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Android 7.0 Nougat review: All about getting things done faster
After a surprise debut and months of previews, Android 7.0 Nougat is ready for prime time. The broad strokes haven't changed since we first met Nougat back in March (when it was just "Android N"), which means it's still not the game-changer of an update some people have been hoping for. Instead, what we got was a smattering of big (and overdue) features mixed with lower-level changes that make Android more elegant. That might not make for the most viscerally exciting update, but that doesn't make Nougat any less valuable or useful.
Android 7.0 Nougat arrives today
Typically, Google releases new versions of Android alongside new Nexus hardware, but the company is breaking with tradition this year. Android 7.0 Nougat is rolling out as an over the air update starting today. The update is available to anyone using the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6 phones as well as the Nexus 9 and Pixel C tablets. It's also coming to the Nexus Player set-top box and the General Mobile 4G Android One smartphone.
Try a near-final version of Android Nougat right now
Android Nougat is almost here. A post on the Android Developers blog has the operating system's final developer preview build listed for download, which means that a bulk of the bugs and kinks we saw during our demo period should be mostly worked out. However, because it's still technically a preview, there aren't any guarantees of stability. The build includes system images for devices eligible for the beta program -- even those outside the Nexus purview.
Samsung won me with VR but is losing me with updates
I want to get a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, I really do. I like my Galaxy S6 Edge, with its striking curved screen, and the new model improves on it in nearly every way. Most importantly, I like to dabble in virtual reality -- I'm not ready to commit $700+ to a PC-based headset yet -- and I can still get a new Gear VR headset free with the S7 Edge. Shamefully, though, my S6 Edge hasn't received an update to Android 6.01 Marshmallow, leaving me high and dry with Lollipop. I certainly didn't expect that with a $800 flagship phone, and I refuse to let it happen again.
Android N? More like Android Nougat
The next version of Android is dubbed "Nougat," Google revealed on Snapchat this morning (because of course it did). This was the first time that Google opened up the Android naming process to the public, and Nougat beat out other n-based treat suggestions including Nutter Butter, Nutella, Nerds and Necco Wafers. Of course, offering creative rights to the entire internet ensured there were a few sour apples in that system. Google made it clear that it wasn't beholden to the names suggested by the wider world, lest it end up with an operating system dubbed, "Nutty McNutface."
Are you an Android N beta tester?
Sure, Google only proclaimed its newest build of Android N a "beta-quality" candidate yesterday, but that's more than enough time to formulate a hot take. With the new method of announcing and testing releases extremely early, the folks at Mountain View have made enrolling as a beta tester incredibly easy -- if you own a compatible device (Nexus 6, Nexus 9, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C, General Mobile 4G) then you can click a button on this website to dive in. Of course, if you haven't already enrolled, the usual warnings still apply. This test software still has some issues to work out, and if you decide it's not for you, then going back to Marshmallow will require a full device wipe so keep your important data backed up elsewhere. Surely some of you have already taken the plunge, so click below and let us know how it's going -- or what's holding you back.
Google has big plans for Daydream VR but not much to show
Google revealed the Daydream VR platform at its I/O conference yesterday, and even though the company is definitely building a headset itself, there's nothing for us to get our hands on just yet. Daydream is a complete VR ecosystem from Google, starting with software baked into Android N and ending in partnerships with Samsung, HTC, LG, Alcatel and other major brands. Google has drawn up reference designs for Daydream hardware, including a Wiimote-like controller with a clickable touchpad. Engadget's Chris Velazco walks through the Daydream details in the above video. For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2016, follow along here.
See Google's version of a VR future in today's livestream
It's day two of Google's annual I/O developer conference and by now we've gotten a taste of the company's plans for the future of messaging apps, home assistants and virtual reality. Today, VP of Virtual Reality Clay Bavor takes the stage for a deep dive into Google's VR history and its plans going forward. Perhaps we'll hear more about Android N's VR mode, Google's Daydream VR platform or its hardware goals. The event kicks off at 12PM ET in the video embedded below.
The After Math: Google I/O 2016 Edition
Google unleashed its 2016 developers conference on Mountain View, CA this morning. The company debuted a bunch of new products including its answer to Amazon's Alexa, dubbed Google Home; a new VR headset called Daydream (along with a new VR section for Play) and two new messaging apps, Allo and Duo. Google also showed off some of the new features we can expect in the upcoming Android N operating system, a full-blown overhaul of the Android Wear ecosystem, updates to Android Auto and some new tricks for Google Pay. Did I miss something? Yeah, probably. So check out our comprehensive coverage of the event here.
Everything is 'sweet' on Android N naming site
During its I/O keynote today, Google revealed that it would accept user ideas before deciding on the official name for the upcoming Android N. The obvious frontrunners are foods like Nutella and nougat that carry on the confectionery theme. Even if you offer jokes like "Never coming to your phone," Google's website still responds with "sweet." In fact, that's the response for any suggestion. It didn't take long for people to notice that they could submit racist terms and the website would offer that same reply. Obviously Google doesn't think Nazis are sweet, but it's a painful oversight that's already making the rounds on Twitter.
Google Cast and Android TV are coming to even more screens
During today's I/O keynote Google just barely squeezed in some notes about Android TV. On stage, while the Cast feature/ecosystem took a starring a role in the new Home device while also expanding from Vizio's TVs to work on screens from Magnavox, Philips, Polaroid, Toshiba, Westinghouse "and more." Picture-in-picture, new APIs for recording live TV and support for 4K / HDR video will all be a part of the Android N upgrade on Android TV, although there's no mention yet of a new Nexus Player with support for things like Ultra HD, or USB 3.0 hookups for external storage.
Google needs your help naming Android N
Nougat? Nerds? Necco wafers? Nonpareils? We'd argue none of these treats sound cool enough for the next version of Android, and it turns out Google is having a hard time picking too. That's why, for the first time ever, the search giant wants to know what you think the "N" in Android N should stand for. Google launched a website to take your suggestions, and could pick a winner if someone out there cooks up something seriously inspired.
The new Android N preview is more stable and updates itself
Google surprised us all with an Android N developer preview two months before its annual I/O developer conference, and then it updated the software a few weeks ago with new performance-enhancing features. Now, as revealed during this morning's keynote, there's yet another update for you bold souls who crave bleeding-edge software.
Android N gets a high-performance VR mode
Even the most stubborn fence-sitters have to admit it: Virtual reality is worming its way into the fabric of our culture. Part of VR's growth is due to the fact that we can now just strap phones to our faces and see other worlds, but that typically requires lots of work from phone makers like Samsung and LG to get their VR hardware and software working just right. The software side of that equation might have just gotten way easier to figure out, though, thanks to Google's announcement of a VR mode for Android N.
Android N Preview adds launcher shortcuts and new emoji
A month has passed since Google released its Android N developer preview, and today the company rolled out an update to the in-progress OS. In addition to split-screen support, quick message replies and a battery-saving tool, the preview version gained a handful of new features with this new release. Among the tools are launcher shortcuts that allow you to navigate to a specific area of an app. For example, a shortcut that would allow you to quickly skip to the next episode of a TV show in a streaming app or navigate home in Maps with a tap.
Android N for phones is promising, but not for the faint of heart
Last Wednesday, Google threw us all for a loop by pushing out an Android N Developer Preview well ahead of its I/O developer conference. We already dug into what this preview build means for tablets like the Pixel C, but that's only part of the story. The only thing left to do was to throw N onto a sacrificial Nexus 5X and spent a few days getting a feel things on the small screen. Long story short, while most of you should steer clear, the preview offers a tantalizing -- and feature-packed-- peek at Google's refined vision of mobile computing.
Android N's split-screen feature is huge for the Pixel C
There was a lot to like about Google's Pixel C, but ultimately I was left underwhelmed because Android is still far behind the competition when it comes to productivity. The biggest problem? You can only use one app at a time -- unlike Windows 10, iOS 9 and Samsung's tablets. That all changes with the upcoming Android N release, though. Split-screen support for apps is basically its marquee feature. And after testing it out on the Pixel C, the final version of Android N can't come soon enough.
Android N Preview arrives with split-screen view and more
What, did you think that you'd have to wait until Google I/O to see what the next version of Android would entail? In a pleasant surprise, Google is releasing Android N Preview to developers (and curious fans) today. The early release is meant to collect feedback sooner than usual, and even includes a new way to download the update. Instead of installing a drive image (you still can if you like), you can participate in an Android Beta Program that installs pre-release versions over the air. As long as you have a relatively recent Nexus device (from the Nexus 6 and 9 onward) or the Pixel C, you too can try the next big thing months before it's finished. So what's new, exactly?
Google will strip Oracle's Java code out of Android
Google has confirmed that it will no longer use proprietary Java application programming interfaces (APIs) from Oracle in future versions of Android, according to VentureBeat. Instead, it will switch to OpenJDK, an open-source version of Oracle's own Java Development Kit. While you might ask, "Who actually cares?", Google says the change will simplify app development by creating a common codebase for Java. It's hard to imagine that such a huge change (8,902 files are supposedly affected) isn't related to Google's ongoing legal dispute with Oracle, though. That dispute, depending on how it's resolved, could adversely affect Android development and app coding in general.
Sundar Pichai: Maybe we'll use a poll to name Android
Google has never had a problem coming up with sweet-related nicknames for each new version of Android, but after Marshmallow it might start taking suggestions. During a Q&A at Delhi University (jump to 47:11 in the video to hear for yourself) Sundar Pichai was asked why no Indian sweets were on the name list, Pichai said he would ask his mother for suggestions, before opening the possibility of an online poll. Of course we think that's a good idea, but the real question is what should the options be? Let us know what you've got for Android N in the comments.
