The sixth major version of Google’s Android operating system, Marshmallow, as it was commercially known, offered a range of improvements and new features for mobile devices. Its implementation on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 phablet was a significant event for users of that device, providing access to functionalities such as refined app permissions, Doze mode for improved battery life, and Google Now on Tap, which offered contextual information based on what was displayed on the screen. The availability of this software update represented an important upgrade path for the device’s existing user base.
The arrival of Marshmallow on the Note 4 provided numerous advantages. Battery efficiency was enhanced through Doze mode, extending the device’s usability between charges. Granular app permissions gave users greater control over their privacy by allowing them to choose which permissions to grant individual applications. Further, the software update allowed the aging device to continue to run relatively modern applications and keep it aligned with other more modern technologies, extending the lifespan of the older Note 4, rather than forcing customers to move towards newer generation phones.
