Daydream renamed to Screensaver in Android N Developer Preview 3

Unveiled recently by Google as its new VR platform for Android, the name Daydream may seem familiar to those who are avid Android users. Due to the branding clash, Google has renamed Daydream to Screensaver in the latest Android N Developer Preview 3.

Daydream (now Screensaver) is an easy way to customize the screen while the device is charging or docked, in order to show useful information such as a clock or even photos, instead of a drab blank screen. Introduced in Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and hidden away in the display settings section, the feature went unused by most.

As a side note, Samsung actually already calls this feature Screensaver in TouchWiz, but notes that its actual name is Daydream in the feature description. While its name has changed, the little used feature lives on.

As for the new Daydream, it shapes up to be a much more exciting initiative, one that could bring VR to millions of Android users. The platform comprises a VR-ready certification program for smartphones, as well as reference designs for VR headsets and all the accompanying software infrastructure, including a VR-friendly variant of the Play Store.