Android 8.1 developer preview launched by Google

San Francisco:  Google has started publishing its latest developer preview Android Oreo 8.1 much before the scheduled date of software release in December, informed sources.

The recently released developer preview is only compatible with the devices Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Pixel C, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL.

The developer preview can also be downloaded and flashed to your device or loaded through the Android emulator, tech website zdnet.com reported on Wednesday.

Google has pegged two developer previews for Android 8.1.

Google said the first release is a beta "with APIs" and promises a second beta sometime in November.

What looks to be the biggest part of the update, the Neural Networks API will likely allow the new Pixel 2 to take advantage of the "Pixel Visual Core" SOC that isn't enabled yet.

It will enhance Google's photo apps and eventually will allow third-party photography apps to take HDR+ quality images, zdnet.com reported.