Android M Release Date, Expected Features and Other Details: Will Your Device Get New Software?

Hype around Google's upcoming operating system dubbed as Android M is gaining momentum with its announcement around the corner. Several reports on its release date, expected features and other details have appeared over the last few weeks.

Google is expected to unveil its latest version of operating system, Android M, at its upcoming annual conference Google I/O 2015 and could be released with Nexus 2015 in the fourth quarter of this year. The company's developer conference will start at 12:30PM on 28 May with keynote to be presented by Senior Vice President at Google, Sundar Pichai.

A report by The Verge claimed that Android M was spotted in the Google I/O 2015 website but was pulled down latter. 

We expect Android M to be what iOS 8 was to iOS 7: the big changes in Android's interface, like the adoption of Material Design, have already been implemented. We doubt Android M will look vastly different to Android Lollipop: expect evolutionary change and refinement rather than a gee-whiz new look.

The search giant is expected to name its new software after a sweet like in the past. Reports have it that the letter "M" in Android M might stand for Muffin or after some other sweets like Marshmallow, Milkshake, Macaroon, Milky Way, M&M's, Molasses or Mocha Java Cake. Some reports also referred to the firmware as Android 6.0 Muffin. However, nothing is confirmed as of now.

The firmware is expected to bring in several features like improved notifications, smart home, Android TV, built-in Android auto support, voice access, and improved security that allows inclusion of a killswitch into smartphones.

But will your device get Android M when it is released?

According to a report by Androidpit, most devices may not get the upcoming firmware, citing the KitKat that revealed Android can go back with compatibity. It claimed that less powerful devices may not get the firmware with Android 5.0 Lollipop already taking care of "64-bit processors and large amounts of RAM." It went on to claim that the onus will be on the manufacturers and network operators whether to release the OS to older devices that should work with it.