Google announced the Android 6.0 operating system - codenamed as ‘Android M’ at the Google I/O 2015 conference this July. However, Android M is now officially named as Android Marsmallow. The image of Google’s new mascot has gone viral over social media.
(Image credit: Google+)
The moniker for the 6.0 version of the dominant mobile computing system follows a tradition of using sugary treats for Android including Lollipop (5.0), KitKat (4.4), Jellybean (4.1) and Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0). "Whether you like them straight out of the bag, roasted to a golden brown exterior with a molten center, or in fluff form, who doesn't like marshmallows?" product manager Jamal Eason asked in a post on the Android developer blog. Eason said developers seeking to develop or update applications for Android can now download the software.
Google’s new Android Marsmallow 6 .0 has enabled an advanced security settings and supports fingerprint sensors. Android M also offers its users with the screen rotation function for the home screen. This feature also helps you use your handset in landscape format both in apps and on the home screen.
Runtime Permissions / Runtime Permissions Basic are updated to reflect latest permissions API changes. It has also added a new feature called ‘Doze’, which is an enhanced power-saving logic for apps that sync while the users device is asleep and support for USB Type-C.
Translations of the documentation are now available. One can use the language selector at the bottom right corner of any page to switch languages. Media reports also state that Google also plans to optimise the RAM usage and improve the battery life on handsets in future.
The next major Android version will be trying to optimize the performance even further by lowering the RAM usage, improving the standby and overall battery endurance. Android Marshmallow will support Nexus phones. Users running certain apps will not need to grant any permissions when they install or upgrade, and the applications instead request permissions as it needs them, according to Google.
Android is used in nearly 80 per cent of smartphones worldwide, although many devices use older versions for which upgrades are not available. Android is also the leading platform for tablets, according to market surveys.
