UPDATE: 18/05/2016 – GOOGLE I/O
Google has unveiled a wealth of new details about Android N at its I/O developer conference.
The updates centre around virtual reality and new “Daydream” certified applications and smartphones.
Daydream-ready smartphones will be designed to meet an unspecified set of technical standards. The only details about the standards are that they will focus on the phone’s sensors, display and SoC (System on a Chip).
Daydream-ready phones will reportedly have a VR mode that has an ultra low 20ms latency. This means VR apps running on Daydream-ready Android N smartphones will be radically smoother than Google’s current Cardboard VR platform.
Google’s also confirmed the Daydream platform will expand outside of phones to multiple device types, including headsets.
No specific Daydream-ready smartphones were announced at the event, but Google revealed numerous big names including Samsung, HTC, Asus, LG and Alcatel are working on handsets.
Google’s also worked to make it easier for companies to create VR-ready and more graphically intensive games by supporting the new Vulkan API on Android N.
Vulkan is a new API designed to replace OpenGL, which was used on previous Android versions. It’s designed to let developers create better games by giving them more control over the phone’s GPU. This lets developers get more out of phone’s components and render more effects per frame without damaging the frame rate on a phone’s screen.
Vulkan support is part of a wider set of performance upgrades set to hit Android N. Google claims the update will also let apps install “75% faster” on Android N and reduce their file size by a staggering 50%. If true this will radically reduce the OS’ demands on phones and tablets and should also improve Android N devices’ battery lives.
Systems updates are also set to be streamlined on Android N. The new OS will have a Seamless Updates system that’s similar to Chromebooks’. Specifically, the update will make it so N has and can run two system images at once, so when an update is available it’ll download the new one in the background without interrupting the user.
Outside of this there were a few updates to Android’s user interface. Highlights include improved app management powers and a new Quick Switch function.
The improved management feature means apps in the list view you get clicking the recent button will be more intelligently organised and automatically remove services that have not been used in a while. The menu will also have a nifty new clear all function that will close all open apps.
Quick Switch is a cool feature that will let you go to the last used application by double tapping the recent button.
These are only some of the updates set to arrive on the new beta release of Android N. We’ll be testing the release the moment we can get it on our Nexus 6. Check back regularly for updates on our findings.
WHAT'S NEW IN ANDROID N BETA 2?
Google promised frequent updates to its beta service for Android N and the first one has arrived. While there isn't a whole lot new in this 250MB update, there are a couple of visual tweaks and some minor additions.
New look folders
The overall look of folders in Android has been given a facelift in this beta, and I'm not impressed. Icons are now displayed inside a circle with a thick white border and it looks more like a dodgy third-party alternative than something cooked up by Google.
As this is a beta, this could all change and I really hope it does.
The new look folders
Emojis that, finally, look like real people
Google has added support for the latest batch of emoji in the second N beta and they look like real people, as opposed to the yellow blobs they were before. Obviously this is a small update, but nice nonetheless.
Vulkan support
As with all new versions of Android, expect to see a lot of under the hood improvements and new APIs added. A standout so far is support for the new gaming API Vulkan. This is a powerful 3D rendering engine and Google says is will provide "a significant boost in performance for draw-call heavy applications".
We've already seen what Vulkan can do in the super-slick gaming performance of the Samsung Galaxy S7, so it's good news that the rest of the Android crowd can join the party.
Other visual tweaks
Google has refreshed the initial set-up screen for Android making it easier and more straightforward to get going, while adding a 'Calculator' shortcut to the quick settings screen.
You can read our in depth hands-on of the original Android N release below
WE TAKE GOOGLE'S ANDROID N DEVELOPER PREVIEW FOR A SPIN
Android N is the developer build of the next version of Google’s mobile operating system – known amongst tech gossips as Android Nutella.
This is an early sneak peak that’s designed to give developers time to take advantage of the OS’s new features, not the next full version of Android. As a result, Android N is not intended for general consumers. In fact, for now it’s best you don’t download it.
Being a developer build, installing it requires you to agree to a fair amount of tracking from Google, which monitors the build to spot and fix bugs ahead of the full version’s release. You also run the risk of bricking your phone or tablet, as the code is still in development and may include more than a couple of bugs.
I’ve downloaded the OS onto my spare Nexus 6 and taken it for spin. So you can get all the details of Android N’s coolest features, without risking your smartphone or tablet.
Video: Check out our Android N hands-on
Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/android-n-review#CLT7v2OeI1RQRBD4.99
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