Google released the latest iteration to the Android operating system called Android N Wednesday, but only as a developer preview. This does not mean, however, that fans cannot test the update in their devices, as it is available for manual download at Google's Dev site. It can also be downloaded over-the-air if the user is part of Google's beta program.
The latest Android OS introduces several important changes, such as the Multi-window feature, wherein apps can run in split-screen modes both in phone and tablet platforms. The Android team made it possible to do this seamlessly, even when the user transitions from portrait to landscape mode and vice versa.
"Your activity can handle the configuration change itself, or it can allow the system to stop the activity and recreate it with the new dimensions," Dave Burke, vice president for engineering at Google, said in an official statement.
Notifications also got a major overhaul. For instance, users can now directly reply to message notifications without leaving the notification shade. The system also allows the bundling of notifications according to app groups. This means that messages are better organized and easier to interact with.
Android N is expected to run faster than ever due to several changes made under the hood. These include a significant reduction to the time spent installing applications. Through the so-called Jack compiler, Android N eliminates the long wait spent on the optimization process after an app is installed. This has been achieved through the so-called quick path to app installation, where applications with huge file sizes could only take seconds to install.
There are several other features that contribute to the overall efficiency of devices running Android N, such as an increase in battery life and a life-saving feature, among others. Each of these is bound to be identified later as developers begin testing the new OS as a platform for their applications. It is important to note that since the N is still in beta stage, its use could entail bugs, so it is advised to never flash a Nexus or an Android phone.
To find out more about Android N and how to download the developer edition into your phone, head to this link.
