Android 4.4 ‘Kitkat’: seven belongings you have to be compelled to understand

Google unwrapped a fresh version of its mobile software system on thirty one October referred to as Android four.4 “Kitkat”, that includes associate degree invariably listening intelligent search and additional.

With Android four.4 Kitkat Google has improved Android’s performance, additional new options and services, still as integrated new software system to support the potential for innovative new uses.

1. Android 4.4 continues the confectionary naming scheme:

Since its beginning, Google has used each associate degree increasing numeric price, like Android four.4, still as names taken from renowned confectionary.

It was long-rumoured that the follow up to candy would be “Key Lime Pie”, but in an exceedingly traumatize Nestle, Google named Android four.4 when the Kitkat chocolate biscuit.

2. Invariably listening Google currently

Google’s intelligent digital assistant and sensible search, Google Now, has been given abundant larger prominence among Android four.4 Kitkat, integration associate degree invariably listening feature, which is able to instantly answer voice commands triggered by the phrase “OK Google”.

3. Full-screen immersion

Kitkat hides the standing bar and menu bar once fully screen mode.

Google has taken steps with Android four.4 Kitkat to create the expertise of mistreatment apps like ebook readers or net browsers a way additional immersive expertise. it\'s modified the approach the system-level interface parts square measure bestowed, as well as the standing bar at the highest of the screen and also the Android menu buttons at the lowest.

Instead of for good bracketing your screen with 2 black bars, the highest notification bar is currently clear, permitting additional of your homescreen wallpaper to shine through. The menu bar at the lowest of the screen will currently additionally disappear once associate degree app is place into a full-screen mode, permitting content to require up the total assets of the screen.

Dragging your finger down from the highest of the screen or up from the lowest of the screen currently reveals the notification or menu bars once fully screen applications.

4.Support for lower-end phones

Android fragmentation has been an enormous downside for app developers ever since the in operation system’s beginning. primarily it implies that multiple versions of Android that aren’t up thus far exist on numerous devices. whereas that’s not a problem in and of itself, for developers it presents a vast challenge as they need to programme their apps to support multiple versions of Android – all with differing capabilities.

Google has already taken steps towards minimising fragmentation through the decoupling of its own applications and services from the software package into separate downloadable apps. that enables users on older versions of Android to update these apps one by one through the Google Play store and gain access to the new services and options.

Now Google is taking its battle with fragmentation a step more by reducing the system needs for Android four.4 Kitkat. In doing this Google has created it potential to run Kitkat on abundant lower power devices.

5.Low-power sensors while not battery drain

Kitkat uses execution to cut back the battery drain whereas still permitting your phone to trace your movements and use alternative sensors.

next Apple’s lead by the iPhone 5S and its low-power M7 motion co-processor, Kitkat additionally options support for low power devices employing a method referred to as “hardware sensor batching”.

The end result\'s abundant improved battery life, whereas maintaining the information work and sensory activities that facilitate nice options like Google currently, fitness trackers and placement coverage.

6.NFC payments sweetening

Kitkat simplifies the utilization of NFC for payments and alternative functions.

Google has additionally taken steps to modify and hopefully accelerate the utilization of near-field communication (NFC) for payments. a major proportion of Android phones go along with associate degree NFC chip inbuilt, that is presently chiefly used for pairing accessories and Bluetooth devices.

Now Google has baked a brand new feature into Android Kitkat that aims to modify the utilization of NFC applications for payments referred to as “Host Card Emulation”, that facilitates the association between the applications and also the NFC hardware among the Android device.

Google hopes that this new simplification among the Android software system can facilitate NFC payments, still as alternative NFC uses gain traction.

7.Coming to a tool close to you shortly

Following the announcement of the Nexus five smartphone and Android four.4 Kitkat, numerous makers declared that they might be change their smartphones with Kitkat.

Google declared that previous Nexus devices, as well as the Nexus four smartphone and Nexus seven and ten pill computers would get the update among the approaching weeks.

HTC additionally confirmed that it\'d be change its HTC One line of devices, as well as the new One scoop phablet to Android four.4 Kitkat, with the HTC One seeing the update among ninety days.

Other smartphone makers square measure presently watching the update, though it\'s glorious that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus won\'t get the Kitkat update.