android n
TRANSCRIPT
Sheer Technology
Google surprised us all by releasing the first Android N developer preview on March 9, two full months earlier than expected.
The Android N preview is live for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 (Wi-Fi and LTE), Nexus Player and Pixel C on the Android Developers site.
You can take a dip into the pool of innovation till the final polished Android N version is released
Split-Window Mode
An eminent Android N’s features is a new split-
window mode.
It lets you run two apps side by side. It's a great multitasking feature for tablets.
This can be done by adding a new attribute called: resizable Activity. Developers can specify the minimum size the app can be resized to and to determine whether resizing will be immediate or the application needs to restart with the required dimensions.
Revamped Notification Panel
Android N has got a revamped version of notification panel.
You can answer any message from the notification itself. Now, you are not required to leave an app to answer a message or even unlock your phone.
Now, icons above the notification shade are more prominent, and on the far right there is a dropdown toggle to expand the panel.
On receiving multiple alerts from the same app, now you can group them together into an expandable “bundle.” The bundle will be represented as one single notification in the shade.
To dismiss them all, you can swipe the entire bundle away with one gesture or you can use a two-finger gesture or tap an Expand button to open the bundle and deal with each notification individually.
This will be handy for apps that like to send a ton of individual notifications for every little thing, like ; Face book.
Upgraded Doze Mode
This feature would work whenever your phone
screen has been off for a while, whether your phone is stationary or not.
You can now relish the benefits of Doze Mode anytime your phone is not being used, even when it is in your pocket or backpack.
Also, when your phone is lying still, it will enter a deeper hibernation mode, deferring network and other activity until widely spaced-out “maintenance” windows before slipping back to sleep.
Hamburger Menu Button
An icon with three lines is now fixed
into the system settings.
You can quickly switch to other system
options using this left side menu.
This menu is already a standard in
other Google applications.
Android Beta Program
Another stylish feature of Android N is the Android
Beta Program, which takes the flashing hassle out and gives you early access to developer previews of Android.
Simply sign up and Google will not only push the Android N developer preview to your device, but you’ll automatically receive updates as Google releases them.
Although, this is limited to the devices Google already includes in its developer program like; Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Nexus 9, and the Pixel C.
If you still want to install Android N manually, you can download the preview images the normal way. Android Team has compiled a list of links and a guide to install.
Emergency Information On Your Phone Tip
Google is concerned about your safety as well, Android N has a setting which allows you to provide a link to your emergency information on your lock screen, including your name, blood type, address, allergies and other essential information.
This feature would help, if you find yourself in an accident and unable to communicate, there will be an ‘Emergency’ button at the bottom, which provides a dialer for calling 911 or another contact.
Abrupt App Switch
This feature would really help the users to save time and provide a hassle free user experience.
If you want to check/open your last visited app. You can simply double tap the “Recents” button to switch to your last app immediately, even if you’re in the launcher. Double tap again to switch back.
Transform Display Size
You can change the display size on your device,
also known as changing your display’s DPI setting.
Press Settings> Display > Display Size and slide the slider to change the size of on-screen content.
Svelte Design
Google revealed the efforts and hardship invested
on Project Svelte, a set of tweaks that make Android more able to run on aging and less-powerful devices.
This project has originated from Android KitKat .
More details would be unveiled with the full release of Android N.
How To Download Android N
If you are a developer or just want to test the
preview version of Android N, you can download images of the new OS directly from Google.
Remember that this version is unstable and contains many bugs.
Only the Nexus line of devices can receive the preview build of Android N.
Android N Name
In December 2015, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, speaking
at a college in Delhi, suggested that Google is considering holding a poll to allow users to decide the official name of Android N.
As of now, Android N is purely a codename. As per the rumor mills, name runners are Android Nutella and Android Nougat.
Google will share the official Android N name in the weeks before the release of the 2016 Nexus devices.
Android N Release Date
Final and polished Android N version is likely to hit around Nexus time – late September
or early October
The Android N availability for other manufacturers and devices will be in the six or so months to follow.
