Until you acquire a telephone from Google, it may take some time to see Nougat — for those who ever see it in any respect. However that does not matter as a lot as you may assume.
Android and updates appear to be a thriller to many people. For those who’re not conversant in the best way an enormous open-source software program distribution works, it might get just a little complicated making an attempt to type out who will get what model and when. Studying the belongings you see on-line typically make it worse, too — we’re all speaking about how Android 7.0 is right here, and when telephones shall be up to date, or if they are going to be in any respect. Then the compulsory comparisons to Apple’s iOS or Microsoft Windows (that are each a factor that’s constructed and distributed as an entire) begin and extra confusion simply occurs. It is no one’s fault: most of us take into consideration Android as a factor by itself, nevertheless it’s not. Since it is the time of yr for an entire new model, we get to start out the method yet again.
Free as in beer
No one “owns” Android, and that is why every thing is so totally different. Android is, for all intents and functions, a Linux distribution like Ubuntu. Google maintains the supply code however they do not flip it into a bit of software program and hand it out. They get patches and additions from a bunch of certified people and ensure every little thing works as meant, then let anybody and everybody take it to do no matter they like with it. It is essential to know what Android is, and the way it will get distributed, once we take into consideration the software program on our telephones.
You could have two decisions on the subject of working system model updates — purchase telephones direct from Google, or ready.
Two sorts of updates
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Updates are essential, however so is knowing how they work for Android. The necessary updates aren’t those you hear about on a stage someplace, it doesn’t matter what another person needs you to consider. Those that get put out each month by the Android group at Google or the Knox workforce at Samsung or whoever is in charge of releasing upkeep and safety patches for the Android distribution they custom-built on your telephone. These are the patches that be certain that your telephone does precisely what it was promised to do once you purchased it and does it securely.
The small month-to-month updates are the necessary ones.
Google does a reasonably good job and maintaining Android variations updated. They could do a whole lot of different issues poorly, however they’re nonetheless pumping out software program fixes way back to Ice Cream Sandwich. Additionally they make it straightforward to see what was patched, and the way, in case you need to construct it your self in your custom-made model. That is the place the parents who make your telephone come into the image.
Google takes these patches and places them into the model of Android they make for their very own telephones. Keep in mind, even telephones just like the Nexus 6P want their very own model of Android constructed. Samsung and HTC and Huawei and everybody else is free to do the identical and construct a small patch for the telephone in your palms. Carriers can and can attempt to destroy the method, however with them out of the image it truly is this easy. When you get it, you put in it and there’s completely nothing fallacious together with your Lollipop telephone, and even together with your KitKat telephone. It really works as marketed, and also you’re usually protected from the nasty belongings you hear about malware until you do one thing foolish like belief individuals you should not when putting in software program from outdoors of Google Play.
New options
The opposite type of replace will get all of the press and all the eye. They often convey new features or change how things work, and other people like me take the time to put in writing about them. They’re nice updates (as soon as they work the best way they need to) they usually’re value speaking about. However these low-key month-to-month updates are much more necessary. You do not purchase a fridge or a golf cart due to the good issues that may come subsequent yr, so that you should not purchase a telephone for the good issues that come subsequent yr. The issues it does this yr have to nonetheless work.
Due to the best way Android is distributed, Google is aware of that 100 totally different telephones could also be operating 100 totally different working techniques, however all of them can be absolutely Android suitable — operating Android on the core if you wish to consider it that means. Meaning they will all run the identical apps and entry the identical providers, and in the event that they use Google Play they’re much more suitable with Android apps and providers. Whereas Google builds a custom model for their very own telephones, additionally they concentrate on making apps run higher and do extra of the issues we often consider as system options. Android is and all the time has been about apps and on-line providers. It all the time can be.
You have got two decisions relating to Android model updates — telephones direct from Google or ready.
Enter Google Play Providers. It is a horrible answer for holding extra variations of Android suitable with one another relating to operating apps, however it’s additionally the most effective answer. Google cannot pressure any firm to replace a telephone they constructed — Android is free to make use of, and so long as the telephone met the requirements required to run Google Play when it was constructed, it could run Google Play. Considering Google can (and even needs to) yank permission to make use of their apps and retailer away from a producer is foolish. Cease considering it. As an alternative, Google Play Providers handles a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff an app must run. Issues like location providers or safety. Google can do no matter it takes to make Play Providers suitable with most variations and replace it independently from the working system, and that is precisely what they do. If you see Play Providers consuming up your battery, that is as a result of so many apps are utilizing it.
Te reiterate — in case your telephone runs Lollipop and has the newest model of Play Providers (and you’d know if it does not since you modified it your self) do you actually want Nougat? Your telephone nonetheless does all of the issues it was alleged to do and may run virtually each app obtainable. Most app-based safety is dealt with by Play Providers as properly. Mixed with the newest Safety Patch for the core system itself, your telephone is ok and you ought to be joyful utilizing it.
Is Android N necessary?
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Yep. Android 7.zero Nougat is a serious replace, even when the user-facing options do not mirror it. Modifications to the methods apps can run within the background, modifications to the best way updates are dealt with and modifications to the general safety mannequin are a serious shift from what we now have with Lollipop. Ultimately, these modifications shall be required to run apps and use Google’s providers. Consider it as Android’s Home windows 7 second — issues look acquainted, however every thing you cannot see has been improved.
I would like Nougat. That is why I’ve a Nexus 6P. However I additionally know that another telephone on my desk that’s present for its model of Android continues to be a nice telephone and does what I want it to do. I am nice ready on Nougat for telephones like my HTC 10 or my Galaxy S7 edge, so long as the month-to-month patches — the necessary updates — maintain coming.