Android M Developer Preview 2 Update Arrives For Nexus Devices

The Android M Developer Preview 2 has been released exclusively for Nexus devices -- such as Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player. Google is calling it an incremental update for devices running on Android M Developer Preview 1.

According to Arts Technica, one of the most noticeable changes in Preview 2 is the fix to the app drawer. In Preview 1, an entire column of icons was axed to fit large index letters. The issue has been fixed in Preview 2. It also features a search bar placed on the top side of the screen.

In the app drawer, the apps present on the top line are not listed alphabetically but the list changes constantly. The top row belongs to predictive apps. As of this writing, it is not known how well it can predict the apps according to a user’s preferences.

After installing Preview 2, rotating the display horizontally will result in rotation of the homescreen. This feature was unavailable in Preview 1.

The System UI Tuner has been updated to allow users to add or remove tiles in the Quick Settings. In the Status bar as well, users can choose to show or hide particular icons. The embedded battery percentage option will let users view the battery icon even when the device is not kept for charging, Droid-Life reported.

The Memory Manager feature that could be accessed in Preview 1 by going to Settings > Apps > Advanced > Memory, is now easily accessible in the general Settings menu. This feature allows users to find out how much memory an app is consuming at different times and not just at the current time.

The Preview 2 OTA (over-the-air) update is already available for the aforementioned Nexus devices. Alternatively, users can install Preview 2 manually by following the manual installation instructions published on Redmond Pie. To download Preview 2 manually, users can access the following links.

Nexus 5

Nexus 6

Nexus 9

Nexus Player