Android's latest version 4.4 which is known as KitKat, is just a few days old, KitKat has several hidden features. Android 4.4 KitKat now allows you to perform many tasks with just your voice. Much like Motorola's Touchless Control, you can say "OK Google" - no need to touch the screen - to perform searches, send messages and more.
Android 4.4 is only available on the Nexus 5, of course, although Google said other smartphones should be able to upgrade in "the coming weeks." (Any phone sold through a wireless carrier will need a carrier-approved upgrade.)
KitKat is designed to work on a wide variety of devices with different amounts of RAM, even devices with as little as 512MB. But while memory optimization is the biggest change in this version of Android, KitKat also features a wide variety of new developer features and functions app makers will want to learn and exploit.
Android 4.4 KitKat on the other hand is loaded with new features and tweaks. The full list is long and exhausting, but there are some new features in Android 4.4 KitKat that you should know about.
1. Full-screen Immersive Mode: Now, you can switch to full-screen to see more and simply swipe from the top or bottom edge of the screen to get the buttons back.
2. NFC: For those with NFC, Android 4.4 introduces a new, open architecture for NFC payments that works with any mobile operator.
3. Ok Google: This will let you voice search, send a text, get directions or play a song - as long as you're on the homescreen on in Google Now.
4. Improved multi-tasking: Multi-tasking is pretty good in Android already but Google says it's even better in KatKat thanks to memory optimisation and "improving your touchscreen so that it responds faster and more accurately than ever before".
5. Low-power audio playback: Android 4.4 allows for more hours of audio playback, up to 60 hours on Nexus 5, according to Google.
6. Calls and messages: The new phone app orders your contacts based on the ones to interact with most and you can also search for contacts or nearby places in the search bar.
7. Printing: Now you can print photos, documents, and web pages directly from your phone or tablet.
8. Google Drive: A handy new feature is the ability to save files, from apps like Quick-office, to Google Drive (or other cloud storage providers).
9. Bluetooth MAP support: Android 4.4 KitKat now supports the Message Access Profile (MAP) so cars with Bluetooth can exchange messages with your device.
10. Chrome cast support: Google's Chromecast HDMI dongle is supported in 4.4 KitKat for wireless streaming of content such as Netflix and YouTube.
11. Chrome web view: Applications that embed web content now use Chrome to render web components accurately and quickly.
12. Device management: If should lose your precious smartphone or tablet, you can find or remote wipe it with Google's Android Device Manager.
13. Downloads app redesign: Google has given the Downloads app a redesigned, adding a new sorting options plus list and grid views for all the files you've, er, downloaded. 14. Easy home screen switching: If you love customizing to the extent that you have installed one or more home screen replacements, you can switch between them easily in 'Home' section of the settings menu.
15. Full-screen wallpapers with preview: Wallpapers now display through the status bar and navigation bar. When picking a new wallpaper, you can preview what it will look like.
16. Infrared blasting: Android now supports applications for remote control of TVs and other nearby devices if you have an infrared (IR) transmitter.
17. Secure app sandboxes: Application sandboxes have been hardened with Security-Enhanced Linux.
18. Location modes and monitoring: If you make your battery last longer by constantly switching GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile data on and off then there's an easier way in KitKat.
19. Music and movie-seeking and artwork on the lock screen: From the lock screen you can jump to a specific part of a song or video with a long press on the play or pause buttons. Artwork is now fills the lockscreen.
20. Step counting: If you don't want to spend money on a fitness gadget then the Nexus 5 can act as a pedometer to count your steps.
For those of you wondering whether your Nexus 7, Nexus 4 or Google Play Edition of the Galaxy S4 and HTC One is going to get Android 4.4, be patient. Google says the aforementioned devices will all get KitKat within the coming weeks. However, the Nexus 5 will ship with the new platform already installed, as we've all expected. When the update does come, we expect it to be pushed to devices with a notification, or users will have the option of refreshing their software update settings furiously until it arrives.
Android 4.4 is only available on the Nexus 5, of course, although Google said other smartphones should be able to upgrade in "the coming weeks." (Any phone sold through a wireless carrier will need a carrier-approved upgrade.)
KitKat is designed to work on a wide variety of devices with different amounts of RAM, even devices with as little as 512MB. But while memory optimization is the biggest change in this version of Android, KitKat also features a wide variety of new developer features and functions app makers will want to learn and exploit.
- Android 4.4 KitKat Features:
Android 4.4 KitKat on the other hand is loaded with new features and tweaks. The full list is long and exhausting, but there are some new features in Android 4.4 KitKat that you should know about.
1. Full-screen Immersive Mode: Now, you can switch to full-screen to see more and simply swipe from the top or bottom edge of the screen to get the buttons back.
2. NFC: For those with NFC, Android 4.4 introduces a new, open architecture for NFC payments that works with any mobile operator.
3. Ok Google: This will let you voice search, send a text, get directions or play a song - as long as you're on the homescreen on in Google Now.
4. Improved multi-tasking: Multi-tasking is pretty good in Android already but Google says it's even better in KatKat thanks to memory optimisation and "improving your touchscreen so that it responds faster and more accurately than ever before".
5. Low-power audio playback: Android 4.4 allows for more hours of audio playback, up to 60 hours on Nexus 5, according to Google.
6. Calls and messages: The new phone app orders your contacts based on the ones to interact with most and you can also search for contacts or nearby places in the search bar.
7. Printing: Now you can print photos, documents, and web pages directly from your phone or tablet.
8. Google Drive: A handy new feature is the ability to save files, from apps like Quick-office, to Google Drive (or other cloud storage providers).
9. Bluetooth MAP support: Android 4.4 KitKat now supports the Message Access Profile (MAP) so cars with Bluetooth can exchange messages with your device.
10. Chrome cast support: Google's Chromecast HDMI dongle is supported in 4.4 KitKat for wireless streaming of content such as Netflix and YouTube.
11. Chrome web view: Applications that embed web content now use Chrome to render web components accurately and quickly.
12. Device management: If should lose your precious smartphone or tablet, you can find or remote wipe it with Google's Android Device Manager.
13. Downloads app redesign: Google has given the Downloads app a redesigned, adding a new sorting options plus list and grid views for all the files you've, er, downloaded. 14. Easy home screen switching: If you love customizing to the extent that you have installed one or more home screen replacements, you can switch between them easily in 'Home' section of the settings menu.
15. Full-screen wallpapers with preview: Wallpapers now display through the status bar and navigation bar. When picking a new wallpaper, you can preview what it will look like.
16. Infrared blasting: Android now supports applications for remote control of TVs and other nearby devices if you have an infrared (IR) transmitter.
17. Secure app sandboxes: Application sandboxes have been hardened with Security-Enhanced Linux.
18. Location modes and monitoring: If you make your battery last longer by constantly switching GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile data on and off then there's an easier way in KitKat.
19. Music and movie-seeking and artwork on the lock screen: From the lock screen you can jump to a specific part of a song or video with a long press on the play or pause buttons. Artwork is now fills the lockscreen.
20. Step counting: If you don't want to spend money on a fitness gadget then the Nexus 5 can act as a pedometer to count your steps.
- Android 4.4 KitKat release date:
For those of you wondering whether your Nexus 7, Nexus 4 or Google Play Edition of the Galaxy S4 and HTC One is going to get Android 4.4, be patient. Google says the aforementioned devices will all get KitKat within the coming weeks. However, the Nexus 5 will ship with the new platform already installed, as we've all expected. When the update does come, we expect it to be pushed to devices with a notification, or users will have the option of refreshing their software update settings furiously until it arrives.
