While a lot of Android phone users arestill waiting for the Android 6.0 Marshmallow firmware to hit their devices, tech enthusiasts are already talking about its successor, the Android N. The next Android OS is expected to have impressive features like Multi-Window mode, Stylus Support, OpenJDK and more.
According to International Business Times, Google is expected to launch its forthcoming Android operating system dubbed as Android N during its I/O 2016. This event is scheduled to take place between May 18 and May 20, and its Developer Preview is predicted to be made available at the event. The firmware could come pre-installed in Google's next Nexus series, possibly the successors of LG Nexus 5X and Huawei Nexus 6P, which are expected to be unveiled in October.
Apart from the release date, Tech Times cited some of the rumored features that the Android N may bring; one of which is the Multi-Window mode. It was during a Reddit AMA with the Pixel C team that Google's Product Director Andrew Bowers stated Android N would have this feature.
Bowers said "We're working on lots of things right now for N that, of course, we wish we had, you know, yesterday. But we'd spoil the surprise of N if we shared all of them. Split screen is in the works!"
Although the Android 6.0 Marshmallow already supports the feature, this may be polished or enhanced.
Another is the OpenJDK Instead Of Java APIs. This was previously confirmed by Google as the company stated that it is planning to move Android's Java language libraries to an OpenJDK-based approach. It would also create a common code base for developers to build apps and services.
The said move is due to some problems with Oracle pertaining to rewritten Java APIs. OpenJDK is basically part of the Java Development Kit, which is an open source.
The Android N will also have an improved tablet support. Glen Murphy, a member of the Pixel C team, spilled the beans that "a range of enhancements for this form factor" was also in the works. Murphy was referring to split-screen multitasking support and even though he did not elaborate, the message was clear that Android N would bring better support for tablets. This would pertain to apps that are tablet-optimized, with custom navigation buttons and more.
Google is also expected to bring the stock support for styluses in Android N. Samsung revealed this possibility when the company stated its intend to retire some primary S Pen features from Look API. On its developer page for Look API, the company stated that several Look API S-Pen features will be removed in Android N. It follows that the South Korean tech company is making the feature obsolete since the stylus features will get stock support in Android N.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Android N might carry forward the style of naming the OS upgraded on sweets. Every year there are assumptions surfacing which sweet Google is going to name the latest Android after. This year, the top choices are Nougat and Nectar. Some even suggest "Naan Bread," but it is considered very unlikely.
As noted previously, the Android 4.0 was named the Android Kit Kat, after the popular chocolate produced by Hershey in the US. With this, predictions surfaced claiming Google will again name the latest, Android N, after a popular brand and it might be called Android Nutella.
While name suggestions are flooding the rumor mill, the features and enhancements Android 7.0 N possibly bring are also making rounds online. With several technology-related events coming up, more details or at least hints of what to expect from Android 6.0 Marshmallow successor should surface soon.
