Google's big new operating system release, Android L, has a huge volume of new features. Developers get the code today, and we're sure to hear about dozens of new capabilities that will filter into Android phones over the next year or so. (I'm not including Android Wear or Android Auto here.)
Google gave a high-level overview of Android L during its Google I/O keynote on Wednesday, including what it calls Material design. Though all previous versions of Android have had a candy-themed name, this version is just "L" - for now.
Google flashed bunch of Android L features on the screen at the end of its presentation, but that surely only scratches the surface.
Some changed look initially like bigger deals than others, though. Here are 10 that really excited our imaginations.
Also check out our hands on with the Android L developer preview.
Material Design
The biggest user-facing Android L feature is Material Design, a complete UI overhaul that introduces many new 3D and textural elements into the Android interface. The idea is that an Android screen will be made of, essentially, stacks of cut-up paper, with depth, lighting, shadowing, and virtual textures. It strikes a good balance between Google's purely digital "Holo" theme and skeumorphism, which is the philosophy of making digital objects look like physical objects. With Material Design come redesigns of every built-in Google app, from the settings screen to Gmail.
Google Fit with Bluetooth 4.1
Android devices have been behind the wearables curve because of inconsistent Bluetooth 4.0 LE support. Android L fixes that, big time. It boosts standard Bluetooth support to 4.1, folds in all the latest profiles, and offers a health-management platform. This isn't just about Android Wear watches, but about making all of the wearables out there work with many more Android phones than they do now.
New Soft Keys
Android's going a little bit Playstation with the new soft keys, one of the most frequent interface elements that every Android user sees. The current lineup are a looping arrow for "back," a pentagon for "home" and two linked boxes for "multitasking." They're getting simpler: now we'll have a triangle for Back, a circle for Home and a box for Multitasking.
New Notifications
Android L will prioritize notifications based on what's most important to you. A new notification style will pop up at the top of the screen no matter what application you're in, letting you respond or dismiss it - but only for important notifications. Notifications won't clutter up your lock screen, either, with only important ones showing up there.
Battery saver
Google's "Project Volta" helps developers build apps that are much more aware of battery usage. Users, meanwhile, will get a standard 'battery saver' mode that will extend battery life by 90 minutes by turning down the CPU and screen refresh rate.
H.265, 4K Streaming Video
H.265 is, most importantly, Netflix's means of compressing 4K video so it doesn't use a ridiculous amount of data. It's a broad industry standard, so if you're going to show 4K on devices like LG's new G3 phone, you have to be on board the H.265 train.
Android Runtime
Android devices have used Dalvik to interpret application code since the first Android phone hit the market. Android L officially switches that interpreter to the new "ART," a more efficient compiler which should improve both performance and battery life.
Low Latency Audio Recording and USB Audio
Android moves a little closer to being a pro audio platform with these two linked features, which help better sync multiple tracks of audio and communicate with digital audio devices.
Corporate Data Separation
Google eats into one of BlackBerry's strengths with this new enterprise feature, which aims to make both workers and IT departments happy by installing protected, business-only areas on personal Android phones. It'll let you both text your boss and sext your significant other on the same phone, without the two getting embarrassingly interspersed.
Android TV
Google's tilting at televisions again. The new Android TV interface will focus on finding and viewing video rather than on surfing the Web using the world's most complicated remote control, one of the things that sank the earlier Google TV system. It'll also let you play games on your TV. Maybe it'll help bring some sense and uniformity to the variety of mediocre Smart TV interfaces out there.