Google Android N Preview — 6 Cool Features That You Should Know

Android N Developer Preview, an early beta of Google’s new mobile operating system that was expected to launch on Google I/O in mid-May, is unexpectedly launching right now.

Android N Developer Preview for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Pixel C Nexus 9, the Nexus Player and the General Mobile 4G, an Android One device has been made available as an over-the-air update by Google on Wednesday.

So, you can test out Android N Developer Preview on your smartphone and tablet right now from developer.android.com/preview.

The good news is that the Google Android team has brought meaningful features to your smartphone and tablet in just five months.

"As we look to the next release of Android, N, you’ll notice a few big changes aimed at you as developers: it’s earlier than ever, it’s easier to try and we’re expanding the ways for you to give us feedback," Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google's SVP for Android writes. "We hope these changes will ensure that you are heard and reflected – that’s what makes Android stronger."

Here's what I like about the new Android Developer Preview so far.

1. Multi-Window API

Multi-window support is the feature users have long asked for – especially on tablets. The feature allows users to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

So now you can type out a message while viewing a map, check the weather while watching videos, and so on. The screen can be split horizontally or vertically as you prefer.

2. Reply to Messages Directly Without Leaving an App

Among the new changes in Android N are improved notifications. Notifications support "direct reply" feature for app developers who can now allow their users to reply to incoming notifications of WhatsApp, Twitter or SMS messages straight from the notification panel without having to launch the app in question.

Developers can also choose to bundle notification alerts from the same app together, enabling users to see them as a bundle and expand individually if necessary.

3. Better Battery Life

This is the biggest relief for all Android users. With Android Marshmallow, Google introduced a new battery-saving feature called Doze that places an Android device into a deep power-savings mode when it is stationary for a while.

In Android N, Google is taking this feature a step further by allowing Doze to work whenever the screen is OFF, not just when the device is stationary. So your smartphone's battery will now last even longer when it's in standby mode.

4. Data Saver

Moreover, Google continues to work on making its Android OS less memory-hungry and making apps running in the background work more efficiently.

When turned ON, the Data Saver feature restricts the apps from using data connection as well as prevent pulling in embedded videos and images on web pages. You can also pick selected apps that may be allowed to use the data connection even when the feature is ON.

However, the Data Saver feature in Android N will be particularly helpful for those who are on prepaid or pay-on-the-go connections for data.

5. Picture-in-Picture Mode

Now you can view a YouTube video while reading through a report in Word on your Android device, thanks to Picture-in-picture feature in Android N.

"Picture-in-picture (PIP) mode lets apps run a video activity in the pinned window while another activity continues in the background. The PIP window lets users multitask while using your app, which helps users be more productive." Google describes.

The feature will be more useful for those with tablets or larger phones.

6. No Need to Flash Your Device (Direct Boot)

Yes, the most brilliant part is that you do not need to flash or tether your device to a PC in order to download and install the new Android N Developer Preview, as it can be downloaded straight to your device.

These are the things that are now known to us about the all new Android N Developer Preview, but one thing we definitely don’t know yet that what the ‘N’ will stand for. For me it’s Nutella.

What do you think the "N" will stand for?

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Safe Browsing now enabled by default on Chrome for Android to protect you from sketchy web sites

Google's security feature for its desktop browser now extends its tools for identifying phishing attacks and other malware to mobile devices.

Chrome’s Safe Browsing mode is now flipped on by default in the Android version of Google’s browser.

The change comes if you’re running Chrome 46 or higher and have Google Play Services 8.1 or above. If you run into a site that Google has identified as malicious, you’ll see an alert like this:

GOOGLE ONLINE SECURITY BLOG

Chrome for Android will warn you about the possibility of unsavory behavior.

Google says the challenge in bringing this feature to mobile is how to ensure reporting and analyzing potentially harmful while not using a ton of data, which can be a precious commodity. 

To accomplish this Google says the riskiest sites are reported first. Also, certain types of attacks, like social engineering and phishing, are targeted in regions where they have a track record of popping up.

To ensure you have Safe Browsing Mode enabled, open Chrome and head to Settings > Privacy.

Chrome’s Safe Browsing mode can be toggled on or off in the settings.

From here you can enable or disable Safe Browsing, along with a number of other features.

Why this matters: Google has a high interest in keeping web browsing safe given Chrome’s large marketshare and the company’s advertising platform. In general it’s a good idea to keep Safe Browsing mode on, as attackers continue to grow ever more sophisticated with their capabilities. 

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Here's How Google Can "Remotely Bypass" Pattern Lock Of Android Device

Older versions of Android can be remotely reset by Google  if the company is issued with a court order, but only if they're locked using a pattern. 

This is according to a document prepared by the New York District Attorney's Office which revealed just how easily investigators could see the contents of a device.

Devices running Android 5.0 and newer cannot be remotely reset as they use full disk encryption.

However, this option is not switched on by default.

The report found any device using an older version of the operating system is vulnerable to remote reset and according to the Android Developer Dashboard, this is 74.1 per cent of Android devices currently being used.

However, this figure is slightly misleading. 

The remote reset feature does apply to phones running operating systems before Android L, but it only applies to people how have secured their device with a pattern.

Google can't remotely reset phones secured with a PIN or passcode, meaning the number of affected devices could be lower.  

A post from Google's Adrian Ludwig attempted to clarify the situation.

He said: 'Google has no ability to facilitate unlocking any device that has been protected with a PIN, Password, or fingerprint. 

'This is the case whether or not the device is encrypted, and for all versions of Android.

'Google also does not have any mechanism to facilitate access to devices that have been encrypted (whether encrypted by the user, as has been available since Android 3.0 for all Android devices, or encrypted by default, as has been available since Android 5.0 on select devices).

'There are some devices that have been configured to use a "pattern" to unlock. Until Android L, "pattern" unlock did provide a recovery option with the Google account. 

'This recovery feature was discontinued with Android L.

'Also, the lost pattern recovery feature never applied to PIN or Password so if you are on an earlier model device and don't want to use the pattern recovery feature, you can switch to a PIN or Password and it will be disabled.' 

However, the report insists that forensic examiners are able to bypass passcodes on devices using a 'variety of forensic techniques.'

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