Android L To Boast New Interface And Samsung Knox Integration

Google has revealed details about version 5.0 of Android at its I/O developer conference in San Francisco, including a brand new user interface and a number of new enterprise features as the search giant seeks to make its mobile operating system suitable for more devices and more attractive to businesses.

A developer build of Android L, which has yet to be granted a tasty dessert-themed suffix, is now available for app creators so they can test the new features, including the new ‘material design’ interface.

Material design boasts a much flatter aesthetic than previous versions of Android, with Google explaining this is to create a much more consistent experience across multiple devices. This is not limited to just smartphones and tablets, but also smart TVs, wearable technology and in-car systems, tying in with the launch of Android TV, Android Wear and Android Auto.

Developer Preview

Other usability improvements include enhanced notifications and recent document lists, while a new set of tools and APIs known as Project Volta will help developers make more battery efficient applications.

Battery historian visualises battery events over time to better understand energy use and a job scheduler API can set the conditions under which background tasks should perform, such as when the device is idle or connected to a charger.

Android L should also make applications run faster with 64-bit support and Android RunTIme (ART) enabled as a system default. Google claims this will improve performance with no action required by developers.

There’s additional support for wearable devices in the form of support for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) peripheral mode, which broadcasts a device’s presence to nearbly machines such as a pedometer or health monitor, and game developers will also benefit from support for Open GLES 3.1 and a new set of extensions that promise desktop-quality graphics.

Enterprise push

Another major feature is the integration of the Samsung Knox enterprise mobility management platform (EMM), bringing additional security and management features to the entire Android platform.

This should not only improve Android’s business suitability compared to arch-rival iOS, but also increase the likelihood of Knox becoming a major competitor to the likes of BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES) which can manage Android devices alongside BlackBerry 10 handsets and iPhones.

“Samsung has been pioneering the ability to bring Android to the enterprise. We are grateful for their contribution to the Android open source project,” says Hiroshi Lockheimer, vice president of engineering, Android. “Jointly we are bringing enterprise-grade security and management capabilities to all manufacturers participating in the Android ecosystem.”

The Android L developer preview is available immediately but there is no news as to when it will be released to the wider public. Android is the most popular operating system in the world, with the latest version, 4.4 KitKat, currently running on 13.6 percent of all Android devices.

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