Thoughts on Android N?
4On March 9th, Google released the initial developer preview for N for Nexus devices, the Pixel C, and Android One devices. 5 days ago they released the first OTA.
I've been following Android Police (and Phandroid) regarding features in N since the tips started coming in even before the initial release this month.
I know that numerous people here have compatible devices, but even though you can still get all the OTAs even if you flash the factory image (as long as you join the Beta program), from what I understand, it's not fully stable to be used as a daily driver.
My questions are as follows, and can be answered by anyone running the preview, or following sites who are taking about the various features:
Is anyone here running the N preview?
What are your thoughts about it?
What are your thoughts about Android finally supporting multiscreen, as well as having a hidden toggle for free form screen mode?
What do you/don't you like about it?
What do you think of Google's move with regards to how they're handling N in terms of making it available to devices months before the announcement, as well as having a Beta program so that you can get the OTA even without manually flashing?
As a bonus question:
What are you hoping the final version name for N is?
- 16 comments, 20 replies
- Comment
I can't comment on anything but the bonus question.
Nougat
Nerds is probably more fitting, but I can't see them naming something 'Google Nerds', or the 'Android Nerds Operating System'. Too close to home.
I really really want every android N feature I have seen, but it sounds super unstable. I am super happy that I have the option to install at any time, though, as my phone mysteriously wouldn't update for a full month after M was released.
@MrGlass
From what I've heard, it's stable enough to be used, but not as your daily driver (which I guess would kind of be crucial)
I've been following news about Android N on Phandroid as well and it's a bit too unstable for me to try right now. Just got a Galaxy S7 and am not happy with Marshmallow. Some aspects of the stock operating system seems to be moving more toward iOS for my liking and the new nag messages are annoying. They add new features, but take away others that I used with Lollipop. And then there's the bloatware. Ugh.
@heartny
Tbh, the only Samsung phone with which I was pleased with, without having to root, was my Nexus S. I had a different Samsung flagship phone after that, but I couldn't stand the bloatware.
There's a reason that I switched back to Nexus.
I'm not too familiar with Samsungs take on Marshmallow (well, their skin over it really), but out of curiosity, which parts of it aren't you happy with?
free form mode looks cool, if unfinished. I don't see it's usefulness on phones, but it could be good on larger screens.
@hallmike
I could see it being really useful in Android's attempt to grow in businesses. They've (slowly) been making changes to become more business-friendly, and with devices such as the Pixel C (I wanna try it out, shame that Best Buy isn't selling it), and surprisingly Nexus 9, I could kind of see it happening.
@hallmike well remember they have a goal of merging ChromeOS and android at some point.
@thismyusername @hallmike
Didn't they deny those reports though?
http://www.androidpolice.com/2015/11/02/google-refutes-rumors-of-chrome-os-merging-with-android-says-its-here-to-stay/
@FroodyFrog I don't think they denied them so much as said "DON'T PANIC CHROMEOS USERS BUY MOAR STUFF WE WILL SUPPORT IT*" and then pointed out that a desktop ready android is in the works.
I mean it wouldn't be that hard to have a platform that runs both (they are both basically linux based oses).
https://chrome.googleblog.com/2015/11/chrome-os-is-here-to-stay.html
*for at least 5 years
@hallmike +1 for Free Form. Although the implementation in early versions of N looks a bit of an afterthought (no way to launch an app in Free Form without picking from recents list? Odd). This is an easy fix though, once the specifics of Free Form operation are squared away.
I have a LG phab running M with split screen unlocked. Or, rather, what they're calling Dual Window mode. It's useful in some cases, but I really would love the ability to size and stack my processes at will.
I had it installed but just uninstalled it because it is still too buggy and lagged a lot on a couple of apps. I didn't use the multi screen at all but I don't think it's that huge a deal for phones. From what I've seen of it, it looks a lot like Windows 10 how they run the Windows apps within the desktop. I think that will lead to chromebook integration as it is becoming a lot more like a desktop with it. I think for the bonus it will probably be NY cheesecake, I don't think they will go with nougat, because with 4.4, they chose Kitkat because they didn't think enough people knew what Key Lime Pie tasted like, but I think more people will know what cheesecake tastes like than nougat. I hadn't heard "nerds" before and I like it, but it's more of a smaller candy than a real dessert, and the brand name might be weird to get again.
@Ipster731
To address the 2nd to last point first, not all the names in the past have been desserts. Some of them have been sweet treats. This was confirmed in a Nat & Lo video. (Look them up if you never heard of them.)
I agree that multi-screen is not ideal for phones, because even though you only have two things open, and your device is in landscape, it's not exactly easy to deal with, although in retrospect, I suppose it depends on the 2 screens you have open.
With regards to free-form mode, which is what you were probably referring to, like I said earlier, Android is making advances to growing in adoption in businesses, although like you pointed out, with a stable free-form mode, and more publicity of this feature, I could see personal use of Android (and I suppose Chrome OS) replacing desktops.
I WANT ANDROID N TO BE NAMED NUTELLA!
via GIPHY
@legendornothing I don't even forum.
@legendornothing
Weren't you once lectured about using all caps???
@FroodyFrog I am absolutely positive it was more than once... And this is deserving of caps.
I can only answer the bonus question..my vote's for Nutter Butter.
@mehbee Project Nutter Butter?
@mehbee Nutter Butter or Nutrageous!
@mehbee this idea is driving me absolute nuts.
@legendornothing Well we are nutty around here
@thismyusername
I want all of those. No particular reason why though.
Still Waiting on Android M.
Manufacturers and Providers suck.
I'm looking at Samsung HTC LG, (moto has gotten better but still slow.)
@rileyper
At least HTC is more transparent than other OEMs when it comes to updates.
And as weird as this may seem, Samsung might finally be realizing that people LIKE getting the latest software due to the fact that based on the latest leaked schedule, almost all of the flagship devices from 2014 and 2015 would be getting the update to Marshmallow within a month of each other. Sadly though, the carriers here ruin that because they spend more time testing than internationally, or so it would seem.
I really hope the Andoid team/Google/Alphabet takes more action to help with this issue.
Although I'm kind of liking how they took the Dev Preview program which they started with Lollipop, to the next level with an extremely early (in comparison) initial release, are allowing devices running it to receive OTAs to each dev preview update (as long as the devices are registered with the dev program), and they can even get the OTA to the final build later this year.
And now to digress:
Even though "fragmentation" isn't a big issue anymore, since a lot of new features can still be received in updates to Google Play Services or the Google app, there's a reason why the monthly Android Distribution numbers list each version separately when it comes to API, there are some features which can ONLY be received through software update (even though Google has slowly been breaking things apart).
Hmmm... Lost my train of thought
As someone who has been running the preview as their daily driver for the last week on my Nexus 5X. It's been a decent experience, not much buggier than marshmallow was for me. Freeform seems more like a chome OS sort of thing. Kinda used the dual window thing a few times, but I just don't really need it. I do really enjoy the new styling of the system, and the new quick settings drop down. Also, I wouldn't mind it being nougat, but it'll probably be nutella or something.
Android Nard-dog.
@umbrellacorp
Reference to The Office aside, that's neither a dessert or a sweet treat.
Try again.
He seems pretty sweet to me...
Wait... multiscreen? Tell me somebody is going to port this to the Sony Tab P. So I like weird devices...
Android.... Nutterbutter! I know, they already did an endorsement (Kitkat), but I really dig the Nutterbutters.
@PocketBrain
5 year old device, and doesn't seem to have a lot of dev support.
@FroodyFrog Yeah, I know I know... even Sony couldn't abandon the thing fast enough.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonpareils
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namkhaeng_sai
Napoleon
Nanaimo Bar
