The new version of Android is out and it’s officially called Android 6.0 Marshmallow. With this Google has chose to focus on the few big features, like Now on Tap and with the same there are other small changes for better battery life and performance. As it comes to the look, Google has chosen not to give it an all new look as the operating system uses the same colorful Material design theme introduced with Android 5.0 Lollipop last year.
Here we bring to you the features of Android 6.0 Marshmallow:
Now On Tap
Google Now is highly accessible now with the newly introduced featured named Now on Tap. This is helpful in pulling up extra information in top of whatever you’re doing, based on what’s on your screen. This button simply works by pressing and holding the home button on your phone. Now On Tap is useful in various ways as it includes shortcuts to apps on your phone, like with the OpenTable app installed, you can use an OpenTable shortcut from the Now on Tap card to book a table.
This is also useful in running a voice search as Google is going to use the context of what’s on the screen to offer you results. For instance, if you’re looking at a restaurant in the Foursquare app and ask Google how far it is from you, then it will show the results of the restaurant on your screen, giving you the right travel times. This wonderfully works when you play music on your phone as you can ask for details about the artist or band.
In all, Google Now on Tap offers quick answers helping you figure out the next step. This well-designed feature is helpful when in need and then it disappears so you can perform the action you were doing earlier.
Android Pay
This is Google’s new mobile payments system that also works on OS other than Android 6.0. This will help you in making purchases at participating stores using your phone’s NFC chip. Just as you do with Apple Pay, here as well you can hold your phone to the credit card terminal and follow the onscreen prompts to pay. Samsung Pay enables you to pay at different kinds of credit card machine. This way you can make purchases on your phone, like paying for an in-app purchase. Google Wallet, Google’s original mobile payment app is changing to handle only peer-to-peer payments that can be made between friends, family and others. It successfully works with 700,000 stores.
Power
Google’s Nexus device is supporting the new USB Type-C standard of charging cable. This way it can be charged or can also charge other devices, while the shape is same on both the sides, thus no need to struggle with which side is “up.” Android 6.0 Marshmallow also consists of Doze, which is an automatic energy-saving feature that uses less power than the current standby mode.
App permissions
Earlier on, installing an app meant you agreeing to let it use whatever parts of your phone it asked to use. However, now apps will seek permission to access to parts of your phone or Google account when needed, and you can approve those requests or not. Like, a messaging app will certainly not ask for permission to use your camera until you try to take and send a photo. This lends additional security to Android, giving you more control over how apps can use your phone’s resources.
Fingerprint support
Yes, Google has now included support for a fingerprint reader, allowing the the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P to use a fingerprint scanner to unlock your phone as well as apps. At the same time you can use your fingerprint to authorize payments.
Redesigned app drawer
This app drawer is the menu where all the apps installed on your phone or tablet live, get a new layout in Marshmallow. You will find a search bar at the top, where you can quickly find an app. Below are the apps Google thinks you want to use right now, based on time of day or your typical app-opening habits.
Landscape home screen
Now you can rotate your home screen to landscape mode. This feature is present in Google Now settings and might not be available on all phones.
Stay tuned to have more updates regarding Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
