Based on materials from android-softwares.com
Imagine that you can influence the next big update Android, that your opinions and ideas can make the software more functional and effective. And all this without having to write a single line of code. All this is possible with Sony Concept for Android, an alternative developer initiative Android that has been around for a couple of years. It's like a virtual sandbox where selected users of Xperia devices test experimental features and settings. And the collected feedback helps Sony decide what to keep and what to throw away. So what does the Sony Concept look like for Android?
Foreword
Let's clarify one point. The software for Android sent to Sony Concept contributors for Android is a working version. What is here today may disappear tomorrow, as updates are released frequently – sometimes once a week. And there is no guarantee that a feature available in Concept will ever become part of the Sony Xperia software.
In addition, the Concept is based on what Sony calls 'rearchitectured software', whereby individual pieces of architecture Android can be updated independently of each other. And not all official features in Xperia are part of the Concept software – for example, it lacks theme support and Stamina mode. That doesn't mean Sony is planning to ditch these missing features – it's just that they aren't an integral part of the Concept for Android.
In this post, Sony Concept was tested on an Xperia X (right) running Android 7.1.1. Let's take a look at some of the big and small features here that you won't find on your regular Xperia.
If you own an Xperia X, you can register and try the Sony Concept for Android
Night light
2016 was the year that blue light filters became mainstream. It doesn't sound very catchy, which is why Google calls this innovation Night Light. The same name is currently used by Sony in its Concept software.
You can turn on Night Light manually using the switch in the menu shade. Another way is to go to the display settings and set there to enable the mode on a schedule, or simply configure the inclusion of Night Light automatically after sunset. The only thing that may be added in the future is a slider that adjusts the intensity of the filter.
Sony's Night Light is a blue light filter that can automatically turn on after sunset
Some may ask: what's the point at all? Why would anyone want the phone display to turn orange at night? The point is, the blue light that comes from smartphone screens can actually degrade sleep quality. And the filter's job is to counter this unwanted effect.
Ambient display for incoming notifications
A great feature, although it is not new or revolutionary. The Ambient display turns on a portion of the screen every time a notification arrives, and the backlight stays on for a few seconds, allowing you to safely read a new message. The notification is displayed in an unobtrusive way, and in addition, the Ambient Display function seems to understand which of the notifications really deserve your attention. Therefore, the screen lights up when SMS or messages come in the messenger, and when, for example, applications are updated, no one bothers you about this.
Ambient Display in Sony Concept for Android lights up screen when phone receives notification
Battery Saver instead of Stamina Mode
Long battery life is one of the pillars around which the very idea of the Sony Concept for Android is built, and long battery life is quite achievable through the use of Battery Saver. Why is it about Battery Saver? The point is that there is no Stamina mode in the Sony Concept for Android. And not that you should miss it, as Battery Saver does the same job perfectly. But the Ultra Stamina mode – a function that provides significant battery savings due to very serious restrictions on the functionality of the device – has no analogue here. But again, this can hardly be considered a significant flaw.
With that, let me conclude this section and move on to the next one. However, when the material was being finished, an update came, offering even more options for energy saving. They allow you to select your own values for the brightness of the screen and the time it automatically turns off when Battery Saver is active, you can also turn off Wi-Fi, sync, Bluetooth and GPS.
Battery Saver Mode in Sony Concept Replaces Stamina Mode
Save memory
You might not notice it right from the start, but the Sony Concept for Android takes up significantly less memory compared to other Xperia devices. The software eats up only 5.13 GB of disk space here. To put this data in context, so that there is something to compare with, in the Xperia XZ more than 10 gigs of internal memory are occupied by the operating system. The economical Google Pixel uses 5.4 GB. Thus, you can be sure that many of the functions of the standard Sony Xperia shell are not included in the concept at all.
Some other settings
At first glance, Sony's concept software is more or less a repetition of what we see in other Xperia devices. But the more you use it, the more customization options open up. For example, this is a drop-down notification curtain: with one movement you pull the curtain, where there are 6 switches instead of 5. In addition, there is a shortcut to go to the Settings menu. Usually a second movement is required to reveal the label. The switches are configurable as usual, so you can group them however you like, and the latest update added a camera shortcut here as well. However, the latter is not particularly useful, since the camera button on the side is already invaluable, since it allows you to launch the camera from any screen.
Concept software (left) has added a sixth toggle on the notification shade, which can be invoked with one swipe
When it comes to the settings menu, when it opens, various suggestions appear. For example, if your Xperia X does not have a fingerprint assigned, the device will warn you about it. Of course, you can skip all these suggestions. And if you swipe to the side, a list of all categories of settings appears, it is available regardless of how deep you go into the settings menu. Perhaps this feature is somewhat redundant in order to get into the main Sony Xperia software, but for the version Android intended for testing and evaluation, it makes sense.
Sony Concept (left) displays suggestions when you bring up Settings
Conclusion
So, perhaps you expected the Sony Concept for Android to be something radically different from what is already working on, say, the Xperia XZ – and then you might be surprised. The software looks and feels very familiar to anyone who has used Xperia devices before, and the new features are just an add-on to what already exists. However, the often-released new settings are good to experiment with, while the software itself is stable enough to use the device for your day-to-day needs.
Are you an Xperia X owner and would like to participate too? Then download the Concept Installer app from the Play Store. You will be notified of the software update within 24 hours. If data is deleted from your machine, you can safely recover it. And if you want to end the experiment, you can return to your regular Sony software by running the restore via the Sony Companion PC app.
Below is a screenshot gallery where the Sony Concept for Android (left) compares to Android 7.0 as it runs on the Xperia XZ (right).
