Everything about the Google Nexus 2016 seems nearing completion and the latest of which is the final cut of the devices' mobile operating system - Android 7.0 Nougat. The Nexus launcher of the new OS has been leaked out, which somehow signaled that the next Nexus release date is imminent.
Courtesy of Android Police, Nexus fans got an advanced picture of the user interface that Google will deploy with the next-generation Stock Android flagship phones. Offering screenshots, the report provided interesting glimpses of the new Nexus launcher that will be incorporated with the next Android version and there were notable changes.
The interface as expected is clean and the report pointed to new ways of accessing the app drawer, the icon for which appears to have been jettisoned for the new Android build. One is by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to admire the new app drawer that "has a large restyled search bar up top, but otherwise isn't especially different from the current Now launcher."
Or users can simply tap the small arrow icon that sits on top of the launch tray and the drawer will pull up. To dismiss it, just swipe down or hit the back button.
Notably, the Nexus Launcher home screen is missing the Google Search that has been a mainstay on most if not all Android devices. It's unclear if the cut will be permanent but in such a case the move is likely for users to rely more on the Google Now on Tap feature of the vanilla Android smartphone.
The smart feature is widely rumored to gain more capabilities or get smarter following the jump from Android Marshmallow to Nougat.
Android Police said that Nougat is yet to see the final cut so the previewed features are still subject to change. But more importantly, the development suggests of the nearing roll out for the new Android version, which Google said will happen between August and September 2016.
And to best showcase the new Android, Google is likely to issue the OS and unbox the Nexus 2016 at the same time. The latest on the new Nexus phones indicate that they will unpack boasting of metal casing for the model codenamed Nexus M1 or Marlin and soft plastic housing with mix of metal for the more affordable edition codenamed Nexus S1 or Sailfish.
WCCF Tech reported that HTC, Google's partner for the Nexus 2016 project, will use Snapdragon 820 as the main engine for both handsets although rumors claimed that it will be SD 821 for the next Nexus. Either way, the RAM support amounts to at least 4GB across the board.
On release date, which gadget tipster Evan Blass aka @evleaks said will happen within August, Google will sell the Nexus 2016 via the Play Store starting at $350.