What’s slated to follow Android Lollipop and KitKat? It looks like Marshmallow is up next. Sweet, chewy, versatile Marshmallow. Officially, this is Android version 6.0 SDK, as well as the product formerly known as Android M. As Android product manager James Eason so eloquently put it, “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?” Marshmallow is now up for development projects, and Google is allowing for the publication of Marshmallow apps in the Google Play store already.
Changes & Additions to the New Android OS
Sticking with the sweet theme of KitKat and Lollipop, Google has settled on another delectable name for their new OS: Marshmallow.
The most notable changes and additions to the Marshmallow OS is the change in permissions. Google has attempted to streamline the process involved in installing and updating apps, so developers interested in producing apps for Marshmallow need to be prepared to adhere to the latest Google policies regarding permissions.
Next most notable to developers will be the addition of Doze, which reduces the amount of activity the apps are performing in the background while the device is sitting inactive. This should help improve the battery life of the device.
Marshmallow also comes along with the addition of the USB C connector, which is supposed to make equipped devices charge as much as three to five times faster than previous Android devices. Finally, there have been some changes made to Fingerpaint API. It now comes along with better error reporting for improved reliability.
Developers can also take advantage of the Android Support library, which is a new offering by Google to make it easier for developers to integrate new features that will be compatible with the Android operating system.
Not All Android Manufacturers Are Adopting Marshmallow (Yet)
Some mobile device manufacturers are not rushing into development of Android Marshmallow products, so developers who are primarily targeting users of Chinese devices, like the popular Samsung phones, don’t necessarily have to rush into creating apps for Marshmallow.
App developers should know, however, that not all OEM manufacturers are rushing to add Marshmallow to their latest devices. The Chinese manufacturers in particular have become slow to adopt. In fact, there are some indications that Samsung, a long time Android follower, is moving in a new direction. For example, Samsung Pay looks like it will soon replace Google Pay. Other Chinese manufacturers (perhaps following the lead set by Samsung?) also show signs of waiting to adopt Marshmallow. Hence, developers who are targeting a strong Samsung/Chinese market do not necessarily have to rush into development efforts with the Marshmallow OS.
For a full list of items app developers need to know about Marshmallow, visit the Android Developers blog. To get started on your app development project, visit the experienced developers at Glance.
