Android 8.0 (API level 26) introduces behavior changes as well as new features and APIs. The key changes that impact NAO SDK are Android background execution limits. If you are using NAO SDK only in a user-app interactive way, there will not be much changes; however if your app uses NAO SDK for background purpose, you need to make some changes.

Background service on Android 8.0

A Service is an application component that can perform long-running operations in the background, and it does not provide a user interface.

• A foreground service performs some operation that is noticeable to the user. For example, an audio app would use a foreground service to play an audio track or a NAOLocation based task may use a foreground service to receive location whatever the user is doing. Foreground services must display a status bar icon and continue running even when the user isn’t interacting with the app.
• A background service performs an operation that isn’t directly noticed by the user. For example, if an app used a service to compact its storage, that would usually be a background service

Due to services background limitations on android 8.0, developers have to bring services to foreground if the application is in the background with a call to Context.startForegroundService() method.

Configure a notification

After the system has created the service it will show a new service’s user-visible notification. It is mandatory to have a notification when you have a running ForegroundService which will be displayed as long as the service will be running. By default, Android will show a notification informing the user of your application background activity. (see default Notification below)

However, this notification is configurable as any Android notification.

Notifications on Android 8.0

Android 8.0 (API level 26) introduces a variety of new features and capabilities for users and developers. Among others, they have redesigned notifications to provide an easier and more consistent way to manage notification behavior and settings.

One main change is the notification channels that allow you to create a user-customizable channel for each type of notification you want to display. If the notification you’ve created is not visible enough, Android will display the default notification. In order to have only your created notification, set the parameter “importance” of the NotificationChannel to either: (see notification example below)

– IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT

– IMPORTANCE_HIGH

– IMPORTANCE_LOW

Links:

https://developer.android.com/about/versions/oreo/android-8.0-changes.html