Google took the wraps off its Android M Developer Preview at Google I/O 2015. Here we reveal exactly what to expect from Android M - and when. Android M UK release date and new features. Also see: Google I/O live stream, live blog.
Android M UK release date: When will my phone get Android M?
We should clarify that Android M is not available to consumers today. As it did with Lollipop at I/O 2014, held last June, Google at I/O 2015 unveiled an Android M Developer Preview; the final version will launch on a new Nexus phonein October/November. Android M will then roll out to other Nexus devices, and within a few months to flagship phonesand tablets. Don't expect to get it on your device (unless it's a Nexus) until late 2015/early 2016.
If you really want to get your hands on Android M now then you can download the Android M Developer Preview, but only if you have a Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 or Nexus Player.
Android M new features: What to expect from new Android M
Android M is an incremental upgrade and focuses largely on bug fixes. Google is concentrating on six areas with Android M: App Permissions, Web Experience, App Links, Mobile Payments, Fingerprint Support and Power & Charging.
A few of these categories are particularly interesting. In terms of power Google announced Doze, a new deeper-sleep state for devices running Android M that uses motion detection to learn when a device is not in use and puts them into a sort of ultra power-saving mode. You'll still get important notifications, but Doze has the potential to bring up to two times longer battery life, as Google has shown to be the case with the Nexus 9 running Android M.
When the power finally runs out there will be Android M-wide support for USB Type C, or USB-C, which is a reversible-type connector that not only allows you to charge your phone or tablet three- to five times faster but you can use it to charge another device.
With Android M Google will also standardise support for fingerprint sensors. Not only will these be used to unlock and secure your phone, but they tie in nicely with the new Android Pay mobile payments system, which focuses on simplicity, security and choice. Android Pay is an open API, allowing devs to add it to their own apps.
App permissions are also changing in Android M. Rather than requesting your permission to use certain features at installation time, Android M apps will request permission for activities the first time it is required.
Many of the new features in Android are developer-focused improvements (as show in the below slide) that will make the whole experience smoother for Android users, although they may not necessarily be obvious changes.