Android M: Release date, rumours, possible names and new features speculation

The final build of Android L has recently arrived on the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, but already we're looking forward to Android M before the new Neuxs arrives. Here's all the information we've arranged about Android M, including release date, possible names and new feature speculation. Google is likely to give preview of the OS through its annual I/O Developers Conference that will kick in May 28 in San Francisco and will release the OS later this month. 

If previous Android OS release dates are anything to go by, we calculated that we'll see the final version of Android M on devices at the end of October or early November 2015. Android Lollipop was announced at Google I/O in June 2014, and launched on the Nexus 9 on 3 November 2015; Android KitKat was announced in September 2013 and appeared on the Nexus 5 on 31 October 2013.

As we know that Google I/O will take place later this month on 28-29 May. So there's probably not long to wait until we first hear about Android M from Google. 
Android M: What will it be called? 

Before Android Lollipop was confirmed, no-one really knew whether it would be called Android 4.5 or Android 5.0. After all, Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0- to 4.0.4), Jelly Bean (4.1- to 4.3.1) and KitKat (4.4- to 4.4.4) were all 4.x versions. In the end Google went with 5.0 for Lollipop. It's not yet known whether Android M will be simply a point upgrade or Android 6.0. 

Android M: Expected Names

Google has always named its Android OS updates after sweet treats and in alphabetical order. So from the begining we've had Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat and Lollipop. We know M will be next, and we know it will be something tasty. 

Most speculation refers to Android M as Android Muffins or Android Marshmallow. Other potential names might include Android Malteser, Android Macaroon, Android Meringue Pie (forget the lemon), Android Moon Pie, Android Mint and Android Milk Dud. Any other suggestions?  Comment below. 

Even before Android Lollipop was announced there were reported sightings of Android M. Over on the Android Open Source Project developers have been spotted twice discussing Android M - firstly in regard to Logcat, and secondly in regard to a data interchange format. Neither will mean anything to end users, according to Myce, but can be useful to developers. 

Android M: New features 

No concrete details are available on what new features will appear in Android M, although there are a few things users would like to see. Some of these include Google Fit and Google Now integration, an extreme power-saving mode as standard, a proper messaging hub, improved performance, better synching of notifications across devices, improved parental controls, more gestures and enterprise features.

Android M: Android Auto

The latest rumour from Reuters is that Android M will be operate in and be built directly into cars, independently of a paired smartphone, with Google taking a much stronger focus on Android Auto. Gartner's Thilo Koslowski said, "It provides a much stronger foothold for Google to really be part of the vehicle rather than being an add-on."

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