Last week, Google's Nexus devices received the Android M Developer Preview 2 update. Improvements include better stability, changes to how memory is managed and much more. Google also said that features and API are "near final" as the consumer release date approaches.
"Today we are releasing an update to the M Developer Preview that includes fixes and updates based on your feedback," Google announced last week.
One such feature updated based on user feedback is memory management which is now made easier to find Android Headlines noted.
"Now, rather than buried in the Apps, Advance menu, the memory command [is now] sitting in main settings, just under the battery option and above users."
The feature allows users to check how much RAM is available and how individual apps behave over a set time period. This makes it possible to check which apps are RAM heavy.
Android Authority's Andrew Grush also noticed how battery life has improved with Android M Developer Preview 2 installed.
"How much better depends on how heavily it is used, but I will tell you that with Android Lollipop I generally found myself going to bet with [three percent to nine percent] battery life on average. With M, it's been around [15 percent to 18 percent], and this weekend [it has] been slightly better than that (around [15 percent to 20 percent])."
Other minor changes Grush noticed are the omission of the "Dark" theme and the ability to delete screenshots from within the notification tray.
As per the Google announcement, permissions for external storage, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi location and contacts/identity have been modified. The Media API and Bluetooth Stylus APIs have been updated as well.
Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player already running Build #MPZ44Q should be updated to Android M Developer Preview 2 via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
The final Android M version is "still on schedule for this fall" which means features and APIs are "near final." But Google users can still share ideas and report critical issues.
