Top 6 Features of Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Android Marshmallow began rolling out yesterday to select Nexus devices, and while most devices won't be getting it right away, if you're an avid Android user it's bound to end up in your hands someday. Consider Android 6.0 a polished Lollipop. It doesn't have any drastic changes to the interface, but it polishes it and adds much needed features.

6. Smarter expandable storage.
SD cards to expand the storage on your device are perfect if you have the chance to use them. Unfortunately, Android handled external and internal storage differently. There was confusion of moving apps to and from external and internal storage, making it extremely difficult to use correctly. Marshmallow introduces Flex Storage, which basically allows your expandable storage to do what it should. Expand on internal storage. It acts just as if you would tack on a few extra gigabytes to your device's storage.

5. App backup and restore.
Lollipop had some great improvements to allow you to pick up a new device and re-download your apps automatically from the last one. Marshmallow takes things a step farther. Android 6.0 automatically backs up your apps as well as their data, and allows you to restore them across devices or ROMs. This means that your high score on your favorite game will be saved, as well as your login details for Twitter.

4. Fingerprint and USB-C support.
Following in the steps of Apple and Samsung, Google has finally embraced the use of fingerprint sensors officially in Android. With this, this opens up fingerprint technology to many manufacturers who don't have the resources to develop their own fingerprint software. Along with this, Google added USB-C support, meaning USB-C cables can now be used officially in Android. USB-C cables are reversible, with much faster connection and charging rates.

3. Permissions overhaul.
Android permissions have had problems since their conception. Why should this calculator app need access to my contacts and camera? Google hopes to address this issue in Android 6.0. Marshmallow lets you edit permissions individually for apps without breaking the whole thing. And until an app explicitly asks to use some permissions—like the camera—through a pop-up, the app will not have access to it. Say goodbye to the days of confusing app permissions!

2. Battery improvements.
Doze and App Standby aim to greatly increase battery life. Doze mode senses when you aren't using your device through a combination of sensors and automatically puts your apps into a deep sleep. You don't miss out on notifications, but this drastically increases standby battery life. App Standby is a per-app setting comparable to the Greenify app. This causes apps that you haven't used in days to automatically be hibernated unless something important wakes them up, or you launch them. If you haven't used Facebook in a week, it probably shouldn't be eating up your battery in the background.

1. Now on Tap.
Just when we thought Google's takeover of Android was slowing down, here we see it escalating. Google Now on Tap allows Google's famous search assistant to read over whatever is on your screen and give you relevant information. So if you get a text asking you if you want to meet at Olive Garden, you can hold your home button and Google will give you reviews, opening times, locations, and more about the nearest Olive Garden to you. Other improvements to Google Now allow other apps to tap into Google voice search and ask follow-up questions. For example, I could say "Ok Google, listen to Spotify." and Google would respond with, "Alright. What would you like to listen to?" assuming Spotify has support for this.

Google has really decided to up its game with useful and original upgrades to Lollipop without drastically changing the experience. I consider Android 6.0 one of the best upgrades Android has had in awhile.

Image source: Android