Google has been found working on Ambient Display's Always On feature for Pixel phones which got some developers excited because the company is finally taking advantage of its smartphones' OLED screens with this cool addition.
People at XDA Developers just unveiled the indication that Google has been yearning to bring in the much-desired Always On feature for the Pixel lineup. Using such device running on the Android O Developer Preview 3, the developers found a source code on the system user interface APK file with keywords "doze" and "always on" placed side by side. The XDA Developers strongly believes that this code pertains to an additional Ambient Display feature and not on the battery-saving feature called "Doze" which was first revealed on Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
However, Always On is not yet available to use as it is hidden within the settings of Pixel and Pixel Xl. Once the feature goes live, Pixel phone users can just toggle on and off the Always On Ambient Display button. The XDA Developers attempted to crack the code to enable the feature but it was not entirely accessible at the moment.
Putting experimental features hidden allows Google the option to withdraw it from the system if it does not pan out without getting disparaged by the users. As of this time, it is uncertain if Google has plans to release it in the official version of Android O. If not, it should come in future Android versions.
The Ambient Display has a few useful features, including the lift-to-check and double-tap-to-check. The Always On has been seen neither in Pixel nor Nexus line. The Always One mode allows users to take a glance at the phone's display without ever touching it or any notification to come by. While it shows information onscreen, this feature is guaranteed not to abuse battery consumption.
The Always On Ambient Display was pioneered by Nokia with its Lumia phones. Google ported this technology on Android, beginning with Motorola's 2013 Moto X smartphone. It was only during the time when Samsung and LG started using it that the feature took off.
