Android M: Google set to reveal the next version of Android

The latest version of Google’s Android operating system is set to be unveiled later this month.

The new version, codenamed ‘Android M’, has been mentioned multiple times in the schedule for Google’s upcoming I/O developer conference which will be held in San Francisco on 28-29 May.

It seems that Android M will be focused on the business world, with schedule notes for the event specifically mentioning how it will bring the “power of Android to all kinds of workplaces”.

This statement has since been removed by Google, however, an article on Ars Technica shows the schedule post.

The conference session notes also suggests that Android M will help to unify Android and Chrome OS, Google’s other operating system which works on its increasingly popular Chromebooks.

Google has gradually started to bring its two operating systems closer together and last year made a number of Android apps on Chrome OS, including Evernote, Vine and Duolingo.

Android M: More privacy and features?

Increasingly, Android users have called for more privacy controls and a report from Bloomberg says that Google is likely to deliver on improvements surrounding user privacy.

According to sources close to the Android M project, the new OS will give users more control over their privacy, enabling them to grant permissions to a particular app regarding access to such things as photos, contacts, microphone and location, putting it on a par with Apple’s iOS.

With the company further developing Google Now, its voice control assistant is now smarter and more capable than ever and it is expected that Android M will include more detailed voice features.

What will it be called?

As well as discussion on what new features may be included in Android M, there has also been lots of speculation on what the new Android update will be called and what the ‘M’ stands for.

Traditionally Google uses the name of sweets or desserts in alphabetical order for the name of its operating system.

The first version of Google’s mobile OS to be named after a dessert was Android 1.5 Cupcake, followed by Android 1.6 Donut. Other desserts used in the naming of Android include Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean.

For Android 4.4, Google partnered with Nestle in order to use the KitKat name, while the most recent version of Android is called Lollipop.

With its upcoming version, Google could perhaps go with Android Marshmallow, Android Macaroon, Android Meringue or Android Milkshake.

Maybe Google will team up with another confectioner for something like Android Mentos, Android Mars Bar or Android Munchies?

Android M release date?

There’s obviously no confirmed info at present regarding a possible release date. However, if previous releases of Android are anything to go by, Android M could be available in October/November 2015.

Previous versions of Android (KitKat and Lollipop) were both announced announced at Google I/O before being released to Nexus devices in the months of October and November, respectively.

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Source : - tech.thaivisa