Categories: AndroidNewsSmartphones

Google Android M Preview 2, Huawei Nexus and Android app store for China – Weekly roundup

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has already launched the second version of its Android M Preview mobile operating system for developers this week. Android M Developer Preview 2 comes with security enhancements, API improvements and few bug fixes that were reported in the previous version. Google released the initial version of the mobile OS during its I/O event in May 2015.

Google has also promised to launch several new features with the public version of the OS, such as Android Pay mobile payment service built into the OS and improved App Permissions that will ask for user permissions only when required by the app. New improvised App Permissions feature will help users find out the real intention of any apps they installed on smartphones/tablets, hence provides maximum privacy checkup for users.

Google knows how to react to the new technology introduced by Apple during its latest MacBook launch. Apple Inc. introduced the USB Type-C port for its MacBook, and now Google made Android M to support this port as well. Google is also adding a new feature – Doze. This feature will help users to save more power by allowing them to sync apps when the device is in sleep mode.

Meanwhile, if developers or any interested users want to download the Android M Developer Preview 2, they should have a Nexus 5, 6, 9, or the Nexus Player. Users with last Android M release can update to the new version through OTA. If not received any update notifications, they should have to download the image and install it. (Direct download links posted at the end of this article)

Huawei Nexus smartphone:

According to new rumors, Google will be collaborating with the Chinese smartphone-maker Huawei (pronounced “Who Are We”) on this year’s Nexus series of smartphones. Earlier, there were rumors of Google’s potential partnership with a Chinese phone-maker, possibly with Xiaomi, ZTE, Lenovo, or Huawei. But a recent report from The Verge suggest that Huawei is the one who will build next-gen Nexus devices for Google Inc.

However, there are also reports of two Nexus devices for this year. Android Police reported that Google will be launching a 5.7-inch Huawei (codename: Angler) Nexus phone and a 5.2-inch LG (codename: Bullhead) Nexus phone. The reports also say that Google won’t be launching any new Nexus tablets this year.

Chinese Android App Store:

As Google Play Store is not available in China due to government regulations, Google and Huawei will also collaborate on a new Android App store for Chinese users. As of now, Android users in China are relying on third-party app stores for Android apps, and Google wants to fix this with the help of its new partner – Huawei.