Google details Android N features ahead of late summer release

It wouldn't be a Google developer conference without some time dedicated to Google's most important software platform: Android. The next iteration, codenamed N, was announced super early in March of this year, and today at Google I/O more details and features are being revealed.

Google says the response to the N Developer Preview has been "overwhelming" and many developers are already working with it on a daily basis. The company has improved Android N performance in two keys ways: graphics and runtime. Android N will introduce the Vulkan graphics API to Google's mobile platform. Vulkan promises to deliver better graphics with greater efficiency, which is always nice to see. Especially with the amount of power now available in modern Android smartphones and tablets. This cross-platform API was shown off by Nvidia with its latest graphics cards playing Doom on the desktop. The compiler in Android N works a lot faster, as much as 75 percent faster, and it's reduced the the space required for app installs on your phone. So basically, it's an under-the-hood win that shouldn't be hard to feel on the surface too.

Android N at Google I/O 2016 photos

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In terms of productivity, Google has decided to streamline the multitasking menu. It will now be limited to the last seven apps you've used, because those are the most common ones that people jump back to. And Google, by popular request, has finally added a "Clear All" button to dismiss all active apps at once.

Split-screen and picture-in-picture modes are coming to Android! You'll be able to watch a video in a corner while doing something else on your phone or tablet, or give half the screen to one app each. This is likely to be a real boon for tablet use, making better use of the greater screen real estate.

Split-screen, daydream, and quick replies in notifications

Notifications are also getting an upgrade from Google, with the addition of the option to quick-reply to messages directly from the notification, without having to open any app or get away from what you're already doing. Unicode 9 emoji are also coming to Android N, with skin tone variations and some new, more human-looking emoji.

The biggest addition to Android, though, will be a VR Mode, as part of a wider VR initiative from Google called Daydream. Check out our full coverage of Google Daydream for more. Phones that adhere to a new "Daydream Ready" spec will come from all the major Android manufacturers this fall. Google has also secured content partnerships with HBO, Netflix, Hulu, CNN, the NBA, the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, and also IMAX. Yes, you'll be able to watch IMAX movies on your Daydream-compatible Android phone.

In total Android N has more than 250 new features and enhancements, and Google promises to make it available later this summer. A "beta quality" version of Android N is available to download today for Nexus devices and the Pixel C tablet.

Check out our Google I/O 2016 live blog for the latest updates and our Google hub page for all the news!