A word on Android N Developer Preview

Google took pretty much everyone by surprise when it announced the Android N Developer Preview yesterday. While the company only really highlighted a couple of user-facing features – split screen mode and improved notifications – it turns out there are already a ton of new settings and features to play around with in Android N.

Split-Screen

Though Split Screen view first showed up as a hidden setting in a preview for Marshmallow, this time around it looks like it’s here to stay.

More informative and powerful notifications

Notifications are a lot more powerful in Android N. Aside from an aesthetic change – they now sport a more minimal white look – you can now perform actions like reply to a message right from a notification. Multiple notifications from a single app are now bundled together, and you can expand notifications either using the old two finger method, or by pressing on a new arrow button. The latter should come in handy more Android novices who may not be aware of the two finger slide.

A ton of user-tweakable UI settings

If you’re like me, you may be annoyed by all the little icons that fill up your status bar, leaving you little space for notifications. You can now customize almost all of these to your liking, including the icons for Bluetooth, volume, Wi-Fi, cellular data, airplane mode, alarms and more.

DPI Scaling

Here’s a UI tweak that’s not in the system UI tuner: DPI Scaling.

While Android previously allowed you to change the size of text throughout your device, DPI scaling is much more useful, as it affects the entire interface. If you have poor eyesight, you can make items larger to make them easily visible.

On the other hand, if you have good eyesight and want to fit as much information on your screen as possible, you might prefer going for the smallest scaling option; it’s particularly handy if you use split-screen a lot, and lets you fit more icons into your launcher.

 Emergency Information

 Android N wants to keep you safer, too. When someone tries to use your phone while it’s locked, there will be an ‘Emergency’ button at the bottom, which provides a dialer for calling 911 or another contact.

That was available in previous versions of the OS, but new to Android N is an ‘Emergency Info’ button that provides important details about you to a potential helper

Quick app switch, AKA Alt+Tab for Android

Perhaps my favorite new feature is the smallest: double tap the Recent button to switch to your last app immediately, even if you’re in the launcher. Double tap again to switch back.

No more ‘Optimizing Apps’ after an update and much faster app installs

Google has finally done away with the incredibly annoying ‘Optimizing Apps’ phase after updating your phone thanks to some behind the scenes tweaks. It means you’re able to install this preview (and any subsequent updates) way faster than before.

 

Collection: Prajwal D'Cunha