Android N Features: Everything you Need to Know

It seems crazy that only 5% of Android users have been able to upgrade to Android Marshmallow, and yet, here Android N is a hot topic. On 9th of March, Google surprised everyone with the spontaneous announcement of the Android N Developer Preview. What's new on Android N? Find out everything you need to know about Android N below.

Android N Release Date

The preview version of Android N was made available on 9 March by Google. Usually, the first look at a new Android OS normally happens at Google I/O, which is scheduled for 18 May 2016. The final version of the code that consumers will get their hands on will be released around October, around the same time as a new Nexus device.

Android N Developer Preview Availability

The N Developer Preview is currently available for Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, and Pixel C devices, as well as General Mobile 4G [Android One] devices.

Android N: Highlights So Far

VR Mode

As noted by Ars Technica, the second Android N Developer Preview contains references to "VR Listener" and "VR Helper" apps, as well as a permissions warning informing users that a given app "will be able to run when you are using applications in virtual reality mode."

Virtual reality is obviously a hot topic at the moment, and better implementations of mobile VR are likely to be an important driving force in persuading users to keep upgrading to the latest hardware.

Multi-window mode

Apple introduce multi-window mode on iOS 9 for its iPad models. This time, Google will introduce this feature on Android N. Two apps can be opened up side-by-side in Android N and resized with a movable slider.

New Emojis

Google just redesigned its emojis with simpler designs, plus it's adding skin colors and brand-new design. Emojipedia collected all of the new emoji designs in Android N.

Support for Pressure-sensitive Screens

Similar to 3D touch on iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, Android N is designed to take advantage of pressure-sensitive touchscreen displays by responding in different ways depending on how hard you touch the screen.

Other New Features in Android N

• New notification system
• New Quick Setting Toggles
• Subheadings for the Settings menu
• More information about each setting under the Settings menu
• Data Saver
• Doze improvements
• Change the Display size

What Android N features you expect? Tell us in the comments below.