Replace: Google stunned everybody on March 9 by dropping the Android N developer preview with none prior discover. You possibly can join to Google’s Android Beta Program, when you have an eligible gadget, and you may obtain manufacturing facility photographs straight from Google. Discover out the total story on our Android N web page.
I do know that not everybody even has Android Lollipop but, so I will not simply consider the variations between the 2 most up-to-date variations of Android. As an alternative I am going to have a look at the most important areas of the brand new OS, whether or not they’re new, improved or lacking in motion. I will break the overview down into the next sections: the visible look of Android Marshmallow; integration of latest Google merchandise; core options of the system; safety; and enhancements to usability.
We have added some options that noticed gentle with the replace to Android 6.zero.1, together with a bunch of latest emoji and a double-faucet digital camera fast-launch characteristic that has been added to Nexus 5, 6, 7 and 9 gadgets. Discover out extra about these under below ‘Design and visible modifications’ and ‘Usability’, respectively.
You can even hold updated with the most recent additions to Marshmallow by our devoted web page:
Leap to a bit:
Android Marshmallow launch date
Android Marshmallow was initially introduced at Google I/O on Might 28, when it was launched because the Android M developer preview. A number of updates to the preview got here out earlier than Marshmallow was formally named on August 17. Google lastly unveiled Android 6.zero Marshmallow, alongside the 2015 Nexus gadgets, on September 29, 2015.
As common, Google’s Nexus household was first to get the products, and the model new Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P have been the launch units for Android 6.zero. Manufacturing facility photographs for a lot of the current Nexus vary – the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Participant – appeared on October 5.
To see when your machine will get Android 6.zero, examine the next information:
Android Marshmallow design
Android Marshmallow is visually much like its predecessor, Lollipop, in some ways. Google’s Materials Design language is now extra pervasive than ever earlier than and the principle areas of the UI – settings, notifications shade and navigation – stay the identical. However Marshmallow does have some variations in look and new options.
Settings shortcuts
Android has allow you to create shortcuts to specific settings, such because the battery or show, for some time, however till Marshmallow, the icons for these shortcuts all seemed the identical. Now, the usual cog widget form accommodates an icon depicting what that exact shortcut goes to, as proven within the screenshot under.
Lock display screen
The Marshmallow lock display screen is sort of equivalent to Lollipop’s, full with expandable notifications and app shortcuts. However the place Lollipop had shortcuts within the backside corners that took you to the digital camera and dialer, Marshmallow replaces the dialer shortcut with one to Google’s voice search. This small replace is the primary clue as to only how integral voice instructions are to Marshmallow.
Voice search has a totally new look too. 4 coloured dots float, develop into a waveform after which rotate as your voice request is picked up and processed. The response price varies, relying on the complexity of the search phrases and your web velocity, however the outcomes are usually correct. You may also launch apps from the lock display utilizing your voice.
Dwelling display screen
The identical voice command performance seems on the house display by way of Google’s devoted search bar, full with the colourful, publish-Alphabet Google emblem. The house display screen itself is basically the identical because it was in Lollipop (the modifications to Google’s search bar and app icons have rolled out to all units by way of updates).
Google Now, assuming you might have signed up for it, returns to its devoted place to the rapid left of the default dwelling display screen. This space has additionally been up to date however once more, this isn’t a Marshmallow unique. Google Now on Faucet (extra on this later) is now launched by an extended press on the house button within the navigation bar.
You’ve gotten a number of choices for launching apps: from voice instructions, app icons, the ‘current apps’ multitasking playing cards or the brand new-look app drawer. You may also bounce straight into the app drawer search bar by lengthy-urgent the app drawer icon. This shortcut will even launch your keyboard, simply because it did in Lollipop.
App drawer
The app drawer in Marshmallow went via a few adjustments in the course of the developer preview course of and seems within the ultimate model as a vertical scrolling listing versus the paginated horizontal listing that Lollipop had. You’ll be able to scroll by the checklist or use a brand new scrubber bar on the appropriate to leap to a selected letter of the alphabet.
An infinite vertical listing means it is simple to swipe proper to the tip of your app record – actually moreso than swiping by way of a number of playing cards in Lollipop. Predictive apps, based mostly on the time of day, frequency and so forth, seem in a particular space on the high of the app drawer and also you even have the added bonus of the devoted app search bar that is accessible by way of the keyboard or voice, in addition to the scrubber bar.
As all the time, you may drag app icons from the app drawer to the house display, however when dragging apps, you’ll now see the choice to uninstall them on the high of the display screen, alongside App Data or the Take away choices. System apps are excluded, nevertheless it’s a way more handy strategy to uninstall apps.
The very best factor is that these adjustments are a part of the Google search app, so an replace to that can ship these options to all older Androids as nicely. The replace provides the brand new search bar, voice interface, search bar and alphabet scrubber within the app drawer, and vertical app drawer orientation, in addition to the uninstall shortcut.
Notifications and Fast Settings
As with Lollipop, Marshmallow has a two-half notifications/Fast Settings space. A single swipe down from the highest of the house display will pull down the notifications shade, the place your expandable notifications reside. A second swipe down on this display screen reveals the Fast Settings panel. A two-finger swipe down from the house display will take you straight there.
The notifications space shows app notifications, which might be expanded or tapped to launch the complete app. This space additionally exhibits persistent system notifications, akin to when a Bluetooth gadget is linked or different system options are enabled. The ‘dismiss all’ button now faces the opposite course in comparison with Lollipop, but it surely does the identical factor.
The Fast Settings space shows your display screen brightness slider in addition to toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cell information and so forth. As with Lollipop, these options can both be toggled on or off with a faucet, or accessed additional by a Fast Settings mini-menu or the related space of the total settings menu.
On the prime of each the notifications shade and the Fast Settings space is a sort of standing bar space. Within the notifications shade you’ll see the time and date, numerous standing bar icons and the icon for switching customers. Oddly, tapping this within the notification shade merely opens up the Fast Settings space the place it have to be tapped once more to vary customers or enter Visitor Mode.
Within the Fast Settings space, this space expands a little bit additional, displaying battery share, service data and a shortcut to the settings menu. Lengthy urgent the settings cog icon offers you entry to the System UI Tuner.
System UI Tuner
As soon as enabled, System UI Tuner will seem within the settings menu on the very backside. It offers just a few easy UI tweaks, together with including a battery proportion indicator to your battery icon, a customizable Fast Settings space, the place toggles might be rearranged or eliminated and new ones added, and a menu for deciding which icons are displayed in your standing bar. You’ll by no means should undergo a cluttered standing bar with NFC, Bluetooth and Alarm icons once more.
Animations and Easter Egg
Animations and transitions make up a fair bigger a part of Marshmallow than they did in Lollipop. Transitions between apps, pages and settings are very often accompanied by animations, as is toggling options on and off inside the varied settings and menus. It’s comparatively minor stuff however it all provides to the polished feeling of Marshmallow.
As all the time, there’s a hidden Easter Egg in Marshmallow and it may be seen as a form of metaphor for Marshmallow as a complete. In Android Lollipop the Easter Egg was a Flappy Hen clone. Simply as Marshmallow seems to be an terrible lot like Lollipop on the floor with a lot of refinements and enhancements beneath, the Flappy Chicken Easter Egg returns, however with a little bit of a makeover. It’s accessed by repeatedly tapping Android model within the About cellphone part of the settings.
200 new emoji
The replace to Android 6.zero.1 introduced with it 200 new emoji. These are default Android emoji and ought to be suitable with any keyboard. Numerous the emoji that had been added have been in use on iOS and Home windows 10 for a while, however others are new.
The listing of latest emoji consists of the fabled unicorn, the tasty taco and the hungry squirrel.
Darkish theme and rotation assist
For unknown causes, each the system-extensive darkish theme and help for a rotating residence display have been faraway from the ultimate model of Marshmallow, regardless of showing in variations of the developer preview. We could but see these make a return in future updates to Marshmallow – they’re continuously-requested options, in spite of everything – however for now they don’t seem to be part of the Android 6.zero launch.
Some keen code-sifters have uncovered proof of a darkish mode within the supply code for Android Marshmallow, indicating that Google should have plans to incorporate it in a future model. The supply code mentions Evening Mode, which, as you could keep in mind, sounds rather a lot like the automated theme altering capabilities (primarily based on the time of day) we noticed within the Android M preview builds.
Android Marshmallow Google integration
Google Now on Faucet
Google Now on Faucet is maybe the most important deal of all in Android Marshmallow. Google Now modified the sport again in KitKat by providing time and context-delicate notifications, data and reminders. Google Now on Faucet mainly shortcuts the necessity to seek for extra contextual data and delivers it at any flip. Lengthy-urgent the house button now prompts Google Now on Faucet, changing the outdated gesture for Google Now from any display screen.
When summoned, Now on Faucet reads the content material of any display in your cellphone, whether or not it’s in a Google or third-get together app, and delivers data that could be related to key phrases on-display screen. This could possibly be Google Search outcomes about folks, locations or issues talked about in an article you’re studying or app solutions which are related to what Now on Faucet has picked up (Maps, Yelp or UrbanSpoon for a restaurant named in a textual content message, for instance).
I’m nonetheless coming to phrases with Now on Faucet’s vary, usefulness and significance, however I can inform you now: that is going to significantly change the way in which you employ your cellphone. Now on Faucet is a big time-saver as a result of it saves you the hassle of getting to Google somebody’s identify, launch a distinct app or cross-test info.
It’s principally every part we at all times wished Google Search to be: prompt, helpful and easy. It isn’t good, and also you’ll nonetheless get outcomes you’re not after every so often, however it’s a extremely nice begin.
Voice API and Help API
Marshmallow additionally introduces a brand new Voice API to Android. As talked about earlier, voice search and voice instructions are central to Marshmallow – much more so than they’ve been in earlier iterations of Google’s working system – due to the brand new Voice Interplay API.
This permits third-get together apps to entry Google’s voice command performance in methods they couldn’t beforehand. Earlier than, you may inform Google to open different apps, however different apps couldn’t speak again. Now they’ll. At the least, the can in principle. The function isn’t precisely working but, nevertheless it has been efficiently demoed by Google utilizing TuneIn Radio.
In the meantime, Google voice search is all over the place all through Marshmallow and is at all times listening (in order for you it to). Luckily, Marshmallow’s deal with giving customers extra management, so you may as well substitute Google for an additional third get together voice assistant in the event you so want. This feature comes courtesy of the Help API, out there to anybody who needs to compile a voice assistant to utilize it.
Google settings app
As talked about above, Google settings are actually a devoted a part of the settings menu. Right here is the place you’ll discover privateness data, account preferences and extra on your Google accounts. It’s additionally the place you’ll be able to handle your OK, Google hotword detection and ‘at all times listening’ mode. However there’s one other new characteristic right here, known as Arrange close by machine.
Arrange close by system is mainly a settings menu model of Faucet & Go that doesn’t depend on NFC. Faucet & Go handily masses your Google account, apps record and settings to a brand new system through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which means for those who’re making an attempt to arrange an Android TV, for instance, you may merely do it by means of this setting in your telephone.
Android Pay
With the supply of the fingerprint API and two new Nexus gadgets outfitted with fingerprint scanners, Android Pay has arrived. Android Pay is one in all plenty of touchless cost methods together with Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Naturally, Android Pay will develop into the default resolution on gadgets with no producer resolution like Samsung’s.
Android Pay is easy to arrange however it requires an NFC-geared up terminal at collaborating retailers in addition to an NFC-outfitted smartphone. Samsung Pay has a bonus right here as a result of it additionally works on the prevailing magnetic strip readers already in shops. It’s nonetheless early days for Android Pay however you possibly can anticipate to see much more of it within the years to come back.
Android Marshmallow efficiency
Doze
Doze is, after Google Now on Faucet, maybe the most important factor in Marshmallow. Doze is an clever battery administration characteristic that acknowledges when your gadget is just not is use, like when it has been mendacity on a bedside desk for some time, and enters hibernation.
It’s extra difficult than that, after all, however the battery financial savings are phenomenal. The place different gadgets lose a median of 15-25 p.c of battery life in a single day, Marshmallow can take that down to three-5 %, taking your standby time to almost two weeks within the course of.
Moreover, producers gained’t be capable to mess with Doze mode. This doesn’t imply that manufactures can’t nonetheless apply their very own battery saver modes to their skins of inventory Android, however machine standby will solely be dealt with by an unmodified Doze.
App standby
App standby is the app equal of Doze, like a inventory Android model of Greenify. App standby identifies apps that haven’t been used shortly and places them right into a deep sleep, which is principally the identical factor as disabling them within the settings.
This implies they’ll’t use system assets, run background processes or sync and entry the community, so an immediate messenger you not often use may find yourself on standby and cease receiving notifications, for instance. If you do not need this, Google has created a whitelist, with which you’ll be able to stop apps from being placed on standby.
Sort-C and reverse charging
Marshmallow additionally helps the brand new customary, USB Sort-C. Sort-C cables are reversible – so that you gained’t have to fret about fumbling round together with your charging cable at midnight – and so they additionally help sooner knowledge switch and charging speeds.
Not many units have USB Kind-C ports but, and never all are delivery with true Kind-C cables and adapters (many are merely reconfigured USB 2.zero cables). However Marshmallow is future-proofing itself by together with Kind-C assist and the brand new USB Energy Supply specification, that means Marshmallow gadgets will even have the ability to reverse-cost different gadgets.
microSD help – Adaptable Storage Gadgets
The battle to just accept microSD playing cards has been some of the fascinating in Android historical past. Expandable storage was a mainstay of Android units, however then Google determined it was unhealthy for safety and eliminated assist for it in Android KitKat. Builders fought again and partial assist was added in Lollipop.
With the arrival of Marshmallow we’re lastly taking a look at full-fledged assist for microSD growth in Android gadgets. Underneath Marshmallow, microSD playing cards may be formatted to a selected gadget – that means they are going to be unusable elsewhere – and handled as one other a part of inner storage by the Android system.
Whereas this implies you gained’t have the ability to merely pull your microSD card out and pop it in one other telephone, it does imply you’ve gotten system-degree assist for exterior storage. In Android Marshmallow, apps and the info they use can now be seamlessly saved on an exterior microSD card with out having to be explicitly put there by the consumer.
We have noticed the primary proof of Marshmallow’s Adaptable Storage Gadgets characteristic on the Marshmallow soak check for the Moto G (2014). One among our Brazilian readers within the Motorola replace program alerted us to the replace and shared some screenshots outlining new options, together with ASD (as a result of the Moto G (2014) has a microSD card slot).
Inner storage and file supervisor
Marshmallow has additionally overhauled the Storage space of settings. Storage and USB now supplies at-a-look info on inner and exterior storage and provides a handy inventory file supervisor on the backside of the record, known as Discover.
RAM supervisor
RAM utilization has sometimes been the reserve of Android geeks quite than common customers. Marshmallow goals to place RAM administration a little bit extra within the foreground by giving it its personal devoted settings menu space known as Reminiscence. On this part you’ll be able to view reminiscence use by the system and particular person apps over completely different time frames, which ought to hopefully make extra folks acquainted with what’s regular conduct for his or her gadget.
Android Marshmallow safety
App permissions
This is among the unsexy however extremely vital elements of Android Marshmallow. The Android system now gives consumer-dealing with controls over some, however not all, app permissions. Whereas iOS has had this characteristic for years, Android is barely now catching up.
Some fundamental permissions – web entry, for instance – are nonetheless granted by default, however usually talking you can be requested to grant particular person app permissions the primary time an app makes an attempt to entry them.
This implies you might be accountable for whether or not or not an app has entry to one thing as crucial as your microphone or digital camera. Some apps may not work correctly with sure permissions disabled, however the onus is on the app builders to stabilize their apps with out all permissions granted, not on you to just accept what you may really feel are pointless permissions.
Permissions for a selected app will be considered inside the settings menu (which permissions an app does or does not have) or by permission kind (so you possibly can see what number of apps have entry to your contacts, for instance). Viewing by permission kind is barely onerous to get to, however not less than that may cease unintentional adjustments from being made.
Fingerprint API
Android Marshmallow introduces system-stage fingerprint assist through the brand new fingerprint API. Each new Nexus units have a fingerprint scanner. The rollout of Android Pay and different touchless cost programs that depend on fingerprint scanners for authentication can now be dealt with by Android itself relatively than a producer add-on. Thankfully, Google has set minimal requirements for scanner accuracy in an effort to move its machine certification.
We have been very impressed with Nexus Imprint on the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, partially for the superb Huawei hardware but additionally for Google’s implementation of the software program. Registering a fingerprint is quicker than on every other gadget and the accuracy and pace of the scanner is second to none. All you should do to arrange fingerprint authentication within the Play Retailer for purchases is test a field within the settings.
Computerized app backup
Traditionally, Android has provided a reasonably weak app backup resolution. The Backup and reset part in Lollipop was decide-in, imprecise and incomplete. Marshmallow can now robotically again up each your apps and knowledge, so any apps restored from a backup would be the similar as they had been earlier than – you’ll be signed in and proper the place you left off.
The reasons are a lot clearer in Marshmallow too and you may select to choose out in case you like (not everybody will likely be a fan of getting their app information saved within the cloud, regardless of its comfort). The most effective half is that machine and app information might be saved, so your passwords, settings and progress can all be restored with a lot much less effort.
Community safety reset
Community safety reset is a pleasant little characteristic within the Backup and reset settings which lets you rapidly and simply take away all passwords, settings and connections related to Bluetooth, mobile knowledge and Wi-Fi. It’s a easy addition that demonstrates how a lot consideration to enhanced safety and person-dealing with controls in Marshmallow.
Month-to-month safety patches
Following the Stagefright scare, Google and a variety of producers pledged to supply month-to-month safety updates to maintain on prime of any safety weaknesses in Android. With this in thoughts, Marshmallow now shows your gadget’s Android safety patch degree part within the About telephone part.
Encryption
Encryption is again in Android Marshmallow with a vengeance. Encryption was an enormous deal in Android Lollipop too – and got here as default on the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 – not as many Android gadgets as Google would have appreciated had disk encryption compelled on them, due to efficiency points (encryption slows system efficiency down except a hardware accelerator is used).
Marshmallow heralds the daybreak of the brand new age of Android encryption, though solely on new units. New Android units operating Marshmallow are required to make use of full-disk encryption by default, however units up to date from a earlier model of Android don’t.
Units with minimal processing energy are additionally exempt, as are gadgets with out a lock display screen, comparable to Android Put on watches. Encrypted units can even be topic to Marshmallow’s verified boot course of to make sure the trustworthiness of their software program throughout every boot sequence. If Android suspects adjustments have been made, the person might be alerted to potential software program corruption.
Android for Work
Android Marshmallow can also be pushing the enterprise angle with sandboxing for Deliver Your Personal Machine (BYOD) environments. By way of higher dealing with of safety, notifications, VPNs, entry and storage, the identical system can be utilized each for work and at dwelling. It’s not a really horny addition, but it surely means fewer individuals might be required to hold a private and a piece cellphone in future.
Good Lock
Sensible Lock has been round since Lollipop, however it bears repeating now that smartwatches are extra prevalent. Sensible Lock on Marshmallow gives choices for unlocking your gadget or preserving your system unlocked relying on numerous intuitive eventualities. Good Lock is discovered within the safety settings and requires using some type of lock display safety.
Sensible Lock consists of choices for trusted units (for instance, paired smartwatches or Bluetooth audio system), trusted locations (house or workplace, by way of GPS and Wi-Fi knowledge), trusted faces and on-physique detection. The final of those gained’t lock your cellphone once more till you set it down. Every Good Lock characteristic is choose-in and reversible.
Good Lock for Passwords
Google’s outdated Google Settings app isn’t any extra, having graduated to its very personal part within the Settings menu, the place it belongs. This space comprises all of your Google settings and preferences. Every thing from Voice, Google Match, Now and site entry is contained right here, so it’s price attending to know this space.
One new addition known as Sensible Lock for Passwords and it’s principally a Google password supervisor. Enabling the characteristic permits your web site and app passwords to be saved to your Google account (which is why it lives within the Google part and never the Safety part of Marshmallow). You too can exclude apps or view your Good Lock for Passwords content material.
Android Marshmallow usability
Textual content choice
Marshmallow introduces an improved textual content choice setup. Textual content choice has at all times been clumsy in Android, and it isn’t good in Marshmallow, however it’s higher than it has been earlier than. As an alternative of getting a short lived edit/share toolbar when highlighting textual content, in Marshmallow you’ll get a localized floating menu that gives three easy choices: choose all, copy or share.
There’s additionally an overflow menu that, by default, solely contains internet search, however, relying on the apps you could have put in, can embrace customized choices (akin to translate, when you’ve got Google Translate put in). It’s additionally a lot simpler to pick out entire phrases because of a ‘chunking’ choice methodology.
Delete screenshots from notifications shade
In earlier variations of Android, once you took a screenshot the one choice you had straight from the notifications preview was to share it. In Marshmallow, now you can delete it too. This may increasingly not seem to be a giant deal, but when, like me, you are taking a couple of hundred screenshots a day, it is massively handy since you not have to enter your gallery to delete a poorly timed or duplicate screenshot.
App hyperlinks
One other lengthy-standing irritation with Android is the way in which it handles app hyperlinks. Beforehand, you appeared to should repeated inform the system to all the time open sure hyperlinks with a sure app, solely to need to repeat the method time and again. This appears to have lastly been solved with Marshmallow.
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