Newsletter
Sony is now distributing a software package that will upgrade the operating system of the Sony Xperia XZ and the Xperia XZs to Android 8.0 Oreo. This update brings a variety of new features and performance improvements to the handset. Among the new features is the Picture-in-Picture mode, which allows the user to view one app in a smaller window on top of another application. Notification dots also comes with the Android Oreo, and it alerts the user on which application has a notification directly on the home screen. The user may also press the dots to open a set of quick actions that the user may select from. In addition, the Google Play Protect is now incorporated into Google’s operating system. This functionality scan apps already installed on the mobile device to identify and remove malware and other forms of malicious software.
The upgraded software also brings the Autofill feature to the Xperia XZ and the Xperia XZs. This feature remembers and automatically inputs login information like usernames and passwords. The Android Instant App feature permits the user to try an application without installing the full version of the app and there are also a number of under-the-hood improvements, one of them being the faster bootup times. A Sony-specific feature that comes with this update is the Xperia Actions, which recommends the best configuration of the device’s settings based on the current scenario. Smart Text Selection, on the other hand, suggests the best set of actions depending on the content of the selected text.
The update is currently rolling out automatically, although it may take several days before all devices receive the installation file. Given that this is a major operating system upgrade, it is advisable that the software package is downloaded using a Wi-Fi connection to prevent additional carrier charges. Before downloading the update, there should be sufficient free space in the internal storage to temporarily keep the installation file. The handset’s battery should have enough charge to last the entire procedure and the files and images stored in the smartphone should be backed up to a personal computer or a microSD card to prevent loss of important data.
