[Xperia Z2 General] RaKesh:
Android M for Xperia Z2

Android M is the next android version to be released in October or November by Google. Sony updated Xperia Z2 to Android 5.0 Lollipop a few months ago. Currently Sony is working on pushing out the Android 5.1.1 update to Xperia Z2. Sony also has to update the Xperia Z2 along with Xperia Z3 to Android M after it's released. Previously Sony pushed out the Lollipop update for Xperia Z2 series later than announced release dates. But this time the Japanese tech giant may rollout the Android M update for the Xperia Z2 series on time. According to tech analysts, Sony may release the new android M update to Xperia Z2 in December 2015. It seems to be a long time to wait but custom roms based on Android M will be available for Xperia Z2 in November or October.

[IMG="Android M"]http://s16.postimg.org/l0my450d1/android_m_logo_smaller_w782.jpg[/IMG]

Android M Exclusive Features

At the Google I/O 2015, VP of Engineering David Burke explained some of the new features of the Android M Operating System.

1. App Permissions :

This Feature of Android M has been speculating for many days and now the full details revealed. With Android M users can use individual permissions to allow or deny apps. Google has simplified the permissions feature in Android M. In Android M, permission request will appear when the app requires that particular permission and not at the time of installation. For Example, Whatsapp will request one time permission request to use mic, when we tap on record voice message icon. So users can decide to give permission to use it or not while using apps. When users want to change or view the permission setting for any app later, they can do that in the Settings. So android m is giving full control over apps to users through permissions. This is a noble feature of Android M. Google may further develop this feature in future android versions.

[IMG="Android M app permissions"]http://s10.postimg.org/cyzzx9ry1/Android_M_app_permissions.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG="Google I/O app permissions"]http://s17.postimg.org/9gxgpyqy7/google_app_permissions_io_20151.jpg[/IMG]

2. Web Experience:

Google improved the way of displaying web sites to users in order to provide better web experience while using apps and internet. A new feature named as Chrome Custom Tabs introduced in Android M. When users tough a link in an app, the link will open in customized chrome tab at top of window without opening the chrome app separately. So users can interact in a better way between apps and websites with Custom chrome tabs. Chrome Custom Tabs supports the features automatic sign-in, saved passwords, auto fill, and multi-process security also to deliver integration of the app and web experience.

[IMG="Chrome Custom Tabs"]http://s18.postimg.org/ayhl2kyex/Chrome_Custom_Tabs.png[/IMG]

3. Android Pay Mobile Payments :

Google is going introduce Android Pay service in Android M OS. Android Pay allows users to make purchases with credit cards more than 700,000 stores in the US. Android Pay is compatible with any device which has NFS capabilities. The Android Pay already being supported by American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover, as well as carriers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. Google aimed to make Android Pay better than Apple Pay. So we will see further improvements in Android Pay in near future.

[IMG="Android Pay"]http://s15.postimg.org/vmnmrbkez/mobile_payments_safe11_940x638.jpg[/IMG]

4. Better App link management :

In all Android operating systems before Android M, when users clicks on a link in an app, dialog box opens and asks to open via browser or other supported app. For example, when users click on YouTube link, a prompt will appear to open it through YouTube app or Web browser. In Android M, Google improved the management of app links to provide better user experience while using apps. In Android M, app links open through appropriate apps without again prompting users. In the above example YouTube link will open through YouTube app directly in Android M when users click on YouTube link. So, users can feel more comfortable and friendly with better app link management in Android M.

5. More Stand by Time and Fast Charging :

In Android M, the tech giant introduced a new battery saving function named as Doze. With motion sensors, Doze recognizes automatically position of device and usage of device. So Doze recognizes whether the user asleep or kept in a table and saves battery according to the needs. In Doze mode also, alarms will work and priority notifications will appear. According to Burke, they have tested two Nexus 9 devices, one running on Android M preview and one running on Lollipop. The device running on Android M preview gives two times more standby time than the device running on Lollipop. Android M also supports new USB Type-C ports which allow greater amperage and fast charge the device. Users can also charge other device with these USB Type-C ports. Android M will manage better these ports. As Xperia Z2 series don't have these ports, this feature of Android M is useless for Xperia Z2 users.

source - http://www.androidstandard.com/android-m-for-xperia-z2-release-and-features/