Had enough Jelly Bean, Kit Kat and Lollipop?
Because Google scheduled a close encounter for all app developers with its
new Android mobile operating
system at the upcoming I/O conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from May 27 to May 29 and, as is
tradition, Google will
enchant Android app developers with sessions and workshops meant to help them get the hang of its new version
of OS. Two days booked of
interesting sessions might seem like a handful, so developers will want to bring a recording device to
make sure they don`t miss
anything good. After
all, it is a fast paced business this one that they`re in, but Google promised that some of the workshops will be
held in two separate sessions,
so as to allow developers to take in all the information. So, what is this new Android M?
While, we don`t have all the details, we can tell you for sure, that this new
OS is meant to help you deal
with those pesky office tasks easier and faster. So say your goodbyes to the Lollipop version of Android and get
excited for the new experience!
The announcement of a new
OS at a I/O conference
is nothing new for the Google power- company since it did just that, when it launched the Lollipop version in
2014. Sure, we all expect great
things from the new version
of Android, but the question that burns is: What does the M stand for? I mean, naming mobile OS after delicious treats that make you drool is the
trademark with which Google
got us used to. So which one is it this time?!
But, back to the I/O conference, we have to admit that Google has a lot
more going on than just the
new Android version. We`re
talking about its Google Fit app session that will try to take on its rival Apple`s Health app and Google also
promises new and refined
notifications for the upcoming Android version. For those of us, who always
run out of battery during
the day, Google created the session named “Battery Performance & Tooling” which plans on helping developers
create apps that don`t
completely murder your battery life. And another interesting session will be about Android apps that can be
accessed only through the voice
of the user. All in
all, this is shaping up to be quite an
interesting gathering, from which us, the users, will reap the most
benefits.
Android 5.0 Lollipop might
have only arrived to 10
percent of devices , but attention is already turning towards the next version, currently known as Android M (or
Android 6.0). Expected to arrive
with improved notification features, as well as Android TV and Android Auto support, here’s what we
know so far about Android Android M design and interface We expect Android M to be
what iOS 8 was to iOS 7:
the big changes in Android’s interface, like the adoption of Material Design, have already been implemented.
We doubt Android M will look
vastly different to Android Lollipop: expect evolutionary change and refinement rather than a gee-whiz new
look. A concept video for Android
M has been uploaded
by Android Hackz, and for all it's an unofficial video, we're impressed by some of what's shown –
particularly the "app close" animation. Will Android M end up looking like this? There's no reason why
it can't.
Android M features
Improved notifications Notifications are always being improved upon because they are so frequently
complained about. We
want relevant notifications, which only appear when we need them, and currently, this is not an exact
science. Rumor has
it that the next step Google is taking with notifications is to unify them across all platforms. A notification
seen on your PC would not
appear on your phone or tablet, for example. It’s early days, but we’re expecting some
changes to the way notifications are both displayed and interacted
with on Android M. Smart
home Android 5.0 Lollipop
already focuses on consolidating
everything Android has brought us thus far and makes attempts at providing a more stable and
quality-assured platform. On the broader front, the Smart Home will be an increasingly important
feature of Android, with complete control over your connected devices at home and in the office
via Nest and other third-party
makers.
Security
With smartphones being increasingly used for well... everything,
security is something which grows ever-more important. Google recently introduced a "find my
phone" feature to Chrome, and a "kill switch" option in Android 5.1 to make
stolen phones useless, so
look out for further security
enhancements on Android M.
Android Wear
With reports that the Apple Watch has already shipped one million units
(more than Android Wear
devices did in the whole of 2015), Google will be searching for a way to fight back. Android M will undoubtedly
bring some improvements
to how smartwatches and smartphones interact, and probably with regard to notifications (once
again) and voice input. We may even see some AI robots introduced on which Android M will be
demoed... or perhaps I'm just
getting a little carried away. Whatever happens, we're pretty sure Android M will be all about bringing Android to
as many new frontiers as possible:
from your pocket, to your wrist, to your car and home to who knows what else.
Android M release date
Android KitKat was around for roughly a year between Android Jelly Bean
and Android Lollipop
update, so it is possible that the Android M release date could be set for October or November
2015. Interestingly, Android M
was recently spotted in the Google I/O 2015 schedule , but it was promptly removed
.
What this all means is that Android M could be unveiled at Google I/O 2015
, and maybe
even released in the fall or early winter alongside the rumored Nexus 5 (2015) . There's a chance Android M
could launch with the Nexus
5 (2015) Will
Android M work on my phone or tablet? Possibly
not. As we saw with the KitKat release, Android can only go so far backwards with compatibility. With Android
5.0 Lollipop already taking
advantage of 64-bit processors and large amounts of RAM we’d expect that some older, less powerful devices won’t be invited to the Android M party - and of course some older devices that should work
will be dependent on manufacturers
and/or network operators making updates available, which isn’t always guaranteed.
Typically, Android devices
are supported by updates
for 18 months, just in time for your carrier-contract to run out so you can spend more money on a new handset
(I mean, if you want to
be cynical about it). Is this something that's likely to change with the introduction of Android M? Put simply, no.
Android Auto
According to a report from Reuters, Android M will have a significant
focus on Google's
Android Auto software, and that the functionality may be built into upcoming cars as standard, without
the need to even plug in a phone. The first
wave of cars to integrate with Android Auto will arrive next year (we'll probably see them at CES 2015 in just a
few weeks), but these
early vehicles will require a device (running Android Lollipop) to be plugged in to access music, maps, and
whatever else. Within
the next "year or so", claims Reuters, this will no longer be the case,
and car-optimized version
of Android M will control all of your vehicles entertainment, messaging and GPS in a standalone format. Android M name Google typically names its
Android versions after a
sweet or candy. In chronological order, we've seen Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice
Cream Sandwich, Jelly
Bean, KitKat, and Lollipop. As for the Android M name, the most recent speculation suggests it will
be Android Muffin, but other
contenders are: Milky Bar, Milky Way, Marshmallow, M&Ms, Mud Cake, and Mars. We're tipping Android
Marshmallow right now because
it strikes us as a more dreamy, colorful, Candy Land-style name in-keeping with the Jelly Bean/Lollipop
trend.
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