Google's Android Lollipop is just around the corner and we already know all about it. But while Big G's mobile OS has come a long way recently, there are still improvements to be made. So here's our take on what Google Android M should offer.
1. Release date
It's hard to have a definitive release date in mind for Android M, but history says we can probably expect to see it either at Google I/O next summer or towards the end of September.
The last three versions of the OS have been announced in September (KitKat) June (Jelly Bean) and October (Ice Cream Sandwich) respectively. Not to mention the June 2014 reveal for Lollipop. Either way, we'll probably get a decent amount of lead time following the announcement as Google makes it available to developers first.
It's also unlikely that Google will want to leave it longer than a year before it updates Android. Even though uptake among the myriad of devices around the world is notably slower than arch-rival iOS.
2. A newer, better Google Wallet
Android phones have been incorporating NFC for ages now, but it took Apple'siPhone 6 and Apple Pay combo to really highlight a future of mobile payments. Google, by contrast, attempted to launch Google Wallet three years ago but Android fragmentation means it hasn't been able to gain a foothold.
Now certain Android handsets like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha and Huawei Ascend Mate 7 offer fingerprint scanners which could be used for secure payment.
Once the security is in place, Google could approach credit card companies in the hope of rebooting Google Wallet for Android M.
3. Google Health and Google Now integration
Our phones are currently occupied with trying to make us fitter, stronger and all around healthier human beings. Google Fit is Google's platform for this purpose and it will be bringing life-tracking goodness to Android L later this year.
As per Android's usual approach there will be a single set of APIs, letting manufacturers hook their devices up with the operating system via their own apps. But a greater use of these metrics in real time, through Google Now, would be a massive plus for Android.
A single swipe up into Google's digital assistant could deliver you a smorgasbord of fitness notifications based on your goals for that day. Additionally, it would be a simpler way of delivering prompts to achieve your various goals.
4. Messaging hub
BlackBerry came back to the fore recently with the BlackBerry Passport. The square phone had among its features the BlackBerry Hub, a centralised service collecting all your messages into one place.
Android's pull-down notifications panel accomplishes this to an extent but a unified messaging hub would be an attractive feature for multiple email and messaging accounts with different services. Built-in filtering would allow you to choose to only view certain accounts if needed and to quickly dispatch or delete emails, texts or whatsapp messages.
To be fair, Google has given the notifications panel an overhaul for Android 5.0 Lollipop. The result lets you check the panel without unlocking the device as well as respond in kind.
5. Synced notifications
While we're on the subject of notifications, the next generation of Google's OS could benefit from better syncing when it comes to app notifications for multiple devices. If you've already dismissed a tweet or reminder on your smartphone, it's irritating to have to do it again on your tablet.
Google sync already establishes this connection, but only in relation to Google apps like Gmail, Calendar and Chrome. We'd like this not just taken account of not just for phones, tablets and Chromebooks but also newer devices like wearables.
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