Developers and device vendors can start preparations already now. – digi.no

Google came yesterday with the first public test version of the currently only called Android N, the next major release of the operating system. This happens surprisingly early.

Last year was the first test version of Android Marshmallow not made available before the Google I / O conference in late May. The official version was released in early October last year.

August?

The current roadmap for Android N indicates an official release in August or September. Probably it will be August, since Dave Burke writes in the announcement that the final version will be available for device vendors this summer.

On the way there, one should come from the current alpha version, via two beta versions, one version where programming section and SDK has become final, and a test version for the finishing touches. It shall be between four and six weeks between each version.

The version now available, can be downloaded and installed by anyone, but only on Pixel C, newer Nexus or the official Android emulator . Those registering device into Android Beta program, will get Android N-test version as an OTA update Over The Air ().

The version which is now available, is intended for developers – primarily those already now begin to look at what impact the new version will have the apps they develop. Nevertheless, it is not so that the current test version is feature complete. It should be significantly more to come.

A taster

The most striking news that can already be tested, the multi-window support. It means that you can have multiple apps open and visible at once, drag them around the screen and add app windows side by side, just like one would know from including PCs. The aim is increased productivity.

the screens on many smart phones are so high resolution that it can function smoothly displaying two app windows side by side. Illustration: Google

It promised more functionality that will reduce consumption. It should be possible to reduce data usage over mobile networks by making it easier to block all background traffic. In addition, the new Data Saver function could tell apps that they should use so less data even when they are in the foreground.

Android N should also have a separate TV app with simultaneous recording of multiple channels. But it is not certain that this is functionality that is intended for mobile and tablet.

Alert Field in Android N is expanded with new APIs including allowing users to a greater extent can respond to notifications directly, instead of having to go to a separate app. Each alert can also be more copious, and related alerts can be displayed simultaneously as a list.

Java 8

Another novelty is that developers now can use the functionality that is part of Java 8, including lambdas. This is made possible with a compiler Jack (Java Android Compiler Kit). This does not just Android N, but for Android versions back to Gingerbread. Other Java 8 functionality is currently supported by Android N, but Google state that they are trying to do more of this backward compatible using Jack.

An overview of most of the news in Android N so far, there on this page. A video of how Android N seems, are at The Verge.