Google launches final Android 7.0 beta before Nougat goes public
It may only be a few weeks since Google revealed that Android 7.0 will be called Nougat, but there have already been several developer previews of the Marshmallow successor. Today Google launches the fifth and final preview before the official launch.
As this is the final preview, build NPD90G of Nougat can be considered near-final code; this is, near as damn it, what you'll be installing on your Android handset in the not-too-distant future when Android 7.0 is officially launched. At the moment, the preview build can only be installed on Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, and Pixel C devices, as well as General Mobile 4G (Android One) devices, but more will be added further down the line.
If you're already taking part in the Android Beta program, you'll just have to sit back and wait for the latest preview to arrive on your device. If you're yet to delve into the world of Android previews, you can sign up at https://android.com/beta and the build will be pushed out to your compatible handset.
So is there much to look forward to in the final Developer Preview? Google offers the following tantalizing highlights:
- System images for Nexus and other preview devices
- An emulator that you can use for doing the final testing of your apps to make sure they’re ready
- The final N APIs (API level 24) and latest system behaviors and UI
- The latest bug fixes and optimizations across the system and in preinstalled apps