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Android ‘L’ developer preview now available for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7

Screen Shot 2014-06-25 at 11.44.30 AM

Just as the Google announced it would be during its I/O keynote yesterday, the developer preview of the “L” version of Android is now live. Google claims that this update is the “biggest release in Android history” with over 5,000 new APIs, in addition to a new design, look, and feel. Developers can download the everything they need for Android “L” from the developer website.

Android “L” is set to include a variety of enhancements to the operating system. Google has refreshed the design of the entire operating system with what it calls “Material Design.” This design theme focuses on elevation values of UI elements within apps. This automatically creates shadow and perspective for the user. Android “L” is also build on a new runtime, ART, which promises improved performance and battery life. Google’s Project Volta is its other effort to improve battery life with this release, which it says makes the operating system significantly more energy efficient.

The Android “L” developer preview is available for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 now. Google says that the features it announced yesterday only begin to scratch the surface of what’s changing with this release.

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Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Email: Chance@9to5mac.com

Chance currently writes for both 9to5Google and 9to5Mac, in addition to 9to5Toys.