Google has formally announced the next major Android software version as Android L at the on-going Google I/O 2014 Developer Conference in US. The new Android L update will be made available for the developers to test out the new improvements and the features. New Android L arrives with a fresh new look and design overhaul dubbed as Material Design. The new Material Design will stay consistent across different form factors – Phones, tablets, Wearables and Desktop.
Google is currently calling the next major Android version simply as the “Android L†and plans to announce the full name of the version later. Google usually tags a Dessert name to its Android version updates and last one was Android KitKat.
New Android L brings Material Design language which is quite adaptive, intuitive and fast. More flat appearing user interface brings new menu button icons – Circle, Square and Triangle. Apart from that, the status bar on the top will be transparent and adjust with the colour of the applications opened. Overall system gets a new Material theme, new animations and 3D views with realtime shadows – quite a bunch of fancy terms that can only be experienced to be understood entirely.
The user experience of the Android L focuses on three major things – Design, new Notifications system and Authentication. The Notifications will become more interactive and floating like. With authentication, Google aims to add another security blanket for the user in order to prevent unauthorised access to the device.
The Android Runtime (ART) will become default with this update and for all smartphones expected in the future with L update. This new runtime along with improved graphics support promises better performance and user experience. Apart from that, Google has added a long laundry list of improvements but has not mentioned or published them in detail.
Some of those notable improvements include burst-mode camera, Battery Saver mode, Personal unlocking, lockscreen notifications, USB Audio, new Quick Settings and many more.
For the first time, Google has stepped up and openly talked about the Battery issues that prevail with most Android devices. The new Battery Saver features will be developed under the Project Volta and goal is to improve overall battery life. Battery Historian gives a detailed look of the instances that consumed battery. Battery Saver mode allows clock down the CPU, bar background data.