Android Lollipop will debut on the new Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet.
Following months of speculation, Google today announced that the next version of its mobile operating system will be known as Android 5.0 Lollipop, and the first devices to sport it will include the new Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet.
The next-gen OS, first teased at Google I/O as "Android L," will also roll out to existing Nexus 5, 7, 10, and Google Play-edition devices over the next few weeks.
The 6-inch Nexus 6, made by Motorola, sports a Quad HD display, a 13-megapixel camera (with Optical Image Stabilization and HDR+), and dual front-facing stereo speakers. It also comes with a 3,220mAh battery, plus a Turbo Charger for up to six hours of use with only 15 minutes of charge.
Nexus 6 will be available to pre-order through the Google Play Store later this month. It comes in Midnight Blue or Cloud White, with the option for 32GB or 64GB of storage, starting at $649.
The massive handset will also go on sale via Motorola.com and carrier partners starting in November. It will eventually make its way to 28 countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America early next year.
Motorola also plans to bring the upgraded Android OS to its first- and second-generation Moto X and Moto G handsets, as well as the Moto G with 4G LTE, Moto E, and Droid lineup—the Ultra, Maxx, and Mini.
Those looking to replace an old Nexus tablet, meanwhile, can pick up an HTC-developed Nexus 9, with brushed-metal sides and an 8.9-inch screen. Whether you're using the slate for work or play, Google has designed a separate keyboard folio to magnetically attach to the Nexus 9; it folds into two angles and rests securely on your lap like a laptop.
Google also unveiled the first device running Android TV—the Nexus Player. In collaboration with Asus, the streaming media player offers access to movies, music, and videos, and serves as a first-of-its-kind Android gaming device.
"With Nexus Player you can play Android games on your HDTV with a gamepad, then keep playing on your phone while you're on the road," Pichai boasted. The round device can also cast entertainment from any Chromebook or Android or iOS phone or tablet to your TV.
Fans can pre-order the Nexus 9 tablet and Nexus Player starting Friday, before they hit stores on Nov. 3. Pricing was not revealed.
Lollipop, meanwhile, sports Material Design, which promises the same user interface across devices.
"Lollipop is made for a world where moving throughout the day means interacting with a bunch of different screens—from phones and tablets to TVs," Android Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai said in a blog post. "With more devices connecting together, your expectation is that things just work."
Google's new cross-device system makes it easier to pick up where you left off, whether listening to music, scrolling through photos, or utilizing your favorite apps. You can even continue a search query from one gadget to another.
The latest Android update comes with multiple user accounts and guest user mode, as well as default encryption. You can also secure your device with a PIN, password, pattern, or via Smart Lock, which pairs it with another gadget—say your compatible car or smartwatch.
Additional controls include the ability to mute contacts and notifications at particular times—an important meeting, a romantic dinner—so only certain messages or calls appear.
Perhaps the most consumer-friendly feature, though, is Lollipop's new battery-saver feature, which promises to extend the life of your device by up to 90 minutes.
Google teased its new operating system on Tuesday, releasing a video featuring auditions for various L-titled desserts, including lemon meringue pie, lava cake, lady fingers, and lemon drops. And while one-time contender licorice made two blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearances, no one dressed as a lollipop showed up for the casting call.
"With the latest release of Android Lollipop, we're excited to continue working with our developer community, hardware partners, and all of you," Pichai said in a blog entry. "More ideas and more creators is what gets us all to better ideas faster."
Google this week also released three animated ads, featuring Androidified characters jamming out to the new slogan: "be together. not the same." The leaked videos showcase the new Nexus 6 phablet and the Google Wear smartwatch OS.
For more, see PCMag's Hands On With Android L, as well as The 10 Coolest Features in Android L in the slideshow above.
Editor's Note: This story was updated at 3:35 p.m. ET. The Nexus Player will run Android TV, not Android Lollipop.
