MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Just a few months before its public release, Android N still doesn't have an official name, but it has a slew of new features, including virtual reality, better graphics, and enhanced security.
At Google's I/O developer conference here, Google execs recited a laundry list of Android N's improvements. Chief among them is Daydream, a new protocol for VR-ready Android phones and tablets. Arriving this fall, Google hopes it will usher in a more stable VR experience and bring the technology into the mainstream.
Daydream's main contribution is a list of requirements for Android N-powered devices, from the OS itself to the sensor, display, and processor. Clay Bavor, who leads Google's VR team, said Daydream will mean a latency of less than 20 milliseconds, key for more seamless interactions with VR games and 360 video. It will also define standards for VR accessories like game controllers and headsets.
Part of what's helping Daydream come to Android is a performance boost that should also improve non-VR apps. A new Just In Time (JIT) compiler will mean that apps install 75 percent faster, according to Android head David Burke (above). In addition, the amount of storage required for an app's code has been decreased by 50 percent, he said.
As for security, Android N will include file-based encryption, which Burke said will better isolate and protect end users. Equally important for security is an overhaul of the OS upgrade process. Android N will download a second complete system image in the background, and once it's ready, the device will automatically switch to it the next time you restart your phone or tablet.
UI improvements include picture-in-picture and split-screen views for app multitasking, as well as a new notification center that allows you to respond to incoming messages without launching the messaging app. Burke said that more than half of Android notifications come from messaging apps, so the new feature should save users a bit of time.
Although there was a chance Google would unveil the dessert-themed nickname for Android N today, that didn't happen. Instead, Google is asking the public to suggest names on the Android N website, something Google CEO Sundar Pichai said last year that Google was considering.
"But please don't call it Namey McNameface," Burke joked, adding that Google, not the Internet, will have the final say.
Also today, Google unveiled an Amazon Echo rival, dubbed Google Home, and two new chat apps that take advantage of a new AI platform, Google Assistant.