While Android smartphone makers continue rolling out updates to the latest version of Nougat for their users, Google is reportedly hard at works on the next version of its mobile OS (operating system) i.e. Android 8.0.

As expected, the search giant has kept details about its upcoming mobile OS under wraps; however, this did not stop some tech pundits from hazarding all sorts of guesses about the upcoming OS. Lining with this, there's hearsay that Android 8 could come bearing an "Oreo" moniker or another flavor starting with "O."

Aside from that, the rumor mill has been churning a slew of speculations around the upcoming features of the Android 8.0 OS. The imminent version of Google's lauded mobile operating system is rumored to be unveiled during the tech firm's I/O developer conference, which kicks off May 17, 2017. Meanwhile, let's delve into the purported updates that are likely to come with Google's next Android OS.

Copy Less

The Copy Less feature is said to curb the inconvenience of copying text from one app and then pasting it in another, a source acquainted with the matter told VentureBeat. However, it remains to be seen whether the said feature will be included in Google's standard-issue Gboard virtual keyboard app or would it be added to Android itself.

For instance, if a user is having a conversation with his/her friend via a chat about a place to eat dinner and the user manages to find a good restaurant in the Yelp app, when he/she goes back to the conversation and types "it's at," the Gboard would display an automatically generated suggestion comprising the restaurant's address.

All the user now needs to do is simply tap it, and the keyboard will fill the text box with the address of the restaurant, which the user can then send simply by hitting the send button. This would be a considerable improvement from using Android's pointers for copying just the text a user wants to and then pasting it in the messaging app.

Google Maps Upgrade

Aside from improving the messaging experience, Google is reportedly gearing up to bring in a feature that allows users to simply tap on the address in Messages to directly open Maps and display the location in it. Although it is unclear whether this feature will be compatible with third-party apps, this is definitely another move that's expected to make usage easier especially for those looking for locations to visit.

Finger Gestures

Users will be able to take advantage of finger gestures to prompt actions across Android. For instance, if a user draws the letter "C" on screen, Android will display a brief list of recent contacts. It's worth noting that users can alternatively use "OK Google" voice command to bring up contacts on Android; however, a gesture is ideally faster, according to Tech Facts Live.

There is a possibility that Google's gesture triggers could either get postponed or not even see the light of day, according to the aforesaid source. Nevertheless, more features for Android 8.0 are likely to be revealed in near future. Watch this space for more updates!