Android N Developer Preview 4 released for supported devices

Google has released Android N Developer Preview 4, along with the final version of the Android N APIs and SDK for Android N for all compatible devices.

The update doesn't add any new feature, but there are known issues you should be aware of including potential system instability issues. Additionally with the final version of APIs, developers will be able to make sure their apps work with the Android N's new API 24 on their Alpha or Beta channels, and then push the apps to the Play Store.

The Android N Developer Preview 4 (build NPD56N) is now available for Nexus 6, 6P, 5x, 9, Pixel C, General Mobile 4G and Sony Xperia Z3. Developers and beta testers can download the update for Android Developer website. If you've signed up for Android Beta Program, you will get the over-the-air.

The Android N is yet to get a name, but the stable build will be available in Q3 2016. Some of the highlights of Android N include multi-windows support, quicker app installs, updated Quick Settings panel, Data Saver mode and more.

Android N Developer Preview 3 includes VR mode, background updates, new multi-tasking features and more

Google at it I/O 2016 conference revealed several new feature to the Android N version, that will be available in the new Developer Preview 3, as well as new features that will be available later. Google said that the Android N Developer Preview 3 is the first beta-quality candidate that can be tested on your primary smartphones.

Starting with performance, Android N Developer Preview 3 brings improved graphics and run-time performance. With the addition of Vulkan API, Google promises for better graphic performance in Android N. Also the JTI compiler in the update is said to work faster to improve software performance.

To make Android more productive, Android N now features a much easier multi-tasking including quick-switching between apps, multi-windows support and better notifications. Quick Switch feature works by double-tapping the recent app buttons, while you can now launch multi-window by long-pressing recent buttons. Google has added a 'Clear all' icon to the task switched button, which will automatically remove the apps from recent apps. There will also be a picture-in-picture mode (PIP) that will be limited to Android TVs only.

As for security, the enhancements include file-based encryption and seamless updates, which means devices running Android N can install system updates in the background.

VR will also be a big part of Android N. The main highlight for this is a hardware and software platform called Daydream. Android N will also include a special VR mode as well. Phones that are VR-ready will let VR contents including app and games access the mode directly.

Other Android N Developer Preview 3 features include Launcher Shortcuts, which will be released in summer; Android Pay; all-new Google Keyboard Themes; new power notification control; manual exposure added to camera app and as expected bring new system wallpapers. Google has also removed 'Night Mode' option from System UI Tuner. Also included in the update is actionable notification, which lets users to reply directly from chat notification.

Android N Developer Preview 3 is now available for Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G on the Android developer website. You can also get it through Android Beta Program. The Android N final build will release in Q3 2016. 

Via

Android N Developer Preview comes to Sony Xperia Z3

The Android N Developer Preview is now available for Sony Xperia Z3, which is the first non-Nexus device to get the preview release. Two variants of the Xperia Z3 is eligible to test the preview release - D6603 and D6653.

To recall, Google released the Android N Developer Preview last month, and was available for few Neuxs devices, including Nexux 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C tablet and General Mobile 4G. Users were able to either flash the image or enroll to receive OTA update to test Android N.

However, in case of Sony Xperia Z3, users will have to install Sony's Xperia Companion app on their PC, download the Developer Preview and manually flash the device, following which future updates will be sent directly by Sony over-the-air. 

"Use the N Developer Preview to test your apps with new system behaviours for saving power and memory. Extend your apps with new features such as multi-window UI, direct reply notifications and more," noted Sony on its developer website.

What’s new in Android N:

• Multi-window support – This new multi-tasking feature lets users open up two apps on the screen at once.
• Bundled notifications – You can group messages together, for example, by message topic.  Users can then take actions in one place.
• Direct reply notifications – Users can respond quickly to notifications directly within the notification interface.
• Efficiency – Google has improved Doze to save even more power in Android N. There are also new behaviors in Project Svelte, aiming to reduce the memory needs of Android.

Flashing your compatible Xperia Z3 device

• 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

Source | Via

Google releases Android N Developer Preview 2

Google last month surprised the world by releasing the Developer Preview of Android N, its next major mobile operating system, which brought multi-windows support, UI changes, quick toggles, notification enhancements, data saver and more. Now Google has released Android N Developer Preview 2, which brings fixes for few bugs and new features including Unicode emojis.

The new build adds supports for Vulkan 3D rendering API to the platform, that allows for better and smoother performance with respect to graphic while playing games. It does so by fully utilizing the multi-core processor. It's worth noting that Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge were the first phones with Vulkan APIs on-board.

Google has also added "launcher shortcuts" which creates shortcuts to initiate specific to initiate certain actions directly in the app, like navigating home in Google Maps or sending messages to specific people. Android N Developer Preview 2 also includes support for Unicode 9.0 emoji and redesigned Google's stock emoji characters to make them more human-like.

The Android N Developer Preview 2 factory images are now available to download from the Android developer website. You can also download the update over-the-air if you've opted for Android Beta program. Just like last time the devices eligible for the preview build include Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9 tablet, General Mobile 4G (Android One) and Pixel C tablet. 

Image Credit: Techradar

Google's Android N is referred to as New York Cheesecake internally

Google last week surprised the Android community by announcing the Android N Developer Preview. Although Google has Nut told us what the 'N' stands for, Android Police has found out what 'N' refers to internally. 

As per the publication, Android N is internally being referred as New York Cheesecake, as they spotted out various reference to 'nyc' or New York Cheesecake in the Android Open Source Project repository.

The previous iterations of Android also had codenames that were different from the actural name. The KitKat was referred to as Key Lime Pie, Lollipop was Lemon Meringue Pie and Marshamllow was Macadamia Nut Cookie.

Google has also started asking people What Android N should be called via its Opinion Rewards app. It is asking two question "“What tasty food comes to mind that starts with the letter N? and "What is your tasty treat from the list?" The choices listed are Napoleon, Nut brittle, Nachos, Nori, Noodles, Nougat and Neapolitan ice cream.

Google always names its Android version after desserts and sweets, and the Android N is expected to be called Nutella, but we'll have to wait and see, which dessert name will Google use, to name its latest Android OS.

Google releases Android N Developer Preview

Google has announced the release of Android N developer preview, the next major Android release ahead of Google I/O 2015. The latest iteration of the Android OS brings several new features like Multi-windows support, Notifciation enhancements, Data saver, Background optimizations, Direct boot, TV recording, partial support for more than 100 new languages and locales and more.

Multi-Windows support
The split-screen multitasking mode is not limited to tablets, but also works on smartphones and TVs as weel, where you will also get a picture-in-picture mode for the larger screen. With split-screen multitasking users will be able to run two apps side-by-side or one-above the other.

Notifications
Android N also gets several new APIs that allows apps to post notification that are more visible and interactive. This will allow users to quickly respond from the notification shade without opening the app. The new version also lets developers group notifications from the same app together, which can be expanded into individual ones, by tapping the expansion button.

Improved Doze Mode
The Doze Mode, that was introduced with Android M, is getting some improvements in Android N. The Doze Mode enhances battery life by killing apps from accessing network or CPU when the device is inactive. In Android M, Doze Mode worked only when the device was in standby mode, whereas in Android N, Google has introduced Doze on the go, which lets the device to go into Doze mode to save battery, when the screen turns off.

Quick Settings API
Android N adds additinal quick setting tiles, which can be accessed across a paginated display area by swiping left or rights. This will also give users more control over which Quick Settings tiles should appear and displayed. Users can also add more tiles just by dragging and dropping them.

Number-blocking
With this feature, the default SMS, phone and provider apps can read from and write to the blocked number-list. The block list can be accessed by other apps and carriers and perform service side-blocking for the user in order to stop unwanted calls and texts from reaching the user.

Other notable features of Android N developer preview include call screening, Direct boot,TV recording, Data saver, locales and languages and Project Svelte (for better RAM management).

The Android N preview images are now available for Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, General Mobile 4G (Android One), Nexus Player, Nexus 9 and Pixel C on the Android developer website here.

Google has also announced a new Android Beta Program, which lets you update your Android devices to Android N developer preview and receive ongoing updates via over-the-air (OTA).

According to Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s SVP for Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast, the reason from releasing Android N developer early, was because Google wanted to get more feed from developers as early to have a final version released to manufacturers just in time for summer. Google will out 5 previews and final release in Q3 2016.

Finally, while Google is yet to reveal a dessert name for Android N, Lockheimer teases us with the phrase “We’re nut tellin’ you yet.”, giving us a hint that N stands for Nutella.