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The next version of Android is officially ‘Nougat’

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Update: A video from the statue unwrapping officially confirms that Nougat is Android 7.0.


The next version of Android (which has been in Developer Preview since earlier this year) is officially called Nougat. A ceremony at the Googleplex this morning unveiled the Android figurine simply standing on top of a nougat bar. Unfortunately, the announcement did not come with an official version number or a launch date.


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Last call for guesses: Google to reveal the sweet Android N name today [Poll]

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According to a tweet from the Android Twitter account this morning, Google is set to finally reveal what the “N” in Android N stands for today. The Android team told us a few weeks ago that we would be getting the Android N name in a “few weeks,” so this isn’t the most unexpected announcement considering it has been right at 21 days since.

This comes as we’re just over 2 weeks since the release of the fourth Android N Developer Preview, and we have one more preview to go before the final release. The last several preview releases have fallen 4 weeks apart, so it’s possible — although not necessarily likely — that the 5th preview will drop today alongside the name of the new OS.

Google purportedly redesigning navigation buttons for the final Android N release

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Ever since the introduction of Material Design, its not-so-new company-wide design language, Google has changed a number of things — like, for instance, its logo — that have affected almost the entirety of its looks.

Most of them were particularly notable on Android — the software keys inside the navigation buttons, for instance, were aesthetically overhauled with Lollipop. But it looks like the company has another redesign of these buttons in mind for later this year…


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Here’s everything that’s new in Android N Developer Preview 4 [Gallery]

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Android N is nearing its summer launch with Developer Preview 4. While DP3 was the first beta version stable enough for use as a daily driver, this preview is meant to get third-party developers ready to publish Android N-compatible apps. It features final APIs and the official SDK, as well as the ability for developers to publish apps to devices running Android N.

Those who have already enrolled in the Android Beta Program will get an OTA update soon, but if you’re impatient you can download new factory images right now. Keep reading for our complete list of all the changes in Developer Preview 4…


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Android N Developer Preview 4 is now available, download factory images & OTAs here

android-nThe third Android N Developer Preview announced at Google I/O last month was the first beta stable enough for daily use. Developer Preview 4 continues on that path with final APIs and the official SDK for developers to begin publishing apps for Android N devices. We’re installing DP4 on our Nexus devices right now and updating a full list of all the new features.


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We’ll get the official name for Android N in ‘a few weeks’

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We’ve had the Android N developer preview for a few weeks now, but we still don’t know what the nickname for the new version will be. Speculation has been going on for months and Google even allowed users to submit their suggestions for what the name should be. Now, Google has confirmed on Twitter that we’ll be getting that name within the next few weeks.


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Current phones like Nexus 6P, Galaxy S7 and HTC 10 won’t get Android N’s seamless updates feature

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One of the lesser talked about but more important new features in Android N is seamless updates. Essentially, what that means is that future Android devices running the next version of Google’s mobile OS will be able to download and install software updates in the background without interrupting your use of the phone. Sadly, none of the current crop of Android phones will get the feature.


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Here’s everything that’s new in Android N Developer Preview 3 [Gallery]

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Announced during the keynote, Developer Preview 3 is the first beta version of Android N — and it should be stable enough to use as a daily driver. Major additions include virtual reality and sustained performance modes, but DP3 also squashes several bugs and adds many new features for developers and users alike. Those who have already enrolled in the Android Beta Program will get an OTA update soon, but if you’re impatient you can download new factory images right now.

Keep reading for our complete list of all the changes in Developer Preview 3…


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New devices and apps announced for Android TV, including Xiaomi’s 4K Mi Box [Gallery]

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Update: Images of Xiaomi’s Mi Box are available in the gallery below. The slim, rectangular device features an HDMI, USB, and AV port. It comes with a simple controller, but a traditional game pad is also available. Xiaomi is working closely with Google to release the device in the US later this year.

As hinted yesterday by Hugo Barra, Xiaomi is making an Android TV device. The Chinese company is just one of many partners introducing new Android TV and Google Cast devices throughout the course of the year. Google also announced today at its Google I/O developer conference keynote a few new apps and channels coming to the Play Store.


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First Android N beta to be released by Google later today

As expected, Android N made an appearance at today’s I/O conference. Following the announcement of N’s final name decision being dependent on users, Google got into the release itself.

While the final build is not yet ready, and will come towards the end of the summer, the company is today releasing a third preview that finally qualifies as “beta”…


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Google is postponing support for its 3D Touch-like feature for Android

With the announcement of the Apple Watch‘s “Force Touch” first and the iPhone 6s‘ 3D Touch after, Apple introduced a new, intriguing way to interact with our screens, matching interesting software features with the pressure-sensitive panel behind the actual display.

Predictably, despite some devices like Huawei‘s Mate S or ZTE‘s Axon Mini already supporting some sort of similar, proprietary technologies, Google was rumored to be working on a system-wide implementation for all Android OEMs to use. However, as Recode reports, the support for such a feature seems to have been put momentarily on hold…


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Samsung Galaxy Note 6 to be released the week of August 15th

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Just like pretty much every other Android handset ever, we already know — or think we know — a lot of specifications and other details about Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Note 6. Now, via Evan Blass, it looks like we have pretty solid confirmation of when the phone will be hitting shelves in the United States: the week of August 15th…


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Android N introduces new security measures to prevent future Stagefright vulnerabilities

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Last year’s particularly virulent Stragefright bug allowed attackers to perform a number of actions on an infected device through remote code execution. While Google has addressed those issues with monthly security patches, Android N will play a larger role in making sure a similar issue does not happen again.


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Android N quick-tip: How to activate split-screen multitasking mode

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Android N has been available in the form of a Developer Preview now for a few weeks and is already in to its second preview. Part of this upcoming major software update is the baked-in ability to have two apps side-by-side on the screen, otherwise known as split-screen multitasking. Here’s how you use it…


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Android Studio 2.1 with support for N Developer Preview released to stable channel

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Along with the Android N Developer Preview, Google released a preview version of Android Studio to allow developers to begin testing their apps. Android Studio 2.1 has now been released to the stable channel with updates to Instant Run, along with other Android N development features.


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Android N and VR hints – Is affordable virtual reality the future of Android?

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Android N is on its way, and as each new Developer Preview is released, we get a clearer picture of what Google has in mind for its next (and future) versions of Android. One major, albeit fairly inconspicuous drive is one towards a mobile-based VR platform, but one that everyone can access. Within Android N, we finally see some actual evidence that — at its inner most core — going forward the smartphone platform is going to be built for Virtual Reality.


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3D Touch-like launcher shortcuts demoed in latest Android N Developer Preview [Video]

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One of the new features highlighted by Google in the second Android N Developer Preview were launcher shortcuts. While Google did not provide any imagery in the developer documentation, Phandroid, with the help of some developers, was able to create a working demo that reveals an iOS-like 3D Touch feature in Android N…


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Here are the new human-like Unicode 9.0 emoji coming in Android N [Gallery]

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Thanks to Emojipedia you don’t have to install the Android N Developer Preview to see Google’s take on the latest Unicode 9.0 emoji. The move away from generic bulbous characters to more human-like designs has apparently been a contentious decision, but this update also includes several new emoji that should make everyone happy…


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