Google has announced that the developer preview version of its next Android operating system – called N – is now available for download. Through this release, developers as well as users that dare enough to test out an early version of Android N will be able to check out several new features that comes with the operating system.
One such features is the ability to allow apps to run in split-screen mode. Applicable for both phones and tablets, the app lifecycle for the mode is apparently similar to the lifecycle for switching from landscape to portrait mode. While developers are able to set minimum dimensions for apps in multi-window mode, they can also opt for picture-in-picture mode for certain devices such as TVs.
Other than that, Google has also added the ability to reply directly from notification which was already available for Android Wear devices. Developers are also able to activate grouped notification for their apps on Android N.
There is also improvement for the Doze feature – first introduced in Android Marshmallow – which will now help reduce battery usages further whenever the screen turns off. Not to forget, Google also claimed that Android N now has improved support Java 8 language.
The release of Android N Developer Preview also marked the first time that developers are able to receive future updates through over-the-air distribution. At this moment though, the operating system is only available for selected Nexus devices including Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Nexus 9, and Pixel C.
Being a pre-release version of the operating system, Google has stated that the Android N Developer Preview is not meant for daily usages. So, do proceed with care.
(Source: Official Android Developers Blog)
