Next version of Android to be previewed at Google I/O

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Zorachus

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Big news !!

Looks like Google will take a cue from Apple, and actually show off the next version of Android to the public, at Google I/O and not keep it secret, or just wait till Fall, like they normal do.

Is said to be the L version of Android.
 
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Some rumors are buzz-buzzing :)D) around about a development re-direction Google is going to try to take, at least I hope so!
 
Zorachus said:
Big news !!

Looks like Google will take a cue from Apple, and actually show off the next version of Android to the public, at Google I/O and not keep it secret, or just wait till Fall, like they normal do.

Is said to be the L version of Android.
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I've wondered about that for the past couple of years. Google has this odd contradictory behavior where it will swear up and down that it's making things better for Android developers, but never really follow through. (See: the endless "this is the year we take tablets seriously!" statements that don't pan out.) How are you supposed to get a wide array of OEMs and developers supporting your latest platform in a timely manner if you wait until the OS is done to let them know what's happening?

The advantage of Apple's system has been that many people are onboard by the time a given OS is ready for the public. By the time you can download a regular copy, many of your apps work with the new OS and take advantage of new features.
 
Yea, time has never been Google's strong selling point and even when its released most of it seems half assed upon release and most of the time you are stuck there waiting for a fix or release.
 
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So in a round a bout way this will also be a preview for ios 9 or 10 maybe
 
Don't be a party pooper CHANG 3D. This is a 'discussion' forum afterall plus facts are provided.
 
mi7chy said:
Don't be a party pooper CHANG 3D. This is a 'discussion' forum afterall plus facts are provided.
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Only they're not facts, they're intentional distortions.

Here's the thing. As of early June, Apple reports that 89% of active iOS users are running iOS 7... so in other words, the vast majority of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners can play Dead Trigger 2. Moreover, there's a narrower range of hardware to target, so developers know that someone holding on to an iPhone 4 can still play... not especially well, but it can play.

On Android? Well, aside from the fact that you confused Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread, Google's dashboard suggests that 84.3% of Android users can load DT2. Not quite as high, but respectable. However, there's a big problem that you purposefully omitted -- only some of those devices can play it at all. Weak GPU, sub-1GHz processor, non-standard display or less than 512MB of RAM? Sorry, out of luck. Many devices can run the necessary version of Android, but their hardware isn't supported by games like these. This isn't to say that fragmentation is never an issue on iOS, but a platform with a much wider variety of hardware and flexible/optional upgrade paths, like Android, is inherently bound to have more fragmentation -- there is no questioning this, and it's not even a dealbreaker considering Android's advantages.

Mi7chy... please stop derailing threads with vitriolic anti-Apple screeds. Just stop it. You're only embarrassing yourself, and you're getting comically predictable: we can all tell when you're about to lie, selectively 'forget' details or otherwise show a basic inability to admit that you're ever wrong, even when there's incontrovertible proof of it (see: the Galaxy S5 fingerprint scanner fiasco). Feel free to live in the real world, where intelligent, nuanced arguments take place and people are allowed to enjoy platforms they use without trolling those of rivals.
 
Aurelius said:
Only they're not facts, they're intentional distortions.

Here's the thing. As of early June, Apple reports that 89% of active iOS users are running iOS 7... so in other words, the vast majority of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners can play Dead Trigger 2. Moreover, there's a narrower range of hardware to target, so developers know that someone holding on to an iPhone 4 can still play... not especially well, but it can play.

On Android? Well, aside from the fact that you confused Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread, Google's dashboard suggests that 84.3% of Android users can load DT2. Not quite as high, but respectable. However, there's a big problem that you purposefully omitted -- only some of those devices can play it at all. Weak GPU, sub-1GHz processor, non-standard display or less than 512MB of RAM? Sorry, out of luck. Many devices can run the necessary version of Android, but their hardware isn't supported by games like these. This isn't to say that fragmentation is never an issue on iOS, but a platform with a much wider variety of hardware and flexible/optional upgrade paths, like Android, is inherently bound to have more fragmentation -- there is no questioning this, and it's not even a dealbreaker considering Android's advantages.

Mi7chy... please stop derailing threads with vitriolic anti-Apple screeds. Just stop it. You're only embarrassing yourself, and you're getting comically predictable: we can all tell when you're about to lie, selectively 'forget' details or otherwise show a basic inability to admit that you're ever wrong, even when there's incontrovertible proof of it (see: the Galaxy S5 fingerprint scanner fiasco). Feel free to live in the real world, where intelligent, nuanced arguments take place and people are allowed to enjoy they use without trolling those of rivals.
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I get my posts removed or edited just for saying "_________ is always saying nonsense and utter bullshit about Apple or HTC," as he/she/it is doing now. How it is a personal insult I have not a clue, but I'm not going to argue with Kyle. So careful, don't take the bait.
 
Expect more from Google I/O this year because last year was really meh.
 
What do you think the "L" version will be named ?

I don't think a generic name like Lollipop, but more a corporate tie in again like Kit Kat, so my guess will be Life Savers or Lemon Head.
 
Google only got an agreement with nestle. So limiting candy to Nestle products, Ladyfingers, Laffy Taffy, Lik-M-Aid, Lion, and Lollo. Out of those, I think only two could happen: Laffy Taffy and Lollo. It would be incredible to have Android Ladyfingers though. There will be so many Android connected products made from the sex toy industry if that happens. Android Ladyfingers powered massagers.
 
The software buttons in the L version look absolutely disgusting.
 
Viewing the live blog. Engadget has good and frequent pictures but it's so laggy in Safari on iPad and the other browser tab to Arstechnica live blog stops updating.

Ok better now that I switched to Note II. Can view both sites at the same time in split window no problem.
 
mi7chy said:
Viewing the live blog. Engadget has good and frequent pictures but it's so laggy in Safari on iPad and the other browser tab to Arstechnica live blog stops updating.

Ok better now that I switched to Note II. Can view both sites at the same time in split window no problem.
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I call total bullshit on this. BTW, great marketing material.
 
Ok, here's a wrap up of the new "L' news;

Google announces Android 'L Preview'
http://www.androidcentral.com/android-l-announcement

Android L Preview For Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 Launching Tomorrow!
http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/06/25/android-l-nexus-5-nexus-7/

Android L brings 'Project Volta' for improved battery life
http://www.androidcentral.com/android-l-brings-project-volta-improved-battery-life

Material Design brings massive UI overhaul for Android L
http://www.androidauthority.com/material-design-android-l-397180/

Google's next version of Android 'L-release' has a new look, deeper ties to the web
http://www.engadget.com/2014/06/25/Android-L/
 
The new version, teased by Sundar Pichai is simply being referred to as the "L-release" right now. As previous leaks have indicated, this will be the most dramatic UI overhaul the OS has enjoyed since Ice Cream Sandwich debuted back in 2011. The heart of this overhaul is called Material Design -- a flatter look, with rounder elements and softer edges.

Shapes are simplified and there are smooth transition animations across the UI. And those animations aren't just inside apps, they can be between apps. For instance you could view an image in the photo gallery, then choose to open it in a 3rd party editor. Rather than laboriously close the gallery then open the editor, the image itself could appear to float above the apps and simply shift into the second app, which is already open to the editing pane. Developers can also add the illusion of depth by adding "elevation" which automatically stacks visual elements appropriately and adds drop shadows.
 
Still as aesthetically unpleasing like the previous ones. This is why you never let guys in suit and tie design your UI.
 
seanclayton said:
Still as aesthetically unpleasing like the previous ones. This is why you never let guys in suit and tie design your UI.
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Believe me, these aren't people in suits making these decisions at Google. Same thing over at Apple or MS. "Design" is more about fads and fashion.
 
As cool as the new 'L' version of Android will be, Will the Galaxy S6 next year, still running that crappy Touchwiz, even use of any of these design cues ? Touchwiz is so heavy of a UI over Android, the stock vanilla part of Android seems to get buried so deep on the Galaxy phones, you can't even tell it's running JB or KK Android sometimes.

Hopefully these manufactures lighten up on their god awful UI's, and embrace more of the pure vanilla Android.
 
Zorachus said:
As cool as the new 'L' version of Android will be, Will the Galaxy S6 next year, still running that crappy Touchwiz, even use of any of these design cues ?
Click to expand...

Let's hope not. Google's UI designs are absolutely awful. (Not that the "new" magazine-style TouchWiz is so great.)

Android is beginning to strike me as one of those OSes where you need 100+ patches right off the bat to get something non-ridiculous going.

"Okay, I got Android installed... now how do I change the nav buttons to something more appropriate for a human?"
 
I'm intrigued by the look, and there's some promising stuff. Having said this, Google is definitely keeping its cards close to the vest; the big deals at I/O were its looks, its performance and broader device support. I don't think we'll know the real story until the new Android release is truly ready -- this was just to give developers enough to get started.
 
Aurelius said:
I'm intrigued by the look, and there's some promising stuff. Having said this, Google is definitely keeping its cards close to the vest; the big deals at I/O were its looks, its performance and broader device support. I don't think we'll know the real story until the new Android release is truly ready -- this was just to give developers enough to get started.
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I agree, but with this coming tomorrow, won't the beans be spilled for all to see ?

Android L Preview For Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 Launching Tomorrow!
http://www.technobuffalo.com/2014/06...xus-5-nexus-7/
 
Zorachus said:
As cool as the new 'L' version of Android will be, Will the Galaxy S6 next year, still running that crappy Touchwiz, even use of any of these design cues ? Touchwiz is so heavy of a UI over Android, the stock vanilla part of Android seems to get buried so deep on the Galaxy phones, you can't even tell it's running JB or KK Android sometimes.
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It's pretty obvious Samsung is doing as much as it can to separate itself from the rest of the Android market, including develop/launch phones running their proprietary OS (Tizen) and having competing apps/services for every Google equivalent app/service.

Case in point:

samsung-google-apps-deal.jpg


So screw Samsung, they're going to get a bigger head than Apple (if they haven't already) and think they can do the same thing as them without Google/Android. I hope they change their tune before it's too late, because I love their hardware, but all this TW and Tizen crap is just driving them into the ground.
 
Android works just fine on my Nexus 7.

But Google's GPS navigation doesn't work without an internet connection, works fine at home but in your car it's useless. I like innovation, but make it work before you sell it Uncle Goog!
 
T4rd said:
It's pretty obvious Samsung is doing as much as it can to separate itself from the rest of the Android market, including develop/launch phones running their proprietary OS (Tizen) and having competing apps/services for every Google equivalent app/service.

Case in point:

samsung-google-apps-deal.jpg


So screw Samsung, they're going to get a bigger head than Apple (if they haven't already) and think they can do the same thing as them without Google/Android. I hope they change their tune before it's too late, because I love their hardware, but all this TW and Tizen crap is just driving them into the ground.
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Good points. That's why I went with the HTC One M8 this round, I like that it can easily be rooted, and that HTC and Google teamed up to make a GPE One M8. Where's Samsung's S5 GPE ?

I LOVE my One M8, running a GPE ROM, it is such a beautiful device, and gives me battery life to what my old Note 2 would do.

F off Scamsung
 
Video is just a local video player and doesn't compete with Play Movies & TV. Add text-to-speech though unless you like it sounding like a sex chat. For the most part they ought to leave Google services alone but fortunately you can disable most of them. The OS enhancements are useful though like split screen multitasking, smart stay, etc. Was running Cyanogenmod on one of the phones but went back to TouchWiz for the OS enhancements.
 
T4rd said:
It's pretty obvious Samsung is doing as much as it can to separate itself from the rest of the Android market, including develop/launch phones running their proprietary OS (Tizen) and having competing apps/services for every Google equivalent app/service.

Case in point:

**image**

So screw Samsung, they're going to get a bigger head than Apple (if they haven't already) and think they can do the same thing as them without Google/Android. I hope they change their tune before it's too late, because I love their hardware, but all this TW and Tizen crap is just driving them into the ground.
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heh doesn't everyone (including carriers) create competing apps? Not sure whats so bad about this...


Aurelius said:
I'm intrigued by the look, and there's some promising stuff. Having said this, Google is definitely keeping its cards close to the vest; the big deals at I/O were its looks, its performance and broader device support. I don't think we'll know the real story until the new Android release is truly ready -- this was just to give developers enough to get started.
Click to expand...

About the only thing that has me excited right now is ART, the rest of the presentation was ok but as it stands ART is the only thing that will get my attention in the mean time. I hope it doesn't turn out to be as disappointing as swift.

Volta may be cool, but Google had a project like this in the past and it amounted to jack and shit.
 
Zorachus said:
Good points. That's why I went with the HTC One M8 this round, I like that it can easily be rooted, and that HTC and Google teamed up to make a GPE One M8. Where's Samsung's S5 GPE ?

I LOVE my One M8, running a GPE ROM, it is such a beautiful device, and gives me battery life to what my old Note 2 would do.

F off Scamsung
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I've been staunchly pro-Samsung for the past couple years, but a One M8 GPE with microSD sounds pretty appealing, as flagships go.

Granted, a simple N5 or Moto X with microSD added would be even better from a price-performance point of view, but alas.
 
Android L sounds cool.

Smartwatch? Not so much.. Don't need Google Now annoying notifications on my hand.
 
Trimlock said:
heh doesn't everyone (including carriers) create competing apps? Not sure whats so bad about this...
Click to expand...

Not that I know of, or at least near to the extent that Samsung does.

It's bad because it's a sign that Samsung is slowly trying to pull out of the Android ecosystem, to the point that they may try to push Tizen in their future flagships instead of using Android anymore.

Well I guess that wouldn't be too bad since it would allow for HTC and LG to take some more of the market share. I'd say the first batch of Tizen devices would sell pretty good on Marketing alone, but when people realize it doesn't have access to the Play Store and the app ecosystem sucks on it, they won't return to Samsung again.
 
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