Few Things To Know About ANDROID N

“We understand and remember less from a hyperlink-ed text, and we experience less emotional depth from a hyperlink-ed life.”

A generation ago, a phone was a thing with a wire plugged into the wall, a file went in a drawer, a tablet was something you took if you had a headache, a text was a book that students carried in heavy backpacks, and social media meant watching some TV with your friends. Nowadays, talking about Smartphone means a soul for us!

Android Developer

Google has surprised everyone with the spontaneous announcement of the “Android N” Developer Preview. This early version of the next major Android software update, due to be released later in the year, gives us a good indication of where Android is heading and what we can expect in the full release.

Google has already moved onto “Android N” with tons of new features to make Android better than ever.

What is Android N?

The search giant always has odd names for its software releases. Android 4.4 KitKat was known as Key Lime Pie, Android 5.x as Lollipop, Android 6.x Marshmallow was called Macadamia Nut Cookie and now it’s the time for Android 7.x as Nutella and so on.

How does the Android Beta Program work?

The Android Beta Program gives developers an opportunity to try out pre-release versions of Android. The program is currently targeted towards developers and is not suitable for use on your primary device.

Devices that you opt into the program will receive an over-the-air (OTA) update to the latest beta version of Android N. The updates that you’ll receive as a part of this program are unstable pre-release versions, and may contain errors and defects that affect your device.

You may remain in the Android Beta Program beyond the N release to preview future Android N Maintenance Releases (MRs). If you choose to do so, you will automatically get an OTA update to pre-release versions of the MRs as they become available. At the end of the program, you will begin to receive regular public updates.

You may opt-out of the program at any time to return to the stable, public version of Android. [Note: If you opt-out when your device is running a beta version of Android, all user data on the device will be wiped.]

Currently, the Android N Beta is available for the Nexus 5x, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player and the Pixel C Tablet. Three missing from the list : Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10.

Multi-Window

This is the big one we’ve been waiting for. With Android N Google has finally delivered multi-window/split- screen support that might not be all Google has up its sleeve.

Essentially allowing two apps to run on the screen simultaneously — was hidden deep within the first Android M preview in 2015, before being unceremoniously removed in a subsequent build. It was never really meant for public consumption, nor was it ever really publicly mentioned.

It’s a bit of an odd product with an odd 1√2 aspect ratio — the same as a standard sheet of paper. That lets you fold it in half and have the same aspect ratio — perfect for running apps side by side.

Only, the Pixel C launched without that feature. So it was pretty clear then that we’d probably see multi-window with the N release in 2016. And we now have it. And not just on tablets — it works on phones as well. This is going to be one feature that developers need to take a look at very quickly.

Direct reply notifications and Bundled notifications

Direct reply from notification bar for all apps, bunched notifications for a cleaner look, number blocking and call screening, improved Quick Setting tiles (and customization) and more.

Data Saver

 After digging around in Android N on the Nexus 6P we found a new feature Google's highlighting called "Data Saver". While many users have unlimited data plans, or more than enough data or access to Wi-Fi all the time, that isn't how the rest of the world works. In Android N there is a new Data Saver settings option that will be very helpful. It doesn't appear to crunch data to save usage like Google Chrome, but rather limit background data usage on cellular networks.

It can be enabled on per-app basis, which goes on even further by telling apps to use less data while in the background or foreground. Meaningless data being used, improved battery life, and more without completely crippling an application from working properly.

DOZE on the Go (Better Battery Life)

When Google announced Android 6.0 Marshmallow a highlight feature was called “Doze” which puts apps into a low-power sleep state when a phone or tablet isn't being used.  With Android N “Doze” will be further refined, more aggressive, and make battery life even better.

Android TV Recording

Along with a new “Picture-in-Picture mode” for Android TV thanks to the multi-window mode, televisions and devices like the Nexus Player will also be better with Android N.

In Android N, the ability to record and playback content from Android TV input services via new recording APIs (Application Program Interface) for developers has been added. Google details, “Building on top of existing time-shifting APIs, TV input services can control what channel data can be recorded, how recorded sessions are saved, and manage user interaction with recorded content.

Here is a list detailing just a few of many other key changes coming to Android smartphones, tablets, and other devices with Android N. 

• Accessibility enhancements – Android N now offers Vision Settings directly on the Welcome screen for new device setup. This makes it much easier for users to discover and configure accessibility features on their devices — magnification gesture, display, Talkback, for example.

• Number-blocking – Android N now supports number-blocking in the platform and provides a framework API to let service providers maintain a blocked-number list. The default SMS app, the default phone app, and provider apps can read from and write to the blocked-number list.

• Call Screening – Android N allows the default phone app to screen incoming calls. Three options will appear to users on Android N; Reject the incoming call, do not allow the call to the call log, do not show the user a notification for the call.

Direct Boot 

Direct boot improves device startup times and lets registered apps have limited functionality even after an unexpected reboot. For example, if encrypted devices reboots while the user is sleeping, registered alarms, messages and incoming calls can now continue notify the user as normal. This also means accessibility services can also be available immediately after a restart.

Improved Smart Lock for Passwords

Android Marshmallow introduced Smart Lock for Passwords, a basic Google password manager that can store your app passwords so that any time you re-install an app you will be automatically logged in. Combined with Android’s revitalized app backup, the idea is that the whole process of setting up a new device is seamless. The only problem is that not that many apps support Smart Lock for passwords yet so its value is still largely underutilized. With any luck, Android N will see a lot more apps supporting the feature.

Project Svelte Background Optimizations 

Project Svelte is an ongoing effort to minimize RAM use by system and apps across the range of Android devices in the ecosystem. In Android N, Project Svelte is focused on optimizing the way apps run in the background.

So that’s it, folks. The Android N Developer Preview process is a long one. It’s just starting and we have got months to go still. So don’t worry keep on reading and stay updated as well as upgraded!

                        - Sharmistha Roy