We've gotten our first official look at Android M, and it offers scores of subtle improvements that promise to make using Android 6.0 a whole lot better. It's evolutionary, not revolutionary---which is exactly what Android 6.0 needs to be.
Google VP of engineering Dave Burke introduced Android M at Google I/O this morning and made it clear the upgrade favors substance over flash, and making the user experience better in every way.
First and foremost, Android Pay will show up on handsets when Android 6.0 ships. We've got all the deets on Android Pay here, and Burke says it will roll out before the end of this year, pre-installed on phones from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. More than 700,000 stores are already lined up to support the mobile payments system. Fingerprint support is also coming: Much like it works with iPhones, you can unlock devices, make Play Store purchase, as well as verify an Android Pay purchase just by touching your finger to the hardware reader.
Android M will also put Google Now everywhere in Android phones. With a long-press of the home button inside just about any app, you can receive contextual recommendations or assistance for whatever you're using your phone to do; if you're using Hangouts, for example, and can't decided where to get dinner, a long-press will activate Now to give you restaurant ideas or more information about where you want to go. If you're browsing the menu in Yelp or OpenTable and you want to learn what's in a specific dish, you can ask Google Now to look it up for you.
More good news: We can expect longer battery life and faster charging. Phones will start "dozing" in standby mode while not in use, something Burke says will double your running time compared to devices running Android L. The M release also will see Android phones adopt USB-C connectors; Burke says Google is working with hardware manufacturers to adopt the standard, which he says also will boost battery life and reduce charge times.
The excitement continues with a new permissions model. Users will have greater control over permissions, which developers won't be stoked about, at least at first. Google says the new model will let devs create more malleable permissions for users. For example, if an app seeks camera and microphone access, you can decide to allow permission to access one or the other, instead of both or neither. "It's a more seamless app install process," Burke says, noting it's a surefire way to keep users in the long term.
The permissions upgrade also means the dialogue box that asks if you want to stay with a URL or open something in-app will change, allowing developers to confirm a URL and automatically redirect to their apps. Android M also will help apps linking to the Web and to other apps. There's a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff happening here, but what it means for users is taking fewer steps between apps when hitting links. Click a link to a tweet from Gmail and you will go directly to your Twitter app. Easy.
The two big remaining questions: What does M stand for and when will it be released (beyond "later this year")? Google wouldn't say, and we're all eager to find out.
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