Google is said to be testing the upcoming Android M operating system for Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012) and the Nexus 10.
All these Nexus devices were launched and released in 2012 and are upgradeable to Android 5.1 Lollipop. Many device owners may be hoping to get the Android M software update. However, Google has not yet confirmed plans to release any major software update, such as the Android M, for these Nexus devices.
An earlier Android Police report suggested that Google is actually planning to stop rolling out any major software update to Nexus devices that are two years old, such as the aforementioned Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012) and the Nexus 10. These Nexus devices will still get security patches for three years from the release date of the operating system.
However, a new report from Little Green Dude suggests that Google is testing Android M for old Nexus devices as well.
"While looking around the AOSP repositories for the Nexus 10 (manta) I noticed that it had been tagged with 'android-m-preview' and actually had a valid commit (code update) from Google under this tag as recently as the 28th of May," reported the Little Green Dude. "I was also able to find other commits under the android-m-preview tag for the mako (Nexus 4) and even the grouper (Nexus 7 2012 WiFi version)."
Nexus devices are usually the first to get the latest Android update. Google has not yet confirmed an exact launch date for Android M, but some rumors suggest that the operating system could be available in Q3 this year. If such speculations are authentic, then the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012) and Nexus 10 devices may also get the latest operating system soon after the software release.
The Android M operating system is expected to include a number of new features, such as a new app drawer that will scroll vertically than horizontally. The apps on Android M will be shown in a white background than on a shade of the user's homepage wallpaper.
A new power and charging function called Doze in Android M will improve a device's standby time.
Most Android smartphone and tablet owners will want to experience Android M on their devices at the soonest, but Google has not confirmed the possibility of releasing Android M for Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012) and Nexus 10.
Photo: Karlis Dambrans | Flickr
