is to reduce the cost of smartphones, so that people who do not have access to "smartphones" can buy smartphones at the lowest price, while saving traffic and phone costs while still having a best experience. The launch of Android Oreo will be a boon to the world and will also be the terminator of the world's feature phones. I believe Android Oreo will bring Google more than 1 billion users.