The most complete overview of the new Android N features. Android N: what's new and should you upgrade? Google new version android n

While only the Xperia Z5 and Z3+ series have received the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update, and most Sony smartphone and tablet users are waiting for the firmware for their devices (to be fair, most other manufacturers have not yet updated their devices), Google suddenly announces the next firmware Android N and releases Developer Preview for a number of Nexus devices! Usually, the software giant shows the logical extension of its mobile OS at a press conference. Google Developers I/O . But not at this time.

After reviewing the materials of our Western colleagues and Google information, we decided to write to you about the main changes in Android N and what's new in it, compared to the same current Android M (Marshmallow). Naturally, the “sweet” name has not yet been given.

New features of Android N (Android 7.0)

1. Multi-window mode. It will be possible to launch several applications on the screen at once - right and left, or top and bottom, depending on the orientation in which you use the device. With the help of a dividing line, you can choose the screen size allocated for one or another application. Developers will be able to set the minimum allowable window size for their application or even disable this function. This allows you to drag and drop data from one application to another, copy text in one application and immediately paste text into another, and so on without any problems.

2. Improved power saving modedose. The fight to reduce battery consumption and improve the energy efficiency of the Android system continues. The new Doze charge-saving mode has been improved, and now it will monitor your smartphone constantly and activate not after a while of inactivity of the device, but immediately after the screen turns off.

3. Grouping notifications. Multiple notifications from the same app will now be grouped in the status bar shade. With a swipe or tap, you can preview them and jump to the desired notification.

4. Reply to messages directly from the status bar. When you receive a new message, you can quickly write a reply to it directly from the curtain without going into the messenger itself.

5. Fast switching between active applications. Just double click on the browse recent button running applications(the rightmost virtual button in the form of a square by default) and one of the last applications will be opened.

6. Panel improvements quick settings. By sliding the curtain of the notification panel, you will get one panel with the launch buttons for the most desired functions. You can also expand the panel with switches, of which there are even more. Naturally, they can be customized in the order you need.

7. Night mode. According to Google, the mode switches the interface to night mode using a dark interface style, lowering the screen brightness and using a red color tone filter. They promise that it will become an integral part of Android N. You can activate it on a schedule. During the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the ability to choose a dark or light theme was also provided, but the final version of the firmware did not receive such a feature.

8. Save traffic. Thanks to new feature Data Saver, you can set a limit on streaming data for certain applications, or compress this data, reduce the number of accesses.

9. Improved file manager.

10. Screen color balance calibration. The user can use the sliders to adjust the color reproduction on the screen of his device. No built-in profiles - everything is on your own eye and according to your preferences. But in our Sony Xperia this feature has been around for a long time.

11. Change menu with recently launched applications. Tiles will become larger and more visual (left - Android 6.0, right - Android N).

12. Blocking unwanted numbers. Now such a function is implemented at the system level and everyone will be able to blacklist all annoying numbers.

13. Compilation improvement and supportJava 8. This allows you to reduce the code, the new version of the ART runtime performs faster optimization installed applications, improve application installation speed.

First look at the Android N beta in the video:

Here is the first list of major visible changes in new Android N. What do you think is still missing in this list, what would make the system more flexible and convenient by default? How are the general impressions of the existing innovations?

In contact with

In modern smartphones, at the top of the screen, you can always find a line that has a signal strength icon, a battery level icon, etc. Also, the letters G, E, 3G, H, 3G+, H+, 4G, sometimes LTE may appear in the line. What do they mean? The answer is really simple - the icon shows which transmission technology is used in this moment. In other words, it is a technology that is used to connect your smartphone to the Internet.

Now let's take a closer look at each icon. Attention - in the upper right corner, left or right corner (depending on the smartphone model).

• G from English. GPRS - General Packet Radio Service, general packet radio (2G). GPRS allows the network user cellular communication exchange data with other devices in the GSM network and with external networks, including the Internet. The maximum speed is 171.2 Kbps, but in practice it is usually lower.

• E from English. EDGE. digital technology wireless transmission data for mobile communications operating over 2G and 2.5G networks. The maximum speed reaches already 474 Kbps.

• 3G from English. third generation - the third generation. Third-generation mobile communication technology, which, among other things, provides high-speed Internet access. Uses UMTS technology with HSPA add-on. The maximum speed of 3G networks reaches 3.6 Mbps.

• H, 3G+, H+. HSPA technology (High Speed ​​Packet Access - high-speed packet data transfer) allows you to transfer data over UMTS networks at very high speeds up to several tens of Mbps! True, it must be borne in mind that not all devices support this speed.

• 4G (LTE, LTE-A). As you might guess, the technology got its name from the phrase fourth generation - the fourth generation. These are promising technologies that allow data transmission, the speed of which exceeds 100 Mbps for mobile subscribers and 1 Gbps for fixed subscribers.

Please note that the figures indicated in the article are conditional. Much depends on the operator, on the user's location, on the user's device, etc. And this means that in real life speed can be very different. At the same time, in many cities, the Internet connection speed on smartphones is so high that it allows you to watch HD-format videos directly from your device.

What's new?

While it makes sense to note five key innovations, four of which can already be tested in action. But in final version Android N new features and capabilities, of course, should be much more.

Android N allows you to have two apps on the screen at the same time.

At the same time, the height or width of the windows is adjusted, the application open in each of the fields can be replaced with another at any time. And for Android TV, Google promises a picture-in-picture feature.

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Icons quick access are now displayed on a compact narrow panel. A long press on the icon opens the corresponding item in the settings menu.

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The settings menu has changed: now it is a panel that pulls out on the left with many items. Beautiful and comfortable!

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Along with the release of Android N Developer Preview, Google announced that the Doze power saving feature has been improved in this version of the OS.

It first appeared in Android 6.0. If earlier Doze was activated only some time after the smartphone went to sleep, now it happens immediately after turning off the screen. However, how exactly did this affect the time battery life so far, unfortunately, it is impossible to say.

How to install?

If you are a happy owner of Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P smartphones, as well as Nexus 9 and Pixel C tablets, then everything is as easy as shelling pears. All you need to do is go here this page, enter your password Google account and press the big green button. This action confirms the user's consent to join the Android Beta testing program. And in just a couple of seconds, an update to Android N “over the air” will arrive on your gadget. All personal data should theoretically be preserved, but backup Still, it's better to do it first. Moreover, if you suddenly decide to leave android programs Beta, then the "nexuses" themselves will be reset to factory settings, and the information on them will be irretrievably lost.

Owners of other smartphones and tablets will have to dance with a tambourine: unlock gadgets using special programs, download the Android N image and write a couple of commands manually during installation. In general, the process is not particularly complicated, but it is completely unnecessary for an unprepared person. If you are suddenly interested, then an excellent instruction.

Should I install Android N right now?

Android N Developer Preview is an early version not yet ready operating system, which is intended for developers, not for mass users. If you are not engaged in creating programs for Android, then we do not recommend installing it. In addition to the innovations described above, along with Android N Developer Preview, you will receive a whole bunch of bugs and glitches that will make the device extremely inconvenient in everyday use.

The Android N operating system has not yet acquired the final name, but we already know a lot about it. Google is being more open this time around, releasing a couple of developer previews this year, and is now introducing a beta build that can be used as the main operating system. It can be downloaded for the Pixel C tablet and Nexus smartphones from version 6. If users are not ready to work with a non-final version of the system, you can read about its innovations in this article.

1. multitasking

   The inability to have more than one app on the screen at the same time was especially felt in Android last year, when the Pixel C was released as a work-oriented tablet. In Android N, developers are addressing this shortcoming. You can also split the screen on smartphones, for which you need to hold the task switch button. This is a fairly intuitive solution, but now you seem to get two screens the size of a smartphone.

   Applications do not need to be updated to be compatible with this feature. Some, like Instagram, are not yet selectable at all, others, like Twitter and The New York Times, load fine in a smaller format despite being on the “might not work” warning list.

   The task switch button is another Android N trick: double tap it opens the last recently used application. Google calls this feature Quick Switch, which is similar to the Alt-Tab shortcut in Windows.

   If you have too many apps open at the same time, the Clear button will help you close them with a single tap.

2. Notifications

   The notification shadow in Android N has been completely redesigned. Objects are now more visible, with smaller icons that make better use of space. Notifications have become more functional, they can be doubled for viewing information and interaction. You can open them not only with a swipe, but also with small buttons.

   Long-pressing each notification allows you to set how you want to receive notifications from that app in the future, such as receiving them silently or blocking them altogether.

   

   You can also mention the integration of quick switches. B has to drag the top edge of the screen down to open a menu with toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more, while N has a row of five icons above notifications. To open the rest, you need to scroll through the list, the icons can be configured to select the ones used most often.

3. Settings

   The settings menu has also been changed. At the top there are suggestions for actions that you have not yet performed on your device, such as setting accounts Email or voice commands. Each option contains relevant information, such as free disk space, information about WiFi networks, traffic, etc.

   

   Another change relates to the permanent settings that appear in the list upon activation. The toggle appears at the top of the list and can optionally be dismissed like notifications.

4. A virtual reality

   While there is nothing really new in the current public beta, a virtual reality is a big piece of the Android N puzzle. Google launches new platform based on Android called Daydream, which replaces the Cardboard device. You will need a Daydream-certified smartphone with the correct display and sensors, and they will work with Android's new VR mode to improve the performance of VR devices.

   So far, Google is demonstrating prototypes of such devices with a simple wireless motion controller. Other manufacturers will be able to produce their own devices that meet the Daydream standard; , and are already ready to offer Daydream-enabled smartphones.

   In terms of content, Google is working on VR versions YouTube apps, Street View and Photos in partnership with Netflix, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts. The launch of the Daydream platform is scheduled for autumn.

5. Keyboard themes

   

   This is far from the main innovation of the next version of Android, but the system has a lot of themes for google keyboard default. You can choose different colors, add and remove borders between buttons, set a photo as a background.

6. Performance

   Google is talking about performance improvements in a number of ways. N support new GUI Vulkan, which is beginning to be used in computer games and will increase the display speed of games on smartphones and tablets.

   Android N received new compiler JIT, thanks to which Google promises to improve battery life and halve the volume of applications, making them 75% faster.

7. New emoticons

   

   Google is updating the set of emojis in Android N to give them a more unified look. The company is asking the Unicode Consortium to accept 13 new emojis.

8. Easter eggs

   Android N doesn't have a version number yet, but Google already puts traditional surprises into the system. In each version of Android, they are opened by quick taps on the version number in the settings. In this case, the N logo appears. It remains to wait until the system has a final name, then the surprise may be more significant.

We have already mentioned that Google is developing a new OS to replace Android 6.0. So far, it is known under the name Android N. And it seems that the acquaintance with it took place earlier than we planned.

The reason for this is the recent release of Developer Preview, a new operating system for latest smartphones Nexus (Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player and Pixel C) participating in the beta program. And even if this is only a raw beta, a number of quite definite conclusions can already be drawn from it.

At the moment, it is clear that Android N will receive the following features:

• New notification system;
• Split-screen multitasking features;
• Quick response;
• Quick settings switches;
• Subtitles for settings, reporting their current status;
• Saving data;
• Sleep mode, for applications after the screen is locked;
• New online compiler speeds up system boot.

Let's look at them in order.

New notification system, quick response and quick settings toggles

One of the main differences between Android N should be a new notification system. Google itself calls it "Bundled Notifications". Its essence is to combine several notifications from the same application into one message. If you want to get full information about all notifications, just click on the expand button or expand it with two fingers. Notifications from each application neatly fit into the appropriate tab. And now even a very large list takes up very little space on the screen.

In addition, such a density will allow the owner to easily deal with a bunch of messages that fill his device. So we can only give credit to this solution, which is head and shoulders above both the past Android schemes and iOS solutions. Keep it up Google!

Android N also received a Quick Reply to notifications feature. Something similar already exists on Apple. There you can reply to an app notification without opening it. Fast and simple. However, this feature does not yet work on all applications. For example, you won't be able to use it for email. But Hangouts or Skype support it.

Another tricky feature is the new Quick Settings toggles. Now there are five of them. You can enter them by simply translating the trigger. Something similar happened in the last Android versions, where you could hold down the WiFi icon and end up in the corresponding menu. But now there are many more such links. So, for example, clicking on the battery will take you to the battery consumption graph.

By the way, do not forget that all these innovations are provided with excellent smooth animation. Everything is assembled, re-arranged very quickly and without delay. Big G did a great job.

The only complaint about the new functionality is the unexpectedly short drop-down settings menu. You will have to double click on the application to see the settings icon. We hope this is just a raw beta issue. But who knows. Also, we would like to see the percentage of batteries.

Split screen multitasking features

Split-screen multitasking has been a recent addition to smartphones. And the first here was the company Samsung. But now, the flag is in the hands of Google, which introduced this feature as a base for Android N.

To activate it, simply hold down the multitasking key while you're in the app. After that, you will see that the button has changed its icon, and the screen is divided into two parts. By default, the screen is split evenly, but you can set your own value, up to 2/3. Sharing is no longer possible. Yes, and why?! It became clear on Samsung example giving the user complete freedom of choice. As a result, no one leaves the second application less than 30%. Otherwise it becomes useless.

The good news is that both split screens run incredibly smoothly. You can use both apps at the same time. No quality loss. The exception is apps like YouTube, which automatically pause when you leave their window.

Of course, now you can easily copy and paste text from one window to another, as if on a regular computer. So, now it will become much easier to work with smartphones.

On the other hand, it is doubtful that such a function will gain popularity among smartphone owners. It undoubtedly looks great on presentations, but in real life it is of little use. Tablets are another matter. Most apps are still poorly optimized for large screens. And it might be better to have two apps running at the same time on split screens than one more than half empty.

Another nice little thing about multitasking is the ability to switch between applications by simply pressing the multitasking key.

Hidden Features

Split-screen multitasking and a new notification system are the most noticeable changes to Android N that are visible to the naked eye. But there are many important changes that have gone unnoticed.

Firstly, this is a more efficient use of batteries, which is achieved by forcibly "putting to sleep" running applications in blocking mode. This solution was first presented at Android Marshmallow. Now applications will stop turning on and working in background by draining your battery.

Android N's background mode also optimizes the use of other device resources. For example, random access memory, which makes it possible to reduce system requirements without loss of smooth operation.

Another novelty of Android N is the new operational compiler. Now you don't have to watch the hateful message "Optimizing applications" every time you reboot or update your device. As the saying goes: "a trifle, but nice."

Results

Android N displays Android system on new level development. And while it may not showcase truly breakthrough features, that doesn't mean it doesn't have some really important and practical improvements. The simplest example of this is split-screen multitasking. Also, we hope that Big G will continue to work on optimizing the use of system resources and battery power.

The main problem new system from Google most likely will be the developers of smartphones. Most of them have their own interface options. And not every one of them will want to quickly adapt to other people's decisions. The simplest example of this is the situation with the update to Android 6.0, which has been going on for a year with slips. However, perhaps Google will have its own trump cards that can force developers to hurry up with the update. But how the situation will turn out - time will tell.