The most comprehensive overview of the new features in Android N. Everything you need to know about Android N Preview H on Android

In modern smartphones, at the top of the screen, you can always find a line with a signal strength icon, a battery level icon, etc. Also, letters G, E, 3G, H, 3G +, H +, 4G, sometimes LTE may appear in the line. What do they mean? The answer is really simple - the icon shows which transmission technology is currently being used. In other words, it is a technology that is used to connect your smartphone to the Internet.

Now let's take a closer look at each icon. Attention - in the upper right left or right corner (depending on the smartphone model).

• G from English. GPRS - General Packet Radio Service, public packet radio (2G). GPRS allows the user of a cellular network to exchange data with other devices in the GSM network and with external networks, including the Internet. The maximum speed is 171.2 Kbps, but in practice it is usually lower.

• E from eng. EDGE. Digital wireless technology for mobile communications, operating over 2G and 2.5G networks. The maximum speed has already reached 474 Kbps.

• 3G from English third generation is the third generation. Third generation mobile communication technology, which, among other things, provides high-speed Internet access. UMTS technology with HSPA add-on is used. The maximum speed of 3G networks reaches 3.6 Mbps.

• H, 3G +, H +. HSPA (High Speed ​​Packet Access) technology allows data transmission over UMTS networks at very high speeds up to several tens of Mbps! However, it should be borne in mind that not all devices support this speed.

• 4G (LTE, LTE-A). As you might have guessed, the technology got its name from the phrase fourth generation - the fourth generation. These are promising technologies that allow data transmission at speeds exceeding 100 Mbit / s for mobile subscribers and 1 Gbit / s for stationary ones.

Please note that the numbers indicated in the article are conditional. Much depends on the operator, on the user's location, on the user's device, etc. This means that in real life, the speed can be seriously different. At the same time, in many cities, the speed of the Internet connection on smartphones is so high that it allows you to watch HD-format videos directly from your device.

Android N has a number of enhancements and a new API that will allow developers to make their app's notifications more interactive. Now it will be possible to reply to messages, view letters and perform other actions directly from the notification curtain.

Rumors that Google are working on the ability to display windows on the screen of several applications at once have been circulating for a long time. And in Android N, these rumors became reality. Now you can split the screen into two parts and work with your application in each of them. Of course, this opportunity will most of all please the owners of gadgets with enough.

New quick settings panel

In Android N, the quick settings panel has been improved. It now includes an additional menu with the most essential options. Thus, the user has the ability to even faster access to switching the wireless interface, activating the geolocation system, flashlight and other frequently used functions. The composition of this menu can be easily changed.

Data Saver is a new Android N feature that will come in handy for people with limited mobile plans. We are not talking about data compression or blocking access for individual applications. Enabling Data Saver simply changes the rules of the network, making programs less likely to ask for new data.

The new version of Android has a special night mode that can be activated automatically or on a schedule. It includes a dark theme for the system interface, special settings for the color tone of the screen (red filter) and a decrease in the brightness level. Lovers of night reading will be pleased.

The appearance of the feature in the previous version of Android promised a significant reduction in battery consumption. However, the reality turned out to be not so rosy. Therefore, in Android N, a lot of work has been done to bring this feature to perfection. In particular, Doze will now be automatically activated not only when the gadget lies motionless for a while, but immediately after the screen is turned off. According to the developers, this can give an additional gain in the time of using the smartphone.

In addition to global enhancements and new features, Android N contains a large number of subtle but pleasant user interface changes. Take a look, for example, at the new card sizes in the recent apps menu (- on the left, Android N - on the right). They're bigger, more user-friendly, and provide a better overview of their content.

Android N makes blocking unwanted numbers significantly more efficient thanks to the fact that Google has provided support for this feature at the system level. Now the list of blocked contacts will be stored directly in the system, and third-party applications will be able to access it and synchronize their data.

Easy switching between apps

Android N has slightly changed the function of switching between recent apps. You should now be able to do this using the Browse button as shown in this video. Double clicking on this button will simply switch you to the previous program, and holding it down will cause a loop through all running applications. Very convenient for one-handed operation.

Different phones can be equipped with screens with completely different characteristics, due to which they display the picture in completely different ways. Android N introduces the ability to adjust color balance and optimize the display of content on the screen.

If you have previously upgraded your system or installed a new ROM, then of course you are familiar with the lengthy process of optimizing installed applications. Android N includes an improved version of the ART runtime that makes this action much faster. This innovation also affects the speed of installation of new programs.

So how do you like the changelog? Did you find anything in it that makes it worth waiting for Android N?

It is still unknown when the new version of the operating system, Android N, will become available to users in the final version, but long before the traditional time and place of the announcement of each fresh version of the system, Google I / O, the company has already given everyone the opportunity to download one of the test builds. ... So, you can take a look at the changes that await us in Android N. In fact, there are not so many visible innovations, most of the work concerns OS optimization in different directions (we will talk about them very briefly), but those "chips" that added, deserve close attention.

Multi-window support

What South Korean companies Samsung and LG (as well as some other manufacturers) have implemented in their skins for a long time, Google finally managed to add to Android in its purest form. In fact, support for working with multiple windows in android devices suggested itself several years ago, when smartphones with 5.5-inch screens stopped scaring users with their dimensions and even models with 5.7-6-inch screens began to be perceived normally. Today, such diagonals are common, and a more reasonable use of screens with the help of several windows is a logical step in the development of the OS.

For tablets and smartphones, windowed mode in Android N is implemented in the simplest and most understandable way - you can run two applications on one screen so that each takes up exactly half of the display or some part of it, the dimension of the workspaces for each program can be changed. For two applications running in parallel windows on the same screen, the ability to drag files and other information (drag-and-drop) is available, but in which programs it is implemented is not yet clear.

For devices with Android TV support, the multi-window mode will be implemented differently - here it is a picture in picture, when an additional application can be displayed in a small window on the main screen on top of open applications (video, games, etc.).

Notification enhancements

Android N has redesigned and improved the notification system.

New themes have appeared for application notifications on the lock screen and in the notification curtain, as well as the ability to display avatars (user photo) for messages associated with a specific contact.

Grouping has appeared for notifications of the same type, now they are displayed together (mail, messages in a specific client, and so on), and buttons for hiding from the screen and archiving (for some types) are also available for notifications.

You can now reply to messages directly from the notification shade without opening the application. Probably all current messaging clients (whatsapp, telegram, facebook messenger, etc.) will soon "learn" this. You can simply click on the "Reply" button in the notification curtain and immediately start writing a response without moving anywhere.

Notification shade

An important change is related to the notification curtain. Previously, with a gesture from top to bottom, a large panel with switches for wireless interfaces and other buttons was called, and with a second gesture, the remaining area with notification cards placed on it, now the first touch from top to bottom brings up a neat strip with small icons and a notification area. It can be expanded further by accessing the interface icons. Touching one or another icon in a small curtain opens a window of detailed information (touching the battery icon - the charge level in percent, consumption, and so on), and a long press transfers it to the settings of the selected category or interface.

Settings

The settings screen has been completely redesigned. Google decided to abandon the previous logic of this menu and redesigned it. Now, instead of a simple list with different submenus, when you open the settings, you see recommendations - those items and settings that you use most often, as well as the most important information about the device: the amount of used and total memory, the amount of available and used RAM, the number of installed applications, the level volume, brightness and so on. In this case, a list of all menus is called from the left edge of the screen (such a system is used in the Flyme shell from Meizu, for example).

What else?

Android N now has a button to enable energy saving when working in a browser (data saver).

Android N has improved Doze, Android's proprietary power-saving system. Previously, this system was activated after a certain time after the device went into sleep mode, now - instantly. Let me remind you that Doze is a smartphone power optimization system. When you are not using the device, it goes into sleep mode in an attempt to reduce power consumption as much as possible: by limiting application access to the network, the intensity of network accesses, and so on.

Android N Is a new operating system from Google Inc., which will follow Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The official launch of the OS is scheduled for the second half of 2016, but for now, let's talk about what we already know about Android N and what new features users should expect.

What does the letter N in the name of Android N 7.0 mean?

Android 6 had the M index for Marshmallow (marshmallow), its predecessor with the index 5.x.x and the letter L was called Lollipop (lollipop), and the fourth Android was called the popular KitKat chocolate bar.

According to unconfirmed rumors, the seventh Android will traditionally be called sweet, and the letter N would stand for Nutella- in honor of the chocolate spread. Google itself has not yet officially confirmed this.

Android Developer Beta Released

Google has already released the first beta version of Android 7 for developers, it is designed to help those who make applications - test them on the new version of the OS, as well as tell Android fans about the new features of the system.

To install the beta you need to own one of the latest Nexus devices:

• Nexus 5X
• Nexus 6
• Nexus 6P
• Nexus 9
• Pixel C

Android N will be more update-friendly

After digging into the Android 7 code, it became clear that now it will be even easier for manufacturers to update their smartphones, this is made possible by a modular structure that updates individual elements, but does not touch key parts of the Android OS.

Multi-window

Android 7.0 will receive an interesting function - multi-window mode: two applications can work simultaneously on one screen in real time, the display itself will be divided in certain proportions for applications. Something similar has already been implemented by third-party launchers from manufacturing companies (Samsung, LG). Thus, it will be possible to simultaneously open the player or notes along with the Chrome window with an open site or social network.

Instant replies to messages

A new feature in Androin N that will allow you to quickly respond to SMS, instant messages and mail. To do this, you just need to pull the notification curtain and write your answer - as easy as shelling pears! Surprisingly, this feature hasn't been implemented in Android before. Although there is information that instant responses were found in the code even Android M.

Doze and Svelte projects

These are two innovations that are designed to improve the autonomy of a smartphone based on Android 7. The Doze project will try to conserve power when the smartphone is not in use, and Svelte will intelligently manage the memory used for applications.

Thus, the optimization of the system and the smartphone will be more based on the user's behavioral factors.

New opportunities for people with disabilities

In Android N, a chip will appear to increase the elements on the display, something similar we saw with you in. It is reported that the increase in elements will be not only in system applications, but also in third-party, whose developers will implement this function in their programs.

Android for work

Android N will have more options for corporations and their users. For example, by simply scanning the QR-code of a smartphone, it will become "corporate" and the company in which the owner of the smartphone works will be able to "control" it more closely. Here's a quick rundown of Android features to work with:

Data Saver Mode

The new mode is designed to save your traffic while using the browser. Data Saver Mode tries to disconnect other applications from the Internet as much as possible while you are using the browser, thereby saving your consumed traffic and, accordingly, money. The traffic saving mode can be activated in the settings.

Direct Boot

And the Android N OS will see a mode that is designed to give access to important applications like SMS, calls and calendar before the user unlocks the device.

New notification curtain

V Androin 7 the notification stock has been completely redesigned, now instead of a large window accessible by swipe from top to bottom, a small context menu with various mode icons opens, as well as a short area for main notifications. The curtain in Androin N has become even more minimalistic and less cluttered.

Settings menu

Roughly the same thing happened with the settings menu in latest version of Androin N- now, instead of the standard layout with shortcuts, users will have access to the main tabs with the most used menu items - personalization in all its glory.

The Android N operating system has yet to be named, but we already know a lot about it. Google is more open this time around, releasing a couple of developer previews this year, and is now introducing a beta build that can be used as the main operating system. It can be downloaded for the Pixel C tablet and Nexus smartphones from version 6. If users are not ready to work with an incomplete version of the system, you can read about its innovations in this article.

1. Multitasking

   The inability to display more than one app at a time was particularly noticeable in Android last year, when the Pixel C tablet was released with a performance-oriented tablet. Android N is addressing this flaw. You can also split the screen on smartphones, for which you need to hold down the task switch button. This is quite an intuitive solution, now you seem to get two screens the size of a smartphone.

   Apps do not need to be updated to be compatible with this feature. Some, like Instagram, are not yet selectable, while others, like Twitter and The New York Times, load just fine in a smaller format, despite being on the “may not work” warning list.

   The task switch button is another Android N trick: double tapping it opens the last recently used app. Google calls this feature Quick Switch, which is the equivalent of the Alt-Tab keyboard shortcut in Windows.

   If you have too many applications open at the same time, the Clear button will help you close them with one tap.

2. Notifications

   Android N's notification shadow has been completely overhauled. Objects are now more clearly visible, with smaller icons that make better use of space. Notifications have become more functional, they can be doubled to view information and interact. You can open them not only with a swipe, but also with small buttons.

   Long press on each notification allows you to set the method for receiving notifications from this application in the future - for example, receive them silently or block altogether.

   

   We can also mention the integration of quick switches. In, you need to pull the top edge of the screen down to open a menu with switches for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and others, and in N there is a row of five icons above the notifications. To open the rest, you need to scroll through the list, the icons can be customized to select the ones used most often.

3. Settings

   The settings menu has also undergone changes. Above, there are suggestions for actions that you have not yet performed on your device, such as setting up email accounts or voice commands. Each option contains relevant information, such as free disk space, data about the Wi-Fi network, traffic, etc.

   

   Another change relates to permanent settings that appear in the list when activated. The toggle appears at the top of the list and can be dismissed as notifications if desired.

4. Virtual reality

   While there is nothing really new in the current public beta, virtual reality is a big piece of the Android N puzzle. Google is launching a new Android-based platform called Daydream, which is replacing Cardboard. You will need a Daydream certified smartphone with the correct display and sensors to work with the new VR mode in Android to improve the performance of VR devices.

   So far, Google is showing prototypes of such devices with a simple wireless motion controller. Other manufacturers will be able to produce their own devices that meet the Daydream standard; , and are already ready to offer smartphones with Daydream support.

   On the content side, Google is working on VR versions of the YouTube, Street View and Photos apps with Netflix, Ubisoft and Electronic Arts. The Daydream platform is slated to launch in the fall.

5. Keyboard Themes

   

   This is far from the main innovation of the next version of Android, but the system has many themes for the default Google keyboard. You can choose different colors, add and remove borders between buttons, put a photo as a background.

6. Performance

   Google talks about improving productivity in a number of ways. N supports the new Vulkan graphical interface, which is being used in PC games and will improve the display speed of games on smartphones and tablets.

   Android N has received a new JIT compiler, thanks to which Google promises to improve battery life and halve the size of applications, making them 75% faster.

7. New smilies

   

   Google is updating the emoji set in Android N with a more unified look. The company is inviting the Unicode Consortium to adopt 13 new emojis.

8. Easter eggs

   Android N doesn't have a version number yet, but Google is already putting traditional surprises on the system. In each version of Android, they are opened by quick clicks on the version number in the settings. In this case, the N logo appears. It remains to wait for the system to have a final name, then the surprise may be more significant.