ANDROID M
Slated as the next version of the company’s highly
successful mobile operating system, Android M seems to be an update that
focuses on functionality and features over looks and aesthetics.
In terms of design, Android M is mostly a few notch ahead of
the current version of Android – Lollipop. The most noticeable change would be
in the launcher, specifically in the arrangement of the app drawer. Instead of
the usual horizontal carousel, apps are now arranged in a vertical list with
the most used apps sitting at the top. Moreover, app widgets are now grouped
into sections which can be horizontally scrolled in cases where the widget has
different sizes.
Google is also giving users the option to either have a dark
or light theme. However, this setting only applies to certain context menus and
we’re not sure if Google plans to apply it as a universal feature.
Now on to the juicy bits. One of the most talked about new
feature in Android M is its ability to grant or restrict app permissions. That
means users can now select which apps can have access to their personal
information thus improving security. Google has also built a memory management
feature within the operating system so users won’t need to download third party
apps to keep their apps’ memory usage in check.
Lastly, Android M now features the ability to customize the
quick settings panel in the notifications area. It’s not a major update but
users can now at the very least select which toggles to put on the quick
settings panel of their phones.
ANDROID PAY
Apple already has Apple Pay so naturally, Google has to come
up with its own payment platform for Android. That’s why we now have Android
Pay. It’s pretty much the same as Google Wallet and uses NFC to make payments
to merchants.
Google has made a new app with a simpler interface that
should allow users to either pay for items using their credits stored in their
account whenever they tap their phone into an NFC-enabled POS (point-of-sale)
terminal. Online retailers can also take advantage of the feature by incorporating
it into their apps for easy in-app purchases.
The system stores user information including shipping
details and if the merchant offers a loyalty card, details about current points
on the loyalty card are also automatically updated after the purchase has been
made.
GOOGLE NOW on TAP
Finally, there’s Google Now on Tap. It’s an update to the
company’s AI, extending its functionality to other apps. The feature should
allow Google to identify possible informational needs the user may have, well
before they even know they need it by collecting data about their habits and
usage and searching the web for related information.
Google Now on Tap will allow Android to identify cast
members inside movies users watch on YouTube or Google Movies, defining words
tapped on Google Chrome or checking Artist names and song titles from Spotify.
