The release of Android Lollipop (version 5.0) saw one of the biggest updates to the operating system to date, not only visually with a large splash of Material Design but also through the introduction of numerous backend functions and refinements.
While Android 4.0 finally unified the Android experience on smartphones and tablets, Android 5.0 sowed the seeds for Android powering a whole raft of new devices including smartwatches, televisions and even in-car technology. So what will the next version of the operating system bring?
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What will Android M be called?
Google has finally taken the wrapper off the next version of Android and revealed it will be known as Android 'Marshmallow'. More importantly, it's also been given the version number 6.0, rather than the point update many of us were expecting. The announcement was made in a blog post on the Android Developers Blog. The blog post also announced the final software development kit (SDK) for Android 6.0 is now available for developers to get stuck into ahead of the autumn release of Android Marshmallow. For the brave and curious, preview system images are also available for many Nexus devices, including the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player. Developers can begin uploading their updated apps to the Google Play Store in preparation for the wider roll out in a few month's time.
Google has also released this behind the scenes video of how the Marshmallow name came about as well as a look at how those famous lawn sculptures are made to commemorate each new Android release:
Android M release date
We got our first proper look at the new version of the operating system at Google’s annual developer conference - Google I/O. Android 5.0 Lollipop was debuted at a similar time of year and so we can make some pretty accurate presumptions about how things will pan out from here. An early summer announcement provides plenty of time for developer previews over the next few months and a full release probably around November, likely alongside a new Nexus device.
Android M review
With the Developer Preview now available, we've been able to flash onto our Nexus handset and give it a thorough going over. Now it's early days for the new version of Android, and we've seen a number of crashes usually in relation to connecting to Wi-Fi networks that have intermittent or limited connections, but generally the new Android is pretty stable. All the new features haven't been integrated yet, most notably there's no Now on Tap, see below. For our full take see Android M review.
Get Android M now
If you've got a Nexus 5 or Nexus 6 smartphone, or Nexus 9 tablet, then you can install Android M Developer Preview today. It's not straightforward, you'll need to be happy to wipe your phone entirely, download and install various tools and flash a new ROM to the wiped handset. The best description of how to do this we've found online is available from www.androidexplained.com, although we ran into problems with our Nexus 5 install and had to manually execute a number of CMD line instructions to get it working - you can find that information over at the www.ibtimes.co.uk. Obviously we take no responsibility if you render your phone useless in the process.
Android M new features
For our take on the early current version of the new operating system, see our Android M review - Hands on with Developer Preview. However that build doesn't include everything that Google has promised us in Android M when it launches, so here's a quick rundown of all the big new features.
Now on tap
The most obvious and impressive new feature demoed was Now on Tap. This takes Google Now and spread it out across the operating system, so that you can use it pretty much wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. You simply make a long press on the Home button and Now slides up from the bottom of the screnn over whatever you’re doing
It’s driven by some very powerful context sensitive, intelligent search algorithims. Which means it scans the content you’re looking at and provides information around that, which may be useful. For example, you could make a voice query such as ‘how old is he?’ while looking at a page about Hugh Laurie, and Now on Tap will pop up the answer - it knows which ‘he’ you’re referring to.
If you’re reading an email and it mentions a film you can quickly get local screening times, or reviews. And it ties into other apps now too, so Google Now will offer IMDB for example to provide more information on that film. It all looks very clever and it could make Now a key part of Android, rather than simply an aside that most people don’t use very often.
Doze
Google is again promising to improve battery life, but this time its standby power that’s getting the boost. Doze is a new technology that detects when the device is motionless and unused and goes into a deeper sleep mode, polling for updates less often, but still available for important incoming events like calls or VoIP.
In internal tests, Google found it doubled the battery life of a Nexus 9 tablet, we’re guessing a not-much-used Nexus 9. Still we’ve always found our iPad lasts for ages longer on standby than our Google-power equivalent, so it sounds like a good move.
App Permissions
App permissions are a bit of a pain in Android. The more open nature of the Play Store, compared to say the App Store, means that you’re forever giving apps endless permissions to do things, many of which you aren’t happy with.
Now app permissions are granted when used, not at installation. So the first time an app tries to access your camera, it provides a request to do so, and you can agree once or forever. This way apps that may have certain functions you don’t use, don’t have access to things you don’t need them to access. For example, Skype, if you only use voice calls it doesn’t need to access your camera.
There will be a smaller, simpler set of permissions now, and you’ll be able to go in and edit them either by app, or by permission type (say contacts or microphone). Updates are now more seamless for apps as updated permissions don’t require agreement at install.
Fingerprint sensors and Android Pay
Support for fingerprint sensors is being added in Android M, in conjunction with a push on Android Pay - which seems to have superseded Google Wallet entirely, initially you'll be able to authorise Play Store transactions and unlock your phone using the system. Phones with scanners will be coming soon, so expect them on every flagship handset in 2016. What we're really waiting on though is the ability to buy stuff using our phones, so we don't have to fish out our debit and credit cards to make quick purchases.
With Apple Pay finally rolling out in the UK, making use of the now widely spread Contactless payment system, we're hoping that Google steps up its game too and paying for lunch with your phone should soon be the norm. Although for this you will need a handset with NFC and preferably a fingerprint sensor, you could probably use a security PIN but that rather defeats the convenience of the whole system.
Multi-app, splitscreen support
The new operating system will also be able to run two apps side-by-side. We've seen this before on Samsung's Note devices, but it's never been a feature in Google's own version of Android. It will be a huge boon for users of biggers handsets, such as the Nexus 6.
Other bits
Google is adding Chrome Custom Tabs to Android. These allow app developers to create browser tabs in their own style, to make the move from app content to web content smoother, allowing apps to integrate web content without a visually jarring effect.
There will also be Improved linking between apps, so you’ll see a lot less of that annoying screen that asks you to pick which app you want to open your request. Certified apps will be able to ‘own’ links connected to them, for example by default the Twitter app will own Twitter links, and you’ll get taken straight to it should you click on one in a browser. You’ll be able to reassign these if you prefer another app, but by default it will be a far more seamless app-to-app experience.
What else do we want to see?
While Lollipop was a great evolution of the operating system, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Here are a few features we would love to see:
Integrated Android Wear support
Rather than needing you to install a separate Android Wear app to communicate with your smart watch, it would be great if this functionality was baked into the operating system and was more seamless.
Dark mode / night mode
There’s an awful lot of white used for stock Android 5.0 from the app drawer to menu bars. These aren’t great for battery life on certain screens but they’re also incredibly harsh on your eyes – especially at night. A dark mode would help but even better would be a mode that could filter out blue light that has been associated with negatively effecting your circadian rhythm; making it more difficult to fall asleep.
Manual camera functionality
Many smartphone manufacturers are including custom camera apps alongside their Android customisations, seen recently with the LG G4. These often offer far more manual exposure controls, something we would love the stock Android camera to have as well.
Better notification syncing between devices
Anyone that has an Android smartphone and tablet has probably gotten annoyed by notifications appearing on multiple devices that don’t get cleared when you acknowledge on one device. So if you get a Twitter notification on your phone and get rid of it, it’s still there on your tablet. It would be great if notifications were synced across devices so there was less duplication. It’s also especially annoying if you’ve not had your tablet on for a few days only to be greeted by a massive wave of notifications when you turn it back on as it catches up with notifications the device has missed (that you might have actioned or cleared from your smartphone).
More sophisticated data usage warnings
Previous versions of Android made it easier to keep a tab on your mobile data usage, useful for those on limited data tariffs. You could also set warnings so you knew when you were approaching your limit, which is handy. We would love to see more sophisticated warnings, such as day-to-day warnings so you could more easily ration your usage over the month. An optional data ticker in the notification bar could also be useful.
Smart app uninstalls
The storage option in the settings menu helps you get an idea of how your storage space is being used and distributed, whether by apps, music or videos. It would be useful if you could get recommendations on apps you could uninstall if you’re running low on space, this could be based on infrequently used apps, for example.
Ability to uninstall any app
Some of the pre-installed apps with Android have better alternatives, such as the Calendar. However, there’s no way to uninstall the stock apps, meaning they clutter up your app drawer even if you don’t use them. A way to uninstall these would be great.
Faster updates
This is a big one for many. Google is infamous for slowly rolling out updates in waves, meaning you could be waiting weeks before an update reaches your device. This is exacerbated by the need for manufacturers to make their own customisations. Having tighter control over custom skins, or making them completely optional, would speed things along.
More unlock options
Google has already embraced a number of new security features with Lollipop, such as one of our favourites, Smart Unlock, which removes the need to enter your PIN or pattern unlock when the device is connected to a trusted Bluetooth device or is in a trusted place. We would love for Google to adopt some other unlock methods we've seen from certain Android customisations such as tap unlocks.
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