Google I/O 2015 – Android M Preview and Wear update

Here is a brief overview of what went down in the Moscone Centre last night at Google I/O 2015. The conference started with a massive Pong game stretching across the panoramic screen around the venue, some guy won a giant fluffy Android toy!

Last year 8 out of 10 phones shipped last year were Android phones and there are over 400 unique Android devices on the market varying from lo end Android One devices to high end tablets such as the Xperia Z4 Tablet.

But really let’s get into the meaty bits for us phone users. First up was Android M Developer preview. There were really six new aspects spoken about on this:-

Custom tabs for Chrome. Instead of the app having to have built in browser like what happens in Twitter or Facebook the app can use a Custom Chrome tab if the developer chooses to. Giving you a much better experience when using apps
Apps Permissions improved, so you will no longer be prompted which app you are going into it just does it as the OS know which one you want.
Android Pay NFC payment system which will be supported across all Android devices with Kit Kat or above, if they have NFC. Working with banks already and Visa Europe have announced compatibility. It is secure as it will use a virtual card number instead of your real one.
Fingerprint Sensors will use Android Pay, instead of having to enter your pin code you can use your finger print on a compatible device. Expect the next Nexus to have a fingerprint reader then.
Doze introduced for better power management very much the same idea as Connected Standby on Windows Tablets or Power Nap on Macbook’s. In Test’s the Nexus 9 lasted 2 times longer.
Faster charging via USB Type C, google is working with hardware partners to introduce USB Type C to phones for better charging and connectivity solutions.

Those are really the main things that were announced about Android on the OS side and the Developer Preview has gone live already if you have a Nexus 5, 6,9 or Nexus Player you can download it from the Google Developer Portal. I am going to be installing it on a newly acquired Nexus 5 when it arrives next week.

Next up was Android Wear.

Here we are told that Wear has been a great growth platform and that Google are working to improve it even more with some cool new features.

Always on Apps allowing you to see the content without having to wake your screen
Wifi and GPS coming to wear if hardware is compatable we knew this one already
New App Launcher to make getting into your apps easier
Gesture control of Android wear so by flicking you wrist you initiate actions on the watch
Express your emotions by drawing Emojis on the screen for using instant messaging apps such as Facebook messenger.
Wrist Gestures to control the Wear device allowing you to navigate through cards by moving your wrist (less sniggering) this is really clever and it looks like it will work well too.

This is just a taste of what was announced at I/O yesterday there where plenty of other juicy things talked about but we will cover them in other articles so keep it here for more news as it happens.