Android N : Google's 2016 Update

Android N Update: New Features & Tweaks For Google's 2016 Update

The next version of Android -- Android N -- is now available as a developer preview. Here's everything you need to know

Google seems to like naming its Android OSes after candy (Android L was “Lollipop” Android M was “Marshmallow”) so what could Android N possible stand for? Many have suggested Nougat or Nectar, even Naan Bread (which, while it has sweet varieties, isn’t likely).

However, Google might not limit N to generics. After all, Android 4.0 was called Kit Kat (a Nestle brand). I’m really hoping they go down the brand name route for Android N. Top of my list is Nutella, but if they want to get really crazy NutRageous would be the best name ever. And what if they did another brand crossover with Nestle? Each subsequent point release of Android 7.x could be code named “Nestle Crunch,” “Nestle Butterfingers”, “Nestle BabyRuth.”

Google is also asking Android fans for name ideas, which you’ve probably already seen on Facebook or Twitter. I have a few ideas of my own, but none are suitable for publishing here. One thing I hope Google does not do is name it after Kim and Kayne’s baby, which in case you didn’t know, is called North West. Guess neither of them has been to Stoke on Trent.

The possibilities are endless really.

Google I/O 2016 Reveals New Android N Features

Google I/O has kicked off as of May 18 and so far Google hasn't given Android N its confectionary name yet, but has commented that the response to the developer preview has been "overwhelming". Google has detailed the update's "late summer" release date as well as a few of other features it is now prepared to reveal. One of the BIG features Google was keen to reveal on day one is related to the platform's performance, with the big G saying it has improved this on two fronts; runtime and graphics.

Google also let slip that it is now building its own chipsets. Called the Tensor Processing Unit, the chipset is what’s powering The Big G’s Assistant AI platform. This is kind of a big deal because it puts Google in direct competition with the likes of NVIDIA, Qualcomm and Intel. Whether these chipsets will come to mobiles in the future remains to be seen, but starting to build your own SoC isn’t exactly cheap, nor is it an endeavour one takes on for just a single product.

Perhaps this is why Google only mentioned it in passing; maybe it didn’t want to upset its long-standing chip-making partners. Qualcomm invests billions in R&D every year and is involved in a fiercely competitive space with the likes of Samsung, Intel and NVIDIA. The addition to Google likely wouldn’t be seen as welcome news given the company’s financial size and influence.

The graphics and runtime side of things is down to the new Vulkan API, essentially offering an extensive series of optimisation tweaks so that devs can squeeze better graphics out of current and forthcoming hardware AND it'll run more efficiently too thanks to a new graphics compiler that is claimed to be 75% speedier than the previous architecture. Google also says these tweaks will mean applications will be smaller in terms of storage space than before, so you'll get more apps into your device!

The Vulkan API is also cross-platform and scalable, while the benefts are obivous to mobile, an Nvidia demo showcased the API running the new Doom game on a desktop machine.

Always a focal point of Android is the multitasking, and Google has tweaked things a little further for the new build - the multitasking hub will now show you only the last seven apps you've used rather than every single one, plus there's now a "clear all" option. As detailed previously, Android N features split-screen multitasking with application windows. We don't yet know the details for phones, but tablets will allow you to have two applications dividing the display in half, or run a smaller window in the corner of a larger full-screen application, say a YouTube video in the corner of your web browser, for example. Messages in your notifications menu will now allow a quick-reply option.

An of course VR is a BIG deal this year. Google announced its VR scheme called "Daydream" and Android will be involved with its own VR mode, and Google is providing OEMs with a required spec sheet if they want to be able to run Daydream - the "Daydream Ready" spec.

Android N: Release date

While the name might be harder to guess, the first preview of Android N is easier to surmise. The next Android OS will almost certainly be previewed at this year’s Google I/O, which takes place from May 18-20 2016. Google will also almost certainly release a developer preview that day.

As for a public release date, expect to be downloading it for certain phones come October. There’s a few reasons for this. First, Marshmallow appeared during the same timeframe last fall. Second, an OS update spurs sales of new devices—important for the holiday shopping season. Third, Apple will be releasing iOS 10 around the same time (probably in September), which will mean Android devices will need some new features to tout.

Android N: Which phones will be the first to get it?

Of course, just because Android N gets a public release in October doesn’t mean all phones will have access to it right away. It’s almost certain that Google will release a new Nexus flagship phone around the time that will ship with Android N preinstalled. Older Nexus phones should get an Android N downloadable update shortly after that. As for other major flagship phones from the likes of Samsung, LG, and HTC? Expect an Android N update for some of those devices before Christmas, with virtually all of them getting the new OS by early 2017.

Android N: Will it merge with Chrome OS?

Probably not. An Android/Chrome OS merger will instead probably happen the next year with Android O. For those of you who don’t know about this, back in October the Wall Street Journal revealed that Google is set to merge the two operating systems by 2017. As the WSJ reported: “Alphabet Inc. ’s Google plans to fold its Chrome operating system for personal computers into its Android mobile operating system, according to people familiar with the matter, a sign of the growing dominance of mobile computing. Google engineers have been working for roughly two years to combine the operating systems and have made progress recently, two of the people said. The company plans to unveil its new, single operating system in 2017, but expects to show off an early version next year, one of the people said.”

No one knows what a merged Android/Chrome OS will look like, but it will probably retain the look and feel of Android, while also being capable as being run as a full desktop OS on PCs. However, don’t expect that ability in Android N.

Android N Developer Preview: New Features & Tweaks

Android N is now available as a preview to developers, as well as those with compatible Nexus and Sony handsets. We’ve had a play around with the software on our Nexus. This isn’t the final software, however, and there will likely be a bunch of new features in the final build that didn’t make it into the developer preview — you want SOME surprises, after all.

So what’s new inside this developer preview? Quite a bit as it goes.

Folders

Folders have been completely redesigned. They look a lot smarter on the homescreen and also give a better indication of what’s contained inside them, especially if you limit the number of applications you put in there to four.

Google Camera App

This isn’t technically an Android N exclusive, as it is now freely available inside the Google Play store. Google has made a few visual design changes to the layout and moved a few of the buttons and/or features around. The slow-motion button, for example, is now available from a slide-in menu which you access on the camera app’s main screen.

You can now also capture images while filming video; again, not a new feature by any stretch of the imagination, but a useful one nevertheless.

Launcher Shortcuts

Android N will feature baked-in support for 3D Touch-like display technology, whereby you hard-press on an application icon for sub-menus and quick actions within it. This feature is already present on some Android phones in a proprietary implementation. Hardwired into Android’s source code though means all of Google’s hardware partners can implement in on their hardware, bringing support for all third party applications in time, not just bloatware ones placed on the phone by the manufacturer.

Nevertheless, ahead of this Google has made some other changes to Android N’s launcher — changes that ALL Android N handsets will experience. Inside the Android N preview you can assign shortcuts to applications, so, in messaging, for instance, you could assign “compose message” as one of the shortcuts in order to save you actually going into the app to compose a message.

Multi-Window Support

Like Samsung handsets before it, Android N will FINALLY support multi-window applications. Google has taken its time introducing this feature to Android. This is likely down to the fact that such a feature only really works on phones with displays of a certain size; it’d be pointless on a 4in phone, for instance.

Google’s implementation is very smooth as well; it works like a charm, even in this developer preview. Operating this new feature is easy as pie as well: hold the Overview (square button) to activate Multi-window mode with the primary app you want to have open. The screen splits in half and the other half displays a rotating carousel of recent apps. You then select the secondary app you want to use, which fills the remaining half of the screen.

Or — from the homescreen: tap the overview button to bring up the recent apps carousel as usual, then, tap and drag one of the cards over to the edge of the screen to put it into Multi-window mode. Simples.

Notifications & Quick Toggles

Google’s constantly tweaking and refining Android’s notifications menu — and always in a positive, forward-looking manner. This trend continues inside Android N, but it also applies to Quick Toggles as well now as the Big G has added in support to edit what settings appear in this secondary menu, so you can add in bespoke toggles for things like Hotspot, Data Saving or display settings.

With notifications in Android N, Google has made it so similar notifications can be bundled together — messages, for instance. These bundled notifications can be expanded with a two-finger swipe. The notifications themselves are richer also, with more details available at a glance — all good things.

Plus the ability to reply to messages and IM via notifications menu appears to have gone system wide and now includes support for ALL messaging and IM applications — WhatsApp included. How it works is simple too: reply option appears below the notification and tapping it turns it into a text field. That’s literally it.

Below is EVERYTHING else you need to know about Android N. 

Sony Xperia Z3 Gets Android N Developer Preview Update

Sony has now followed Google's example in making the Android N Developer Preview available on one of its handsets, specifically the Xperia Z3. Google already made the update available for the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Pixel C and Nexus Player, but now the Xperia Z3 is also getting in on the action. Xperia Z3 units designated as D6603 or D6653 models can now gain quick and easy access to all the in-development features, including split-screen applications, advanced Doze battery saving capabilities, and an enhanced interface. You can check the model number by going to Settings>About Phone, although to be brutally honest if you didn't at least know that already you probably shouldn't be flashing your smartphone and installing an incomplete developer preview! This is all at your own risk, as usual!

Bear in mind this will be Google's vanilla flavour of Android so the Xperia launcher interface will disappear (not that this is a bad thing, in our view). Here's the word straight from Sony on how to install the update:

• Connect your compatible Z3 device to a computer with a USB cable.
• Xperia Companion will open automatically
• Make sure you have Xperia Companion version 1.1.24 or later. If not, download the latest version from here.
• Hold down the ALT key on your computer and click on Software repair on the home screen, then follow the guide.
• You’ll be asked to disconnect and turn off your device, then to reconnect whilst holding down the volume down key to start the software flashing.
• You can return to factory settings at any time by connecting back to Xperia Companion and following the Software repair

Android N To Natively Support Pressure Sensitive "3D Touch"?

According to a report out of China, specifically from an alleged insider tipster commenting on the HTC-made Nexus 2016 handset, Android N will have built-in support for pressure sensitive touch displays similar to the iPhone 6s 3D Touch display.

If you're not familiar, the 3D Touch aboard the iPhone 6s can detect different types of pressure input and allow them to perform different functions on the phone, for example, a harder press can bring up a different menu from a quicker, lighter tap.

It seems, at least according to the tipster, that Google wants HTC to put this display tech aboard the next Nexus phone, but is also going as far as hardwiring it into the next Android build, meaning that just as with biometric security and battery saving features inside Android M, it'll be a feature other manufacturers building Android phones can tap into.

Google Prepping “Nexus VR” Headset 

The launch of Android N at this year’s Google I/O expo could be sweetened with the release of a more advanced version of Google Cardboard, the Big G’s first attempt at a cheap, VR headset. And by more advanced, we mean something similar to Oculus Rift or Sony’s PlayStation VR — so, an all in one unit capable of linking up with any Android phone. 

The news comes from The FT, which claims Google is working on a VR product similar to Samsung’s Gear VR headset. The device would be made of plastic apparently and support all types of Android phones, unlike Samsung’s. It will also feature “better sensors” and “lenses,” though the connected phone will deliver “most of its processing power.”

All in all it should be a very exciting expo. But for most people it will be Android N that is the star of the show. Here’s everything you can expect to see inside the next Android OS.

Samsung Gear VR

Samsung Gear VR Review: Virtual Reality Begins Here

Virtual Reality is going to be the big growth area in 2016 as far as consumer tech is concerned, with Sony's PlayStation VR and HTC's Vive already generating an incredible amount of hype. However, the company largely responsible for the public's renewed interest in the concept is the Facebook-owned Oculus, whose Rift headset has undergone some revisions since being crowdfunded via Kickstarter in 2012. In addition to Rift, Oculus has also teamed up with Samsung to create a scaled-down version of its product dubbed Gear VR, and this could potentially be the device which really pushes the technology into the mainstream.

This stance might cause serious VR fans to scoff, but Oculus staffer John Carmack (yes, the same John Carmack who co-founded id Software, the studio behind Doom and Quake) feels that Gear VR - when twinned with experiences like the forthcoming port of Minecraft - could be VR's best bet at convincing mainstream consumers to put on a headset and abandon all sense of self-esteem. His point is that true VR needs to be totally wireless - something that Oculus Rift, PSVR and Vive currently don't offer - so that you can turn around and move about without worrying about tripping over cables you can't see. The trade-off with Gear VR is that you're not using a super-powerful computer to run the software, but a phone which you can fit in your pocket. Is the compromise one worth taking? Let's find out.

Samsung Gear VR Review: Design Hardware

When you take the Gear VR out of its packaging you'll probably be surprised at how light and compact it is - even with a phone inserted, it's not bulky or heavy in any way. The main headset has a semi-transparent front cover which pops off to reveal the dock for your Galaxy handset (support is currently limited to the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy S6/S6 Edge and Galaxy S7/S7 Edge), while around the sides you'll find a focus adjuster, volume rocker and "back" button, as well as a Micro USB charging port. Two elasticated straps are used to secure the device to your head, and these fasten with velcro, making them easy to adjust to ensure you get a snug fit.

On the right-hand side of the unit there's a directional touch pad which is your primary input during use - although many apps allow you to make selections by moving a cursor with your head. The touchpad takes quite a bit of getting used to because there's no tactile feedback and it's a little too easy to swipe in the wrong direction and have a swipes mistaken for a tap. Thankfully, Bluetooth pad support is included as standard so you can connect a controller and use that to navigate if you find the touchpad too fiddly.

Audio is piped through your phone's weedy speaker so you'll want to connect a pair of headphones when using the device - there's a handy little cut-away portion on the device so
that the 3.5mm headphone socket is accessible at all times. The Micro USB port we mentioned earlier is used to charge the phone when it's connected - the Gear VR doesn't need its own power source as it basically uses your phone for this. Games which require both phone power and a USB connection are alluded to in the instruction manual, but there doesn't seem to be any examples available as yet.

Inside the Gear VR there's a custom inertial measurement unit - or IMU - for rotational tracking. This additional piece of kit makes the headset incredibly accurate when it comes to tracking your head movements, and this is one of the reasons why the Gear VR is vastly superior to efforts like Google Cardboard, which use the sensors already on your smartphone - these simply weren't designed for this kind of functionality.

Samsung Gear VR Review: Software

The Gear VR needs the Oculus app to function, so you'll need to install this before connecting your handset to the Gear VR. The app serves as a hub for all your Oculus content, and includes a store which requires you to enter your credit card details to purchase titles - you can't use your Google Play balance. Some apps are free, but the most enticing offerings need some investment on the player's part, and at the time of writing, prices are quite steep when compared to standard mobile games. Expect to play between £3.99 and £7.99 for the really high quality titles.

When you're wearing the Gear VR you're presented with an Xbox-style dashboard which shows your recent and purchased applications and downloads. You can also access a sub-menu where you can control elements like brightness and contrast, as well as switch on the phone's rear-facing camera to see the "real world" through that transparent front panel - handy if you want to get your bearings without removing the Gear VR itself.

Because your phone is part of the whole Gear VR package, notifications pop up during use. These can be disabled if you'd rather have an undisturbed experience, but the 3D effect used as these boxes briefly appear is pretty cool, and we didn't find them too obtrusive. In fact, because they appear on-screen it saves you from having to remove the headset to check your phone - something that will no doubt be an issue with other VR headsets which lack this functionality. Finally, it's worth noting that Oculus has included an Xbox Live-style "friends" system in its app, so you can keep track of what your mates are playing and get that all-important social element - a key feature when you consider that VR effectively cuts you off from your surroundings.

Samsung Gear VR Review: Gaming

While VR has a multitude of uses and applications, the current trend is very much focused on what it can bring to the gaming arena. On Gear VR, the majority of apps available are games, with some selling the concept better than others. EVE Gunjack is a good example; based in the same universe as the MMO EVE Online, it places you in a static gun turret with the task of repelling wave upon wave of enemy craft. To aim all you have to do is look around - and try not to get distracted by the incredible sense of depth and the gorgeous visuals. A controller isn't required to play, but we found it was much better with one, as reloading and firing can be controlled by the buttons. Gunjack is hardly the deepest game ever and at £8 is quite pricey, but it's the perfect advertisement for VR's potential - this is something that simply could not be replicated by traditional means.

Perhaps more striking is Land's End, a highly atmospheric puzzle title from UsTwo, the studio which created the insanely popular Monument Valley on iOS and Android. While the game is very much on-rails and limits player movement within the superbly-rendered environment, the sense of scale is remarkable; it's possible to look down cliffs and observe the waves splashing against rocks. Land's End is also a game which proves John Carmack's point about wires being a hindrance to immersion - at several points you're expected to turn around 180 degrees to look at elements behind you, and this would be tricky if the Gear VR wasn't a self-contained, cable-free unit.

Both of these examples are very much built around VR, but there are other offerings which attempt to take traditional gaming genres and give them an immersive spin. VR Karts is basically a Mario Kart clone and requires a Bluetooth pad to play. You control your vehicle as you might expect, with acceleration, braking and weapon deployment mapped to various buttons. However, you can look around to see drivers behind or alongside you, which adds more depth to the game than you might otherwise expect.

There's a clear divide between games which use a controller and those which revolve around aiming with head movements. The latter require you to tap the side of the Gear VR to register inputs and this becomes slightly bothersome over time; for this reason we'd highly recommend getting a Bluetooth pad if you're serious about gaming on the device. They're not expensive these days and there's a good chance you already have one lying about the house somewhere.

Samsung Gear VR Review: Experiences

Outside of gaming, you'll find a lot of other apps to download that make use of the Gear VR's immersive qualities but aren't games. For example, Oculus 360 Photos allows you to stand at the foot of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris and gaze up to the sky. It's just a static image but the effect is still impressive. A VR version of Google's Street View has the same effect - while the imagery doesn't move, it still feels more like "being there" than viewing it on a flat screen.

Elsewhere, there are a whole host of apps which place you in exciting situations to make it feel like you're getting in on the action. You could be surfing off the Australian coast or scaling a snow-capped mountain - what you're seeing it obviously linear video footage captured by a 360 degree camera, but the effect is nevertheless impressive. It's just a shame that the video quality is quite poor when streaming, and given that your phone isn't likely to have bags of storage to spare, not many people are going to download the entire clip to watch it offline.

VR as a commercial tool is already being explored by some companies. We've got a Jurassic World companion app which is little more than a 360 video with 3D effects, where you're standing in a forest and become a point of interest for a massive CGI dinosaur. These projects are totally linear and remind us a lot of the terrible FMV "games" which appeared at the dawn of the CD-ROM revolution back in the early '90s; they're a way of getting around the fact that the Gear VR lacks the processing muscle of rival hardware, but aside from impressing your mates, they won't keep your attention for very long.

More impressive are the apps which aim to place you in a particular location that might not normally be accessible. Art galleries can be browsed virtually, and there's even a Netflix app which plants you in a posh living room with a gigantic TV screen. It's a daft idea - why watch Netflix on a virtual telly when you have a real one in your home already - but it hints at future applications for the tech. You could have front-row seats at a live sporting event, for example.

Samsung Gear VR Review: Conclusion

As with all VR in 2016, there's no doubt that Samsung and Oculus are finding their feet with this device. No one truly knows what direction VR is going to take over the next few years, yet Gear VR does an excellent job of selling the dream. Sure, the software isn't quite at the "killer app" level yet and there are some very throwaway apps available which lack longevity, but popping this headset on usually means losing an hour or two of your time; once you step into this immersive world, it's hard to come back out again. The fact that the headset lacks wires and cables is another big plus point when it comes to totally convincing the player they are detached from the real world.

Gear VR has its limitations, however. Because it's powered by a smartphone and not a powerful PC or console, there's a ceiling that developers are going to hit pretty rapidly when it comes to visuals. While we can expect some amazing graphics on PSVR thanks to the fact that one of the most powerful games consoles ever made is running the show, Gear VR is having to rely on weaker mobile tech. That means we could see the headset being left behind over the next 18 months as developers flock to more adept devices. Another drawback is that Gear VR doesn't ship with a controller as standard, and as a result many devs are ignoring physical inputs to focus entirely on head-tracking or the Gear VR's touchpad - and this once again limits the scope of what gaming experiences can be produced. The final shortcoming is that Gear VR needs a Samsung phone to operate - so if you're an iPhone owner or a fan of one of Samsung's many other Android rivals, then it's not going to be of any use to you.

Having said that, Samsung is one of the biggest producers of smartphones in the world and its S6 and S7 lines are incredibly popular, so in terms of potential audience the Gear VR has quite a large pool to dip into. And at less than £90, this is one of the most cost-effective ways
of getting into VR - by comparison, Sony's PSVR is £350, and that's considered cheap by the standards of its rivals. At worst it's "VR Lite", but at best it's an entry point into the technology that is arguably a lot more accessible to casual consumers than Sony, HTC or even Oculus' headsets - and it's first to market, too. In that respect, it could end up being one of the most important developments in the revival of VR yet - it has certainly created plenty of converts as we've been showing it around family and friends.