Android 8.1 Oreo Adds Public Wi-Fi Speed Testing

From PC Mag: Smartphone users are regularly presented with a decision to make: which public Wi-Fi network do I connect to? Google is making that decision much easier this week for Android 8.1 Oreo users by automatically testing and which networks are the fastest.

As The Verge reports, Android 8.1 users will now see speed labels appear next to the available public networks in the Wi-Fi settings menu. The labels are Slow, OK, Fast, and Very Fast, with each allowing more functionality than the last. Slow networks are fine for phone calls and texting, OK networks will allow you to stream music, load webpages, and view social media feeds. Fast networks will handle streaming video, where as Very Fast networks will cope with HD video playback.

The network speed labels will be turned on by default, but you can turn them off by navigating to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi Preferences > Advanced > Network rating provider and selecting None.

The speed ratings only work with public Wi-Fi networks. Google can't offer the same for private networks as they are typically protected and therefore inaccessible for a speed test. I'm sure your neighbors also wouldn't appreciate having their home network regularly scanned by every Android smartphone that happens to come within range.

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