It has only been a few weeks since the Android 5.0 Lollipop was rolled out to a number of devices but users are already looking forward to the release of the next Android M or Android 6.0.
Android Pit wrote that Android M will most likely have a lot of similarities to Android Lollipop. Android Hackz provided a concept video of Android M or Muffin. First, the new version is rumored to include improvements in notifications. Google might unify notifications from all platforms. As a result, when people receive a notification on one device, the same will appear on all their devices. Second, the Smart Home will be an integral feature of Android, offering full control over various linked devices located in the home and office through Nest and other third-party developers.
Android M is also rumored to boost the security in smartphone use, according to Android Pit. In Android 5.1, users saw the new "Find My Phone" feature and "Kill Switch" setting. More security features are expected to be unveiled in the new Android. Google might introduce enhancements on how smartphones and smartwatches interact to compete with the Apple smartwatch. There might be improvements in voice input and notifications as well.
Reuters added that Android M might be made and operated directly in cars, regardless of whether a smartphone is paired with it or not.
Thilo Koslowski, automotive practice leader and vice president of Gartner, an industry research company, said about the integration, "It provides a much stronger foothold for Google to really be part of the vehicle rather than being an add-on."
PC Advisor stated that users already started talking about what Android M will be called. Some of the possible names include Android Milkshake, Android Maltesers, Android Mars and Android Marshmallow. As for the official release date, Android M might be available by the end of October or early November 2015. Similar to Lollipop, Google might make the announcement in June 2015. Android Lollipop was unveiled at Google I/O in June 2014 and released on the Nexus 9 in November of the same year. Android KitKat was announced in September 2013 and was released on the Nexus 5 in October of the same year. There is still no confirmation which device might first feature Android 6.0.
Android M might not work on all devices. Android Pit wrote that Android devices continue to be supported by updates for about 18 months, so the same trend is expected continue in the new version.