As expected Google has today announced Android 6.0 which it has codenamed ‘Android M’. Google repeated this trick last year when it unveiled Android (5.0) Lollipop, referring to it as ‘Android L’ right until launch. Far more important, however, is what Android M brings to the table – in short:.......what’s the difference???????

Native fingerprint support

We've seen some smartphone manufacturers already include fingerprint scanners in their devices, but with Android M, Google is looking to make the support standardized across the whole platform. To confirm rumors, native fingerprint support is coming to Android M using a standard API. That will mean that devices with a fingerprint scanner, like the Samsung Galaxy S6, can offer the same range of features.

The new feature will make it easy for Android phones with fingerprint readers to support mobile payments. You can authorize Android Pay transactions, and support can be integrated into other apps, so anyone will be able to use it.

With a partnership with Google on Lollipop, Samsung delivered important bits of code to the Android operating system with its SELinux security reinforcements. The new fingerprint scanner support to stock Android will now benefit the entire Android ecosystem. This would effectively restrict the access of Android phones to their owners, something which is so far only possible on some of the high-end flagships from a select few manufacturers.

Android Pay

Left off on Lollipop, one of the big introductions of Android M is Android Pay. It will be pre-installed on Android 4.4+ devices and will be supported on devices with NFC running Android KitKat and above without opening any app. Android Pay is secure because a virtual card number is created when you register a payment card, rather than an actual card number.

SECRET FEATUES......!!!

Secret # 1 – Full App State Backup

Quite frankly I’m stunned Google left this out of its presentation because it’s huge. With Android M Google will now automatically backup all app preferences and settings within Google Drive.

This brings Android into line with iOS and means restore or upgrading a phone will be virtually painless: apps will not only be reinstalled, but fully setup. Better still apps don’t need to do anything to be compatible with this change, Full App State Backup is built into the core of Android M.

Secret #2 – Redesigned, Searchable App Drawer

Android M brings with it a heavily redesigned app drawer. The new design is likely to be polarising (I think it looks cartoonish and wastes space) but it offers much greater functionality than before.

For starters users can search for apps at the top of the app drawer, handy for those with lots of apps installed. Secondly recently used apps get their own top row for quick access, and thirdly apps are more clearly alphabetised for better visibility.

Interestingly the app drawer also now scrolls vertically instead of horizontally. This hadn’t been seen since the second generation of Android, but since vertical scrolling is generally considered more comfortable and our collection of apps gets ever longer, so switching back makes sense.

Secret #3 – System UI Tuner

Praise be! Google is finally allowing users to customise quick access settings in the pull down Notification bar. The likes of aeroplane mode, auto-rotate, torch, hotspot, Cast screen, mobile signal and more can now be moved around or removed completely.

Secret #4 – Uninstall Apps From The Homescreen

This has been so long awaited that some third party Android skins already allow it: long pressing apps on Android M homescreens now gives the option to either remove the shortcut or uninstall the app completely.

Previously the only option was to remove the shortcut and users had to trawl through the app drawer to find the app before it could be uninstalled. The new change is simple, logical and very welcome.

Secret #5 – Dark Theme

Not a fan of Android Lollipop’s extensively white respray? Google forgot to mention Android M will bring a new dark option to menus and settings which realigns it more closely with the colour scheme of Android KitKat.

There is also an ‘automatic’ option which will use the white theme during the day and switch to dark during the evenings. Hopefully further colour options will also come between now and release.

Secret #6 – Native Support For External Storage

Many (rightly) bemoaned the way Android Kitkat reduced the functionality of expandable storage. Lollipop brought back some lost functionality, but Android M will go a step further and treat microSD cards just like native storage.

This will get a big cheer from many given microSD cards are getting so much faster there is less of a performance penalty for offloading apps and media to them. It will also be a poke in the eye for Samsung which has controversially removed expandable storage from the Galaxy S line.

Secret #7 – Google Voice Search Lockscreen Access

Representative of the changing way we use our phones, Android M will ditch quick access to your phone’s dialler from the lockscreen in favour of quick access to Google Voice Search.

While this move won’t please those who make many calls a day, it will prove handy to others and shows Google’s determination to put itself back at the heart of Android. Something also clearly seen in the potentially revolutionary introduction of Google Now On Tap.

Secret #8 – 5GHz Tethering

A small tweak, but when using your Android phone or tablet as a mobile hotspot you will now be able to broadcast the signal using 5GHz WiFi not just 2.4GHz.

It is debateable whether tethering ever reaches speeds where the superior performance of 5GHz WiFi would be felt, but given the rise of ever faster iterations of 4G this should future proof your tethering for a number of years.

Secret #9 – Native A2DP Bluetooth Streaming

Lastly we have something of a catch up feature. Most Bluetooth speakers and earpieces already employ A2DP’s dual channel stereo technology, but by building it natively into Android M developers have one less step to do and it should take away the excuse to make any subpar A2DP incompatible devices.

That said I would have preferred to see native support for AptX in Android M, this is a much higher quality Bluetooth streaming protocol already widely used by many device makers – including Samsung. It goes on my wishlist for Android 7.0 N.

Well, it's no surprsie that the best things in life are always 'free'. Add to that Linux and open source, and you know what we are talkin about! Of course, Windows and Mac occupy a distinct edge in market, but that doesn't mean Linux is far behind. And just because you're a Windows/Mac buff, it doesn't mean learning a thing or two about Linux operating system will be downright waste for you. What if we tell you Linux can do newer things that were not even imagined with Windows around?

Well, here are 10 such tricks only Linux can offer: 

1. Get malware free environment

-Rest assured your Linux-powered device will not be affected by viruses.

-Not every file found in the wild is executed in Linux.

-Does not allow auto-runs every time you plug a new disk.

2. Make upgrade without rebooting 

-Every time you install software in Windows, it will ask you to reboot. However, with Linux you're saved the trouble!

3. You can also maintain the timestamp 

-You can know when a file was last accessed with the help of 'touch' command.

-Prevents anyone from stealthily touching your files as it maintains a timestamp.

-Further, there is no limit in length for a filename.

4. You can search and install software easily 

-Synaptic Package manager gives you access to most significant software packages from one source. Simply select your preference using drop down box to get the software that suits you best.

5. You can keep your system on for hundreds of hours and still have good processing speed 

-Linux can clock several hours with multiple users using it and still runs at usual speed unlike Windows.

6. Move bootable drives between machines without re-installing them 

-Each time you add RAM, Windows will always ask you to re-install. This is not the case with Linux.

7. Get software issues solved through forums 

-If something goes wrong in Windows, you have to run to an expert to fix it. With Linux, you have discussion forums to help you achieve the same.

8. Get all your hardware supported 

-Test all our hardware using live CD before installing the OS.

9. Choose your customised OS from hundreds of distributors 

-Linux is just the engine and different operating systems are built around it. You can hand pick the one that suits your need.

10. Install Linux for “free” and keep your Windows

-You can install Linux in a separate drive and keep your Windows as well.

-Also you can run Windows applications on Linux platform using WINE.

Canonical's poster child Ubuntu needs no introduction. Owing to its tremendous functionality and use of use accompanied by some real cool interface, Ubuntu has been keeping us busy for quite sometime now. The recently released Ubuntu 14.04 LTS has received tremendous response from users from walks of life across the globe. So, if you're itching to give Ubuntu a spin, you can try either of the following ways to install and try it out on your computer without a fuss!

1.Create/Boot from live USB or CD drive

-This is perhaps one of the most sought after ways to try out Ubuntu on your machine, also the easiest if you must.

-Simply insert your USB stick/CD/DVD laden with Ubuntu into your system and restart the computer. The computer will then automatically boot from the used removable media and you can start using Ubuntu from the word go without making any changes whatsoever to your computer’s hard drive.

-Creating a Ubuntu USB drive or CD is fairly simple. Simply head over to Ubuntu's official website and download the latest disk image and thereon it's all a walk in the park if you do it right, well actually there;s not much really to do.

2.Using Wubi to install Ubuntu on Windows

-If you don't want risking the sanctity of your hard drive by partioning it to make room for Ubuntu on your Windows powered systems, there is of course an alternate way to get things done here. This is particularly useful if you're installing Ubuntu just for the sake of trying it out and hope you won't continue for long.

-Wubi (Windows-based Ubuntu Installer) is an official Windows-based free software installer for Ubuntu, which installs the software on an existing Windows partition, thus without need for partitioning. The project's aim is to enable existing Windows users, unacquainted with Linux, to try Ubuntu without risking any data loss (due to disk formatting or partitioning mistakes). It can also safely uninstall Ubuntu from within Windows. Note that Wubi doesn't support Windows 8 as of now.

3.Run Ubuntu in a virtual machine

Start by downloading and installing VirtualBox on your computer. It is installed on an existing host operating system as an application; this host application allows additional guest operating systems, each known as a Guest OS, to be loaded and run, each with its own virtual environment.

-A virtual machine lets you try out Ubuntu even without needing to restart your computer, however, take note that an OS running from a virtual machine might not be one hundred per cent performance giver. Ideally, it will be slower than the original (Ubuntu desktop’s 3D effects for instance will not perfectly on a virtual machine).

4.Dual-booting

-Dual-booting is particularly effective when you want to leave the original OS on a computer untouched while you still want to try Ubuntu on the same. In dual-boot configuration, every time you start your computer you'll be prompted to chose which OS you want to proceed with.

5.Goodbye Windows, hello Ubuntu

The Replace Windows with Ubuntu option will completely remove Windows from your computer and will give way to a full-fledged Ubuntu OS.

For many years Windows was the only operating system for many computer users. In fact, a majority of these users even didn't know that there was any other OS in the world. And for this reason, Linux, the free and open-source operating system was totally alienated. And slowly when people started to hear about the Linux based OS, many misconceptions started to cloud the free flow of the free and open source OS. So here we are trying to put some light on the real facts by killing the popular misconceptions!

1. Misconception: Linux is an Operating System (OS)

       Actually it is not. Linux is an OS kernel. The kernel is the core of all operating systems, and of course Windows has one too. The quality of the kernel is vital to the running of the OS. If your kernel is slow or buggy, your entire operating system will be slow and buggy. This means more crashes, freezes and hence data loss. 

The proper name for an operating system using the Linux kernel would be “GNU/Linux”, because the Linux kernel wouldn’t do much for you without the GNU project software. Although for the sake of readability of this list “Linux” has been used instead of “GNU/Linux” while referring to the operating systems that use the Linux kernel.

2. Misconception: Linux is a command line OS

Well, while command line does makes Linux strong, but it isn't necessary to use them. Different desktop environments like KDE and Gnome looks some what similar to Windows and are a good choice for those who want a break from Windows look and feel. Their are many other choices like Enlightenment, Metacity, IceWM, Blackbox, Window Maker, FVWM etc.

3. Misconception: Linux is for geeks only

Although this was true years ago, as Linux was an infant but it certainly isn’t like that any longer. If you take a careful look at the user interfaces of Linux and Windows, your find Linux much more intuitive than Windows.

4. Misconception: Linux is not compatible with Windows stuff

No to a big extent and yes to a very small extent. For majority of the users, Linux is very much compatible. One can read your emails, open your Office documents, view and edit your photo albums, and do everything that you do on your Windows PC- in fact often with better and faster tools than you’d be able to find on Windows. Flagships of open-source software like The Gimp, Inkscape, OpenOffice and many others, can import, read and often export proprietary file formats like Microsoft Office documents, Photoshop PSDs etc. And these tools can offer you even more than you’re used to. Like your OpenOffice docs can be exported from my document to PDF in just one click. No custom printers installed, no “free” web converters. It’s all natively supported.

Although, a few files can’t be directly opened here but it's not Linux who has to be blamed here. Put your blame to the author software of these files. Would you really want to depend on your software vendors to be able to access your data or would rather use an open-source and standardized format?

And if that does not sound good enough, Linux comes with a Windows translation layer called Wine. Using this layer you can run Windows application on Linux. Basically, it serves as a bridge between Linux and Windows applications. For you that means not giving up your familiar Windows programs.

5. Misconception: Nobody is using Linux

Well, this is one very very wrong concept. Infact a majority of the World Wide Web is standing on the shoulders of Linux and GNU software. Because Linux is modular and secure, it’s the most logical choice for a web server. Not only that, many corporate to tech companies and governments have switched their systems to Linux. It’s cheap, durable and safe. Unlike commercial operating systems, it is maintained by the community. 

6. Misconception: Linux doesn’t have technical support

It definitely does, and one can choose between paid and unpaid technical support. Unpaid technical support means that you have to depend on the large number of communities based online, where guidance is available twenty four hours a day. These are basically community of enthusiasts, who love to use and promote Linux and will be more than willing to help you with your problem. 

As far as paid technical support goes, there are companies such as Red Hat and Canonical which do just that. 

7. Misconception: There are no games for Linux

Well, yes once upon a time, games were a major drawback. This is especially true in terms of volume and we agree that there are a lot more games for Windows than for Linux but the scenario has definitely improved as compared to the past and almost every company today has decided to make a Linux version of their game. Linux now has its own version of all big games like Doom, Quake, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Civilization 3, Soldier of Fortune, Tribes 2 and many others.

Also games like Sauerbraten, Nexuiz, Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, UFO: Alien Invasion and Glest are all very much free and very much playable on Linux these days

8. Misconception: You have to ditch Windows to use Linux

And this is infact the biggest misconception. A lot of Linux distributions also offer a Live CD, which lets you to try Linux even without the installation. All you need to do is download, burn, reboot your PC and off you go. Additionally, there are Live USB flash drives versions. Also if you like it after the trial, these Live distributions give you the option of installing Linux alongside Windows. And this way you can use both operating systems on the same computer with no trouble at all. Linux folks have made sure of that, because they know nobody wants to jump into the unknown.

If you don’t want that, there are always alternatives, like the the Virtual Box, which allows you to install Linux on a virtual machine inside your Windows. Also, nobody’s stopping you from running Virtual Box on Linux and running Windows inside Linux.