Perhaps you’ve been informed that with the release of Android 14, it will no longer be possible to install older apps designed for Lollipop. In the near future, Android 15 will follow suit and restrict apps intended for Marshmallow. Let’s bid farewell to one of the finest Android versions in history, along with some beloved apps and games that will become obsolete.
Back in May 28, 2015, at Google I/O, Android 6.0 Marshmallow was unveiled nearly a decade ago. Following a beta release on the same day, the stable version made its debut in September on Nexus devices. By November of that year, Marshmallow had already secured a spot on the OS version distribution charts – at that time Android 4.4 KitKat still reigned supreme, while Lollipop was just climbing above the 20% share threshold.
The introduction of version 6.0 brought about features that are now considered standard. For instance, it introduced native USB-C support, which has since become the industry norm (after some resistance was overcome).
Another significant addition was the support for fingerprint readers. This feature replaced the basic pattern locks with a more secure system, not only for unlocking your phone but also for securing your funds within Android Pay (which later evolved into Google Pay and Wallet).
Android 6.0 brought native support for fingerprint readers
The theme of security continued with the implementation of a new permission model. Previously, app permissions were all-encompassing – apps required access to certain functions of your device, and your only choice was to install the app or not. With Marshmallow, you were prompted the first time an app attempted a certain action – access to your files, location, microphone, etc. You had the freedom to deny access by simply tapping “no,” and the app had to work around it.
Marshmallow introduced a permission system for apps
Android 6.0 also brought about new features to optimize battery life. Doze introduced a sleep state that adjusted app activity based on whether you were actively using the phone or not. When in hand, apps needed to remain responsive, but when idle on a surface, app activity was reduced, allowing only crucial events to occur.
Doze restricted background activity and network access for apps. While this affected apps like messengers, they could request permission to remain active even during phone inactivity.
There was also a deeper sleep state known as App Standby, which placed rarely used apps on standby to further limit their activity. Interacting with the app would bring it back to an active state, seamlessly transitioning without the user noticing the standby mode.
Flex Storage was a significant change that was later reversed. It allowed users to format a microSD card as part of the internal storage, restricting hot-swapping but simplifying external storage use. Data could be moved to the microSD, freeing up internal storage space. While only parts of an app were typically moved, it usually involved the largest components – for example, game code remained on internal storage, while game assets (graphics, audio, etc.) were stored on the external card.
Presently, features like the A2 rating for cards ensure a minimum transfer and IOPS speed to enable app storage. However, the prevalence of microSD slots in phones decreased with succeeding Android versions that essentially phased out Flex Storage.
Android 6.0 also introduced “contextual assistants.” Remember Google Now on Tap? These assistants provide context-sensitive information and actions based on content like photos, songs, emails, and more, offering quick access to relevant information and actions such as search, navigation, sharing, social media, and others.
Google Now on Tap surfaced context-sensitive info and actions
While Nexus devices were the first to receive Android 6.0 Marshmallow, other manufacturers swiftly began announcing updates for select models in their lineup. As per OS version distribution data, Marshmallow surpassed the 1% mark early in 2016 and eventually became the dominant version by June 2017. Its market share never exceeded 30%, as Nougat emerged and the shift towards version 7 began.
It’s worth noting that there is a method to install older apps, but it requires sideloading using ADB. However, this process may not be worth the effort for many users. This implies that apps last updated during the Marshmallow era will soon be inaccessible to virtually all Android users.
Do you still use any older apps? Are there any beloved old games that you can’t part with?
