Google may soon put an end to Android Developer previews running "exclusively" on their Nexus phones. The recent release of an HTML coding hints at the possibility of such previews running on non-Nexus devices like LG, Samsung, and HTC.
For several years, Nexus users have enjoyed the privilege of testing the early builds of new Android OS versions, beginning with Lollipop in 2014 and later with Marshmallow in 2015.
However, the recent HTML code revealed hidden text that has given rise to a lot of speculations. The coding was discovered by FUNExtreme, a Reddit user, which takes the reader's attention straight to the texts "More supported devices, including devices from OEM partners" and "Seamless OTAs for your devices, from initial release to final N release without flashing." The obvious meaning has set the non-Nexus users' pulses racing as they have been long deprived of testing out the preview builds on their smartphones.
Google had rolled out the Android N Developer earlier than expected this year and, now with the latest revelation, the other OEM partners may have the opportunity to be on the same page as the "exclusive" Nexus group. But then again, only the Android One users might be the sole benefiters.
Nonetheless, it would be interesting to see how Google tackles this issue, if at all it extends the preview functionality to other smartphones. There is also the possibility of vanilla Android being fitted in with the N Developer Preview for the other devices. While speculating on endless possibilities, it is also not prudent to discount the hurdles. Smartphones like Galaxy S7 and G5 does not have the intrinsic ability to support something as mundane as "Always on Display." Making these devices compatible with the Android N Preview build is thus not an easy job at all.
Having said that, speculations are exactly that - speculations. Nothing is official until Google makes a statement about this exciting bit of coding. Till then everything about this story needs to be taken with a big pinch of salt.
Photo: Sham Hardy | Flickr
