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First Android N update: Google promises new OTA release will fix performance issues

Google is already ironing out bugs in the first version of its Android N preview with an over-the-air update.
Written by Liam Tung, Contributing Writer
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The new builds of Preview 1 are only available for the Nexus 5X and 6P, and the Nexus 9 and Nexus 9 4G.

Image: Google

Well ahead of the first scheduled update for the Android N preview, Google has issued an over-the-air release to improve performance.

The update began rolling out to Android N beta testers late on Thursday, "addressing some performance issues".

The new builds of Preview 1 are only available for the Nexus 5X and 6P, and the Nexus 9 and Nexus 9 4G, leaving aside Android One, the Pixel C, Nexus Player, Nexus 6 and Nexus 9.

The update, which is rolling out to devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program, is roughly 30MB in size.

Google released the first Android N preview on March 9 and is planning to release newer versions every four to six weeks.

It has scheduled five preview releases before the final release, which is due in the third quarter. By about June, developers will be able to publish apps to beta-enrolled devices running Android N.

Although this update isn't available for the Pixel C, when Android N does arrive it will give the two-in-one a much-needed productivity boost, thanks to the OS's new split-screen feature enabling multi-tasking.

Early reviews were generally positive about the Pixel C's hardware but Android lets it down, perhaps, as Ars Technica recently reported, because the original plan was for it to run Chrome OS.

What Android N will be called when it is ready for release is still up in the air. As Android Police reported this week, Google is calling it New York Cheesecake internally and is apparently surveying Android users via the Google Opinion Rewards app to help pick a name for the finished product.

Previously, Android K was codenamed Key Lime Pie and at public release was called KitKat, while Android L kicked around as Lemon Meringue Pie before becoming Lollipop.

Suggestions in the survey included Napoleon, Nut brittle, Nachos, Nori, Noodles, Nougat, and Neapolitan ice cream.

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