Google’s new Android: your mum, assistant, information desk and wallet all at the same time

Need a reminder to stock up on your favourite snacks? Or turn on the washing machine in time to get your football gear all clean? Or is your phone battery always running low just when you had to chat with your best friend? 

Google's new Android might be your future information desk (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)

Now you can do all this and more with Google’s latest version of Android.

Codenamed “Android M”, Google’s new operating system for mobile devices will make it smoother for us to use, as it would have squished a ton of bugs and improved basic features. 

The new Android will be more user-friendly (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)

For example, the new Family Store will be a special place for children and parents in the Google Play Store, where you can filter the apps by age.  “Doze” is a new feature that will help you save power – it can turn off apps and processes automatically that will otherwise drain your phone battery.

Android M also comes with a whole host of tools.

There is Android Pay, a mobile wallet which you can use just by unlocking your phone and tapping on a reader – no need to open an app.

Google Pay may replace the need for credit cards (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)

Photo buffs can rejoice with Google Photos. It will let you store all your photos and videos in one place, for free!

With Google Now on Tap, you can get all the information you need while chatting with your friend, emailing your mom or watching a video. Just tap and hold the home button without having to leave what you are doing. 

And then there is Brillo. Technically not a feature, Brillo is an operating system that can link “smart things” already installed with a small processor; these could be refrigerators, smoke alarms, washing machines and dishwasher.  Instead of receiving or giving instructions separately, you can see with just your phone that you need to buy more chocolate milk, put the brownies in the oven and turn on the dishwasher before your parents come home. 

Google's Brillo can link your smart fridge to your smart phone (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)

Now, if only Android M can do your homework for you too!

Featured image of Google's Android icon (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)