Google has previewed Android M at Google I/O.
The next version of the Android platform reveals greater user control of app permissions, with apps able to trigger requests for permissions at runtime and in context, rather than simply when an app is installed.
It will also be easier to link between apps, with an autoVerify attribute allowing users to be linked into a native app without a disambiguation prompt. It will also have App Indexing for Google search.
In addition, a new feature called Doze allows Android to use motion detection to tell whether a device is idle. Android will then turn off background activity, resulting in a slower app performance for longer battery life.
Another key addition is Android Pay & Fingerprint, Google‘s answer to Apple Pay. This allows Android users to use their phone to pay in stores or in Android Pay partner apps. Native fingerprint support has also been added for payment confirmation. Android M also makes Google Now more accessible so that it can be accessed from within another app.
Specifically for developers, Google announced new tools including Android Studio v1.3 Preview, including code editing and debugging for C/C++ code, Android Design Support Library and v7.5 of Google Play services.
The news comes as figures from App Annie show Android use growing, with quarterly app downloads on Google Play growing about 30 percent from Q1 2014 to Q1 2015.
