What next after the Lollipop ? Here comes the answer from Google. Google has just made the next version of Android official. During the
keynote address of its annual developer conference, Google unveiled
that Android M will succeed Android Lollipop this year. Google says that
Android M, which is debuting as a prerelease version today with a full
release later this year, brings a host of new features and performance
enhancements. But at the same time, Google's Sundar Pichai says the
company has "gone back to the basics" and improved quality of the
platform. Where Android 5.0 Lollipop introduced a new design and
interface, M appears to be focused on improving the stability and
usability of the software. Google isn't saying what the version number
or name of M will be just yet, but it is showing of a lot of what will
be part of the update.
Dave Burke, vice president of engineering at Google, says that the
company has been watching what device makers have been adding to Android
and is folding a lot of those ideas into the core system. There are six
new areas that Google has focused on with M, ranging from new features
to improved performance and efficiency.
One of the big parts of Android M is a redesigned apps permissions
system. Users will be able to approve or deny security permissions, such
as camera or location access, on a case by case basis. There are only
eight categories of permissions available to apps now, and the apps will
ask for them as they need them. That's different from how Android
current works, which asks users to approve all permissions at once when
the app is installed. It's also very similar to how Apple has handle app
permissions in iOS for years. Apps will not have to ask for permissions
with every update, either.
For Android M, Google is also revamping the web browsing experience
with its Chrome browser. A new feature called "Chrome Custom Tabs" lets
developers insert webviews directly in their apps, giving them the full
power of Chrome without having to force the user to switch apps. Chrome
features like automatic sign-in, saved passwords, autofill, and
multi-process security are all now available to app developers within
their apps.
Android's built-in app linking system (also known as "intents") is
also getting an upgrade, allowing apps to open content directly instead
of stopping users with a dialog box every time. For example, if you
click a Twitter link in an email, the Twitter app will open directly
instead of asking you if you want to use Twitter to view it.
Android M is introducing a new payments system called Android Pay. It
uses NFC and Host Card Emulation for tap-to-pay services and
essentially takes the place of the current Google Wallet app. Developers
will also be able to integrate Android Pay into their apps for in-app
payments and purchases.
Google says that Android Pay will be preinstalled on AT&T,
Verizon, and T-Mobile devices and it will be accepted in 700,000 stores
in the US. Android Pay will also natively support fingerprint scanners,
such as the one installed on Samsung's Galaxy S6, as opposed to leaving
it up to device makers to support it themselves. It works with any
device running KitKat or newer.
It seems that Google promises better battery life and efficiency with
every new version of Android, and of course, Android M is no different.
M will bring a new feature called Doze, which lets the system manage
background processes better. It relies on motion detection to determine
when someone is using a device, and shuts down processes when activity
hasn't been detected for a period of time. Burke says that this has
extended the standby time of the Nexus 9 tablet by up to two times over
Android Lollipop.
Android M also introduces native USB Type-C support, which allows for
faster and easier charging. It also lets users charge other devices
with their Android phone, which isn't something any of us have asked
for, but it's there.
Google is also addressing a lot of the usability nags that have
plagued Android for years with M. Little things like volume control and
copy and paste are allegedly improved, and Burke calls M the "most
polished Android release to date."
But it's apparently not ready to be taken out of the oven yet. As
with last year's Android L early release, Google is making M available
as a developer preview for the Nexus 5, 6, 9, and Nexus Player, with a
full release later this year. The company expects developers and early
adopters to test the system over the next few months to find bugs and
improve stability before it's released to the public. Google says that
more information and updates will come during the preview period this
year, which was a pain point for many during the Lollipop preview.
M Preview available for developers today
Google is promising a lot with M, and if you've been following the
progress of Android for a while, it's a lot of stuff you've probably
heard before. Hopefully this time around Google hits the right stride
between new features and stability that make for a truly exceptional
mobile platform. The company is also introducing a number of new
platforms and systems that tie in to Android and work with Android
devices, such as the Brillo internet of things platform and the new Now on Tap search features.
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