Android N features: Split screen multitasking, redesigned notification panel, Quick Reply, and lots more

BY Rajesh Pandey

Published 9 Mar 2016

Android_N_Notification_bar

Surprise Surprise! Google usually releases the developer preview of a new version of Android at its I/O conference, but this time around the company seems to have made slight changes to its schedule. The company is officially expected to release the first Android N developer preview soon, but all the major new features of the OS have already been leaked thanks to an article from Ars Technica going live before schedule.

Building on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Android N comes with a lot of major refinements and new features. The highlight of the update has to be the new split screen multitasking mode, which will now work similar to how it does on Samsung devices. Even better, Google will be bringing these features to smartphones as well, and not just keep it restricted to tablets.

Another major change that Google will be introducing with Android N is a redesigned notification panel that will now feature a sleeker look and a higher information density. As a previous leak had pointed out, the notification panel in Android N will feature quick power toggles at the very top. Some new features related to the notification panel that will be introduced with Android N include Quick Reply that will allow users to reply to a notification from within the notification panel itself; and ‘bundled’ notifications from one app.

The leak also points to Google switching over to OpenJDK with Android N, though this should not be surprising since Google had confirmed this change before.

Doze will also see an improvement in Android N and will now work even when the device is moving with its display off. High priority notifications will continue to come in while the device is ‘dozing’, though less important notifications will likely only pop up once you switch on the display of the phone.

The Android N Developer Preview builds will be available for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus Player, Nexus 6, Pixel C, and the Nexus 9.

[Via Reddit]