Alphabet (né Google) is hosting its annual developer conference at the company's Mountain View, California headquarters this week, and just like every Google I/O, 2016 is guaranteed to give us more details on the company's next mobile operating system, this year dubbed Android N.

Android, Earlier

Of course, this year is a little different. Attempting to get a jump on Apple's development cycle (or simply more input from beta testers), Android N's first couple of developer previews have already been released in the past month.

But given that Google I/O 2016's schedule includes a "What's new in Android" session, we're likely to see more details about changes decided upon in the past few weeks, along with what the finished product might look like.

Android N Features

What we already know about Android N is that it's designed to multitask better than any other Android platform so far.

Android N developer previews have featured built-in multi-window split screen mode (borrowed, perhaps from Samsung), along with picture-in-picture options for video apps, so your YouTube video won't stop playing if you decide to take a peak at your email.

Also, in-notification replies, the ability to respond to a message through the notification pane and without leaving your current screen, is baked into Android N at this early stage.

Google is also doubling down on the battery saving feature that came with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, called "Doze mode." In Android M, Doze mode worked when your phone was left idle for a few minutes. In Android N, Doze will expand to also take effect when your screen is off.

Disappearing Chrome?

Rumors have swirled for some time now that Chrome OS will be merging with Android, starting with the 2016 incarnation of Android N. Google has also tamped down on such rumors, as Latin Post previously reported.

But as CNET recently pointed out, while there are Android N sessions at Google I/O 2016, not a single Chrome OS-specific developer session has been scheduled so far.

A sign of things to come? We'll have to wait just a little longer until I/O 2016 kicks off on May 18 before guessing.

Related