- It’s finally here! Google just released the new Nexus 5 smartphone with Android 4.4 KitKat to the Google Play Store, and has confirmed
that most Nexus devices and Google Play edition smartphones will be
updated in the coming weeks. After all the leaks, rumors, and
speculation Google’s finally unveiled all of the details on the official
Developer Blog.
- While many tech enthusiasts will talk about smaller memory footprints
and a new Android made for every device, we want to run down most of the
headline features that are new with Android 4.4 KitKat, but do so in
simple terms for the average consumer. What makes android 4.4 different
from 4.3, which many don’t have, or even Android 4.2 Jelly Bean that’s
on nearly 50% of Android devices today. So read on for a quick outline
of what’s new with Android 4.4 KitKat in simple terms.
Immersive Mode
- Google starts by sharing details about the new immersive mode, which
is essentially just a new way for Android to show virtually everything
in fullscreen. No longer will we still have nav bars on the top and
bottom. Whether you’re playing a game, watching a movie, or browsing the
web, Android will hide everything but what you want to see. Making the
experience more immersive no matter what you’re doing.
- Another thing worth mentioning here is the navigation bar up top is
now translucent, and can be customized. Meaning that application
developers can tap into it and customize it as they need. This is where
we’ll see part of the immersive mode. Apps will blend into the nav bar
with the color of that specific application, giving users an in-depth
feeling and a truly immersive fullscreen experience.
Android For Everyone
As many of you probably know that purchased a Motorola DROID a few
years ago, or even some of HTC’s One devices from last year, not every
Android device gets updated. This has been a part of the fragmentation
and upgrades argument, well, since Android’s birth. The debate on what
will get updated, and when, has always been an issue for carriers,
manufacturers, and consumers. This will no longer be an issue with
Android 4.4 KitKat and beyond. Google brought all its smarts together to
make the most stable, fast, fluid, and more importantly, efficient
version of a mobile OS to date.
“Android 4.4 is designed to run fast, smooth, and responsively on a
much broader range of devices than ever before — including on millions
of entry-level devices around the world that have as little as
512MB RAM.”
The new Google Nexus 5 and many top-tier smartphones all have 2GB of
RAM, and even 3GB with the Galaxy Note 3, but not everyone needs or
wants that powerful of a device. More importantly, not everyone can
afford that type of device. As a result, Android 4.4 KitKat will be able
to run smooth and stable on even the most budget-friendly and entry
level smartphone. With Google claiming older devices with 512MB of RAM
can run with ease.
Google streamlined every major component to improve memory usage and
overall performance. In simple terms this means even the older single
core smartphones from 2011 should technically be able to run Android 4.4
KitKat with ease. Whether or not Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola and others
put effort into older devices or not, is another question entirely. In
the long run though, devices should stay up to date much longer in the
future.
NFC
Previously in Android some devices with NFC used something called a
secure element to securely hold important info, like credit card
details, to use NFC and mobile wallet applications. As a result, many
carriers didn’t like the idea and Google Wallet, and other loyalty and
passport type applications never got off the ground. With Android 4.4
KitKat this won’t be a problem. Using an emulating system Google Wallet
and many other NFC payment type systems can all be used safely and
effectively across all devices with Android 4.4
Just like Passbook on iOS which stores credit cards, gift cards,
boarding passes and more, Google will probably be announcing a new
Google Wallet app using the new changes to Android 4.4 that will bring
this full solution to Android. We’ve had it for a long time, but was
limited, and now Google’s opened the door to unlimited possibilities
with NFC.
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