A new Assist API allows information from a currently-opened app, including text and a screenshot of the current screen, to be sent to a designated assistant application for analysis and processing. This system is used by the Google Search app feature Google Now on Tap, which allows users to perform searches within the context of information currently being displayed by holding the Home button or using a voice command. The search generates on-screen cards overlaid onto the app, which display information, suggestions, and actions related to the content.Direct Share allows Share menus to display combinations of contacts and an associated app to be displayed, as opposed to selecting an app and then choosing a target within the app itself.
A newly inserted SD card or other secondary storage media can be designated as either portable or internal storage. Portable maintains the default behavior of previous Android versions, treating the media as a secondary storage device for storage of user files, and the storage media can be removed or replaced without repercussions.When designated as Internal storage, the storage media is reformatted with an encrypted ext4 file system, and is adopted by the operating system as the primary storage partition. Existing data (including applications and private data folders) are migrated to the external storage, and normal operation of the device becomes dependent on the presence of the media. Apps and operating system functions will not function properly if the adopted storage device is removed. If the user loses access to the storage media, the adopted storage can be "forgotten", which makes the data permanently inaccessible.
