Google bundled quite a few new features into Android Nougat, including a new direct reply that allows you to reply directly to a message from the notification for that message. And now Google has decided that that feature and some others are a mandatory part of Android.
Google has updated its Compatibility Definition Document for Android to include new features that device makers must include if they want the Play Store and Google Apps on their products. As noted by Android Police, those features include the aforementioned direct reply, updating and removing apps, and bundled notifications.
Device makers are also required to enable users to access the control panel from the notification shade. This feature is often referred to as the quick settings.
The goal of these rules is to help ensure that Android users can have a more consistent experience from one device to another. All of the features named in this latest version of the CDD are pretty nifty and make using an Android device a better experience, and so it’s good to see Google making them mandatory for any device maker that wants the Play Store and Google Apps.
