The latest Android 8.0 Oreo update has yet to roll out in all compatible devices today, yet Google is already gearing up for the next version of the mobile operating system. According to the latest reports, the search engine giant plans to launch the next OS update, initially known as the Android 9.0 P, in summer 2018. The upcoming Android OS update has no confirmed features yet as its development is still ongoing, although one of the speculated new themes of the Android P update is the dark mode.
Interestingly, Google added an update to its tracker last week in connection with the development of the Android 9.0 P OS. Users have long been requesting the tech firm to add a dark mode theme in the next Android update, and per the latest scoop from Google itself, a dark mode just like the recent update in OnePlus' Oxygen OS is coming up soon.
After the public's celebration of the supposed dark mode update in the Android 9.0 P, Google immediately corrected its previous message, to which it claimed that there was only a misunderstanding. It was then confirmed by the company that no dark mode is coming to the next Android OS version, or at least there are no plans to develop such feature at this point. It appears that a similar dark mode effect can still be achieved, but the users should first download third-party applications to apply this theme.
The latest messages in Google's thread for the Android 9.0 P development suggests that the supposed dark mode update reported last week is actually a new toggle that will allow software developers to test a night mode in their apps. To note, a similar toggle for a night mode already exists in the Twitter app. While such functionality is already present in some apps, the update will make it easier for users to access the night mode toggle in Settings. With this, all phone apps will sport a background setting that is less eye-straining and more power-efficient, especially on devices using OLED panels.
"Hi folks, you may remember me from the last three releases where it looked like Dark Mode was being added. Unfortunately, this bug was closed prematurely due to a miscommunication with the team that handles AOSP issues," a Google representative stated in a post.
Aside from a dark mode, users are expecting that the next Android 9.0 P version will introduce stricter privacy control settings wherein the user can choose which apps could access the phone camera and microphone.
