Android 6 Marshmallow in the test: The operating system offers these features
Android 6 Marshmallow is not the newest version of Android, but we have tested the features. With Marshmallow you load numerous practical functions on your smartphone.
Android 6 Marshmallow in the test: optimized app drawer and new rights management
Google has added a search bar to the app drawer in Marshmallow, which you can use to open a specific application.
- In addition, the app drawer shows the four most recently opened apps at the top. In Marsmallow, Google has omitted an edge column with initial letters, as was seen in an early preview. Instead, you can use the scroll bar on the right-hand side of the screen to call up navigation using the first letter.
- The rights management of apps has been in preparation since Android 4 and then moved into Marshmallow. Similar to iOS, you can now withdraw or grant certain rights to each individual application: To do this, tap on "Settings -> Apps" under Android 6 and then on the gear icon. With another tap on "App permissions" you can see which apps are allowed to access services and databases such as GPS, phone and contacts.
Fingerprint scanner for Android
Meanwhile, more and more high-end and also some middle-class smartphones are offering a fingerprint scanner.
- So far, there have not been many functions for this, because Android does not officially support a scanner.
- With Android 6 Marshmallow, however, this changes, so that very system-related features should be able to be implemented in the future.
Android 6: Project Doze for improved battery life
Android Marshmallow is supposed to continue what Lollipop started with the energy-saving mode: extending the battery life.
- In contrast to an actively controllable power saving feature, Project Doze should, however, independently recognize when the smartphone is actually being used by the user and when it is consuming unnecessary power.
- For example, cell phones with Android 6 should switch to low-power mode at night by the system automatically restricting certain services. According to Google, Project Doze primarily increases the standby time.
- We'll show you exactly what the Doze mode is in another practical tip.
Android 6 Marshmallow with USB Type C support
The first smartphone with USB Type C support available here was the OnePlus Two.
- However, USB Type-C support only worked with a few restrictions and without official Android support.
- With Marshmallow, however, USB Type C quickly became the standard: Smartphones with the new USB port can generally be charged faster with Android 6 and can even serve as a charger for other cell phones in an emergency.
Android 6: microSD card becomes internal storage for the smartphone
A very interesting function is the use of the external memory card as internal memory.
- Especially devices with a relatively small memory of 16 GB and less benefit from it, because so far some apps and app data could be moved to the microSD card, but not all.
- The result is that a small memory quickly reaches its limits when used intensively - and you first have to delete apps to be able to install new ones. With Android 6 Marshmallow, this storage shortage is a thing of the past.
Android 6: Automatic backups of app data and quickly accessible file manager
Backups are saved in cloud storage.
- Under Android Marshmallow, every app can create a data backup of up to 25 MB in the cloud, so that the user can ideally continue working when changing the smartphone without having to set up all apps again.
- The backup should be carried out automatically every 24 hours and should not count towards the Google Drive quota.
- Android 6 Marshmallow also allows quick access to the internal file manager. To open personal storage, simply navigate to "Storage & USB" and tap on "Explore". However, the manager only offers the most necessary options such as "Copy", "Delete" and "Share".
Now on tap: The new way to search with your smartphone
"Now on tap" is an Android 6 feature that Google Now links even more deeply with the Android system and should help the user depending on the situation.
- For example, if you talk to a friend via messenger and mention a restaurant, you can have the location, including directions and appointments, shown.
- Google should also automatically recognize what a question refers to: If you want to find out the real name of an artist, for example, the question "What is his name?" Suffices while you play a song by him.
- To call up such Now data, it is sufficient to hold down the Home button for about two seconds while you are in the corresponding app.
Find system brakes faster with Android 6
Android Marshmallow shows the RAM usage of individual apps more clearly than its predecessors.
- If you go to "Settings -> Storage", you will see the total consumption.
- If you tap on "Memory used by apps", you will be taken to the detailed view. Here you will quickly discover memory guzzlers that slow down the system and can react.
Android 6: delete function, text marking & volume and more
The many smaller innovations of Android 6 Marshmallow include a deletion function of screenshots in the notification bar.
$config[ads_text5] not found- The marking function of texts has also been revised.
- Android 6 Marshmallow also offers faster music, alarm, and notification volume settings.
You can find out how to activate hidden functions in Android M in the next practical tip.