This new feature is coming soon to your Google Nexus 5
Nexus 5X is an Android smartphone manufactured by LG Electronics, co-developed and marketed by Google Inc.as part of its Nexus line of flagship devices. Google has come forward with official word on the new factory images, letting customers know that they were the precursor to a new OTA update that's rolling out as of today. Worse, apps sometime randomly shutdown for no apparent reason.
Technology giant Google has promised a software update in the Nexus 5X smartphone which would raise the speed.
According to several Reddit users who have already installed the update on their 5X, the update noticeably improves performance.
This new update is based on customer feedback and addresses numerous issues that users were encountering. Reports from other users who've updated via the factory images indicate that the performance difference is "night and day".
If you own a Nexus 5X and the performance issues are driving you up the wall, you can directly flash the factory images from here.
Google Releases Early Developer Preview Of Android N For Nexus, Pixel C Devices
(Photo : REUTERS/Robert Galbraith) Google releases the developer preview of Android N this early because the company wanted to get feedback a lot sooner.
Google surprised everyone with the sudden release of the Developer Preview of Android N, the next version of its mobile operating system.
Though intended for developers who wish to start creating apps for the upcoming new version of the OS, anyone with a compatible Nexus smartphone or Pixel tablet can have it installed for free.
Google has also made it easier to try out the preview software. Developers and users can get it through an over-the-air update; they will no longer have to use a computer to download the software, according to The Verge.
Users will simpy have to sign up for the preview by going to the Android Developers site.
The only compatible devices for the preview version of Android N are the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player and all Pixel C devices.
The only Nexus device left out from the list is the much older Nexus 5, according to TechCrunch.
Android N comes with some major changes. One of which is the addition of split-screen multi-tasking.
This will allow users to run two apps side-by-side on their smartphone or tablet. Additionally, it also features a picture-in-picture mode, so users can continue watching videos while doing something else on a different app.
The notifications shade on Android N comes with direct reply notifications. This feature will allow users to reply to notifications directly from the notifications shade without opening the app itself.
Toggles for quick settings have also been improved and are shown as a small row of icons where users can easily turn on WiFi, Bluetooth and other settings.
Android's battery conservation feature, Doze, has also been provided with some upgrades so smartphone battery life is better conserved.
When Doze is activated on a device running Android N, it will power down performance of all apps provided the device is either in standby or when the screen is off.
Since this is an early preview of the software, it's not advisable to be used as a replacement to one's existing Android OS.
It's expected to come with a lot of bugs, performance issues and the occasional app crashes.
For daring users who want to try it out, it's best to do so on an extra Nexus device.
It was originally expected that Google was going to release Android N during its I/O developer conference in May, but the company decided to release it earlier so developers can start sending feedback.
"As we look to the next release of Android N, you'll notice a few big changed aimed at you as developers," Google's SVP for Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast Hiroshi Lockheimer wrote in his Medium blog post.
"It's earlier than ever, it's easier to try and we're expanding the ways for you to give is feedback. We want to hear from you and iterate on the platform with you - that's what makes Android stronger."
Lockheimer also emphasized that releasing Android N as early as March will let them act faster on developers' feedbacks and help on releasing the final version of the software a lot faster to manufacturers.
"So, the burning question that's on everyone's mind: what will the N release be named? We're nut tellin' you yet," Lockheimer wrote hinting the possible name of the upcoming software.
Google releases Android N developer preview, here’s how to install it on your Nexus devices
By Sambit Satpathy on Mar 10, 2016 at 9:12 AM Email @some_bit comments Tags: Android google News
In what is a break in tradition, Google has released the developer preview of Android N a couple of months before Google I/O. It is also the first time that Google is making it easy for everyone to try out the preview of the version codenamed ‘N’. The developer preview is available as an over-the-air (OTA) update via Google’s Android beta website.
The yet-to-be-named Android version brings in a bunch of new features and improvements, chief among which is the split-screen mode. As the name suggests, this feature will let users run two apps simultaneously side-by-side. A similar feature was introduced on iOS 9, and we will finally see Android tablets making the most of it.
Google has also made some improvements to the notifications. On N, there’s a new ‘bundled notifications’ feature, which will let apps put multiple messages on a single notification card. Another new feature will make it easier for users to directly reply to notifications without actually opening the app.
The Doze battery-saving feature introduced with Marshmallow is also getting an update. Instead of only saving battery when the phone is on, it will also do its thing when the phone screen is off. Google promises that there are other new features, which should be revealed at I/O in May.
ALSO READ: Android Marshmallow crawls past the 2% mark 4 months after launch
Google warns that the Android N preview is only aimed at developers and is ‘not suitable for use on your primary device’. The Android N preview is compatible with the Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, and the Pixel C.
The developer preview is fairly easy to install on your Nexus devices. The easier way is to head over to the Android Beta webpage, and after logging in with your Google account, register your Nexus device. Once registered, the Android N update will be sent to your device over-the-air, and you will get a notification similar to when your device receives an official Android update.
You can also opt for the longer method and download the specific Android N system image and manually flash it to your device. Device-specific system images are available on Android’s Developer website. You can follow these steps to flash Android N developer preview on your Nexus devices.
