All You Need to Know About Pragati OS – Android Go(ing) forward

Habeeb Onawole — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 17:31:31 +0000

Pragati OS is a new operating system developed by Reliance Jio and Google. The Android-based operating system has made its debut on the JioPhone Next, an entry-level smartphone from Jio. If you are wondering what’s new about this operating system that brings to mind Android Go, then this post should answer the questions you may have.

A short history of Android Go

In December 2017, Google announced Android Oreo Go Edition as a lighter version of Android Oreo built specifically for entry-level smartphones. Since then, the launch of a new Android operating system has brought along a “Go Edition” for entry-level phones. Though we are still waiting for the launch of Android 12 Go Edition.

Following the unveiling of Android Oreo Go Edition, several manufacturers including Nokia, Alcatel, Samsung, Lenovo, and Xiaomi (Redmi), announced phones and even tablets that are powered by this lightweight version of Android. While most of these devices do not have any form of software customization that distinguishes them from one another, a few manufacturers have launched their own Android Go phones with customizations. The Samsung J2 Core and Huawei Y5 Lite (2018) are examples as both phones run Android Go but with a layer of Experience UX and EMUI on top respectively.

This customization brings us to Pragati OS, the operating system that powers the JioPhone Next, an entry-level smartphone made by India’s Reliance Jio in collaboration with Google.

Pragati OS – Android Go(ing) forward

Pragati OS is making its debut on the JioPhone Next, the new entry-level smartphone from India’s telecommunications giant, Reliance Jio. According to a blog post by Google, Pragati OS is an “optimized version of Android” “ customized to deliver a great smartphone experience to users in India.”

While Google and Reliance Jio are touting Pragati OS as a new operating system, the features it brings are directly carried over from Android Go or “optimized” versions of these features. Thus, it won’t be far-fetched to say that Pragati OS is the future of Android Go, going forward, at least for India.

Features of Pragati OS

While Google and Reliance Jio are being careful not to call Pragati OS a customized version of Android (11) Go (Edition), unboxing and early impressions video of the JioPhone Next show that Android Go is pretty much under the hood and even visible on the surface.

Not only does the phone ship with Android Go apps such as Google Go, Assistant Go, Gallery Go, and Camera Go, all of which are apps specially launched for Android Go, its key software features have also been borrowed from Android Go but alongside the apps, they have been fine-tuned for the Indian market.

For example, Google Assistant Go now has support for multiple Indian languages on the JioPhone Next. Users will be able to interact with the phone in multiple supported Indian languages and get a response in the same language.

The Google Go app will also translate supported pages to a supported Indian language and also read them aloud while the Camera Go app has a Snapchat integration with India-centric filters and Google Lens integration for translation. There is also HDR, Night Mode, and Portrait Mode. Since this is a Jio smartphone, there are pre-installed Jio apps too.

Will Pragati OS power non-Jio phones?

Pragati OS is jointly developed by Google and Jio, so it is expected that it will only be found on Jio smartphones.

Conclusion

It is clear that Pragati OS is practically Android Go with extra features for the Indian market even if the manufacturer doesn’t say so. That’s not a bad thing but there are not a lot of features that make this stand out from a regular Android Go phone. So those who opt for an Android Go phone from another manufacturer won’t be missing out on much.

There is the promise of frequent updates for the JioPhone Next, so maybe there is a chance these updates may bring more customizations and exclusive features that will help it further differ from Android Go.

JioPhone Next entry-level smartphone confirmed to run Android-based Pragati OS

Jeet — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 10:29:35 +0000

JioPhone Next, a new budget smartphone from Reliance Jio, made in partnership with Google, is expected to be made available in the Indian market around Diwali. This means that the official launch could be just days away.

Ahead of the launch, the company has released a video titled “Making of JioPhone Next” which reveals some of the key details of the smartphone, including the software that will be running the device.

It has now been confirmed that the JioPhone Next will be running Pragati OS. It is a new operating system built on top of Android in partnership with Google and comes with a host of features to cater to entry-level smartphone customers.

Reliance says that Pragati OS has been built specifically for India. In a statement, the company said: “It has been engineered by best minds at Jio and Google with an objective to bring Pragati for all while offering truly seamless experience at affordable cost.”

It has also been confirmed that the smartphone will come powered by a Qualcomm chipset but specific details haven’t been revealed yet. The device will also come with a Voice Assistant to help users operate the device and get information easily from the internet.

There will also be a “Translate” feature that will let users have any screen translated to a language of their choice. In the camera department, the JioPhone will come with a “smart and powerful camera,” which is likely to be a 13-megapixel sensor.

It will support multiple photography modes such as portrait mode, night mode, and more. Users will also get “custom Indian augmented reality filters” to enhance the pictures by associating them with “emotions and festivities.”

A recent leak of the phone through Google Play Console listing reveals that it will feature an HD display with a screen resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels. It will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 215 SoC. It may be offered in two variants — 2GB RAM with 16GB storage and 3GB RAM with 32GB storage.

The phone is expected to come powered by a 2,500mAh battery. While the pricing and availability details still remain unknown, it will probably be priced between ₹5,000 (~$66) and ₹7,000 (~$93) in the Indian market.