Android M is soon to be released and Nexus owners are excited to get the update on their devices. The latest report however says that not all Nexus devices are getting the update — the Nexus 7 (in all its forms) will be missing out.
The report came as a tip to GeekSnack from a source claiming to be close to the development team of Android M. The team has been working on a number of builds that are needed in the new OS, which will be applied to the whole iteration of Nexus devices.
"Goodbye Nexus 7, no Android M for you," the tipster said to the GeekSnack group.
Earlier this month, Google was reported to be mulling over discontinuing any major software updates for Nexus devices that are more than two years old. If this is true, it would affect both the original Nexus 7, which was released in 2012, and the follow-up Nexus 7 device, which was released in July 2013.
The 2012 version of the Nexus tablet kicked off with an Android 4.1 OS version, while the 2013 Nexus launched with the Android 4.3 version. It wasn't long before the original Nexus 7 was able to keep up with its younger sibling in terms of OS features, as the device was subsequently updated to versions 4.2 and 4.3.
Currently, both tablets have the Android Lollipop version of OS with the newer Nexus 7 2013 getting a software update to Android Lollipop 5.1.1 with build number LMY48G in June. Perhaps this will be the last Android version that both tablets will have if Google is indeed removing the Nexus 7 from its lineup of devices that are eligible for the much awaited Android M.
One of the interesting features brought by the upcoming Android M OS is that users will be able to scroll on their display vertically instead of horizontally. Likewise, it will also feature apps to display on a white background, as opposed to being displayed in a shade from the user's homepage wallpaper.
Some of the other features to watch for in Android M include a new charging function called Doze, support for Android Pay, fingerprint scanner compatibility, and the new Voice Interaction API.
Android M is expected to start rolling out in the latter part of September, and Android fans – who don't own a Nexus 7 – are eager to receive it.
Photo: Houang Stephane I Flickr
