Android N: What We Know So Far
Even as the latest version of the mobile operating system, Android 6.0 Marshmallow has barely reached the latest flagship device, reports and rumors about the next version of the OS are already circulating online. According to a report in Tech Advisor UK, the OS which is codenamed Android N already has a Developer Preview available which was released ahead of Google's I/O 2016. The Android N is expected to make its debut during the conference which is slated for May 18 to 20.
Among the first things being discussed about the upcoming OS is its name. Google has always named the versions of its mobile operating system after sweet treats, so some reports are already suggesting possible names that start with the letter "N." One report rounded up some of the suggested names which include Nacho, Nougat, Nectar, Neopolitan and Nutella.
The Developer Preview of Android N was released last month and this will be followed by 4 more preview versions until the final version is launched in the third quarter of 2016. According to another report in Gotta Be Mobile, preview 2 was recently released and Nexus users have the option to try it out.
Among the new features that the new OS will bring is 3D touch-style interaction. An ITPro report cited that Google has confirmed this feature, which is "expected to mimic the pressure-sensitive contextual functions" like that of the iPhone 6S. These can be accessed by pressing harder on the screen in order to launch app sub-functions. This feature is said to built-in at the OS level.
Another feature is called freeform mode which will allow users to change the size of the window they are using, as well as where it is placed in the screen. According to Google, it is up to the manufacturer to make this feature available on their phones. This feature is related the Multi-window feature which allows users to open multiple windows on one display.
When it comes to the Notifications feature of the OS, Android N will allow users to receive incoming message notifications without leaving the notification shade. Bundled Notification also groups notifications according to the app, which makes it easier for users to choose which notifications to respond to.
