Android Nougat, or 7.0 if you will, shall have a regular maintenance updates in the coming quarters. This means that the next version of Android will keep getting routine bug fixes, patches and other additions regularly. Google, in its post announcing the final version of Android 7.0, asked users to keep reporting bugs that they find on the new operating system. These will be addressed through the scheduled maintenance updates, regularly.
Essentially, it’s an effort at making Android more stable, although the fragmentation remains an issue. While Google may be able to maintain a schedule, it’ll be up to brands to push these updates to consumers. Given the deep customisation that many brands are going in for today, that makes pushing such regular updates difficult. A good example would be Motorola, which recently said that it can’t push monthly updates. While Google hasn’t said the maintenance updates will be monthly, there is still a schedule. How well companies can cope with this schedule, remains to be seen.
Google has taken a new route with the Android version this time. The company sprang a surprise on users, announcing an early version of Android Nougat for the public first, and has followed through ever since, with more previews. It seems Google’s goal is to get as much public input into Android as possible.