While Apple fans get to grips with the freshly-released iOS7, Android users are eagerly awaiting the launch of Kit Kat – otherwise known as Android 4.4. The latest version of Google's mobile OS should be accompanied by the Nexus 5, the newest handset in Nexus lineage and the second to be produced by manufacturer LG.
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With the release close at hand, we've decided to run down the features you can look forward to in Android 4.4 and why they're worth getting exciting about.
Android 4.4 KitKat & the "Google Experience"
Google wants to make Android great for everybody, and apparently it's all going to come together with Android KitKat and the Google Experience…
But that sort of raises more questions than it answers. First off: what the hell is the Google Experience, and secondly: are all Android devices –– old and new –– getting KitKat? Ahead of the launch of KitKat we endeavor to find out.
The idea of all Android handsets –– old and new –– getting updated to the latest version of Android is fairly preposterous. Can you imagine the HTC Desire, with its 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM, running Android Jelly Bean? Neither can we.
Also, it's not really in the manufacturers' best interests to have their ancient hardware fully up to date and running the latest software direct from Google's Android labs. It'd be nice from a user-perspective but it doesn't make any sense for those in the business of selling hardware – they're all about volume.
So what is the Google Experience and what does it have to do with Android KitKat? Firstly, the two things are likely to be separate although they're likely to be launched at the same time. Android KitKat will of course be an OTA software update, while Google Experience will launch in app form inside the Play store.
"Google Experience will be a form of launcher within Android that will not be tied specifically to version 4.4 KitKat but will rather be an app through the Google Play app store that will be compatible with devices running Android back to version 2.2 Froyo," reports ReadWrite.
The idea here then seems to be creating a uniform look and, in some respects, experience across all Android handsets whether they're running Android 2.2 or Android 4.4 And that means if you're running a crappy Android Gingerbread handset with no hope of an update to a higher version of Google's OS, then you'll at least be able to upgrade certain core elements of its software and UX features.
"The Google Experience Launcher is rumored by the blog Android Police to be a widget that lives on the Android homescreen in which Google features like Search and Google Now are heavily integrated, can read the data within the widget and update itself."
Everything will be run and updated using Google Play as the controller, meaning applications like Google Now and Google+ would update in the background, ensuring a uniform experience – at least with regards to Google apps – across all Android handsets.
Old Android handsets can't run KitKat
Android is pretty heavy these days and requires quite a bit of hardware to ensure smooth operation. Older handsets would struggle running the OS, resulting in poor user experience. Google is aware of this issue, just as it is fully aware of the millions of users that are currently stuck on older versions of its OS. Google Experience Launcher will go some way to addressing many of the user-experience issues associated with running older iterations of Android.
Android KitKat: Better looking UI
Apple's sweeping changes in iOS7 make it look more like Android than ever before, which speaks volumes about how attractive Google's software is these days – a far cry from the bland visuals we had to endure in the days of the HTC Dream. With Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, Google has turned Android into one of the best-looking operating systems available and this will be due in no small part to the influence of Matias Duarte, who joined the company in 2010 after working at Palm on the similarly attractive webOS platform.
Rumoured changes include a revised colour scheme, improved notifications and other general UI enhancements. Stock Android - that is, the version which will ship on Nexus devices - looks better than ever, and 4.4 will only improve on that. Of course, by the time it gets into the hands of Samsung, LG and Sony, it will look very different as those manufacturers slap on their own custom UI skins, but we're sure some of the excellent design work will shine through regardless.
Android KitKat: Wider hardware support
One of Android's biggest issues is fragmentation thanks to the sheer number of devices available. As different versions have been released, many Android owners have been forced to sit back and watch their newly-bought phones become obsolete almost overnight - many handsets are stuck on Android 2.3 because of the stern requirements made by subsequent updates.
Google will apparently try to make amends with Android 4.4, which is rumoured to have lower specification demands and can therefore be installed on older phones and tablets. It's even been said that devices that missed out on 4.0 and beyond will be able to download 4.4 – although we'll believe that when we see it (and of course it will be down to the manufacturers and carriers to actually release the updates). But it's a positive move by Google all the same.
Android KitKat: Exclusive Cloud-based system
Cloud storage is old news – we already have the likes of Google Drive, Dropbox and Box, but Google may be looking to integrate this feature more tightly with Android. Perhaps in the same way that Apple uses iCloud for backups and the like?
You can already automatically backup your photos using Google+, and it's possible to restore certain settings whenever you sign into a new Android device, but there's clearly scope for a better, more streamlined system. We may well see it in 4.4, and it could take us one step closer to ditching onboard storage altogether.
Android KitKat: Better battery life
This is one of those features that seems to get promised every time there's a new version of Android – but this time Google could mean it. Android 4.4 is supposed to make better use of multi-core CPUs and is apparently "lightweight" in terms of the demands it places on the hardware.
That will mean better battery stamina, although this could vary depending on which device Android 4.4 is installed on. One thing's for certain: Google is working to make Android more efficient and less power-hungry, which has been one of the OS' biggest failings since day one.
Android KitKat: Smoother screen orientation changes
This might sound like a relatively minor cosmetic change, but it could end up enriching the user experience no end. The simple process of turning your phone from portrait to landscape - and back again - shouldn't be a jerky, juddery affair. Yet on many Android phones, it most certainly is – and this impacts your enjoyment, even if you don't realise it.
If Google can finally solve this irksome problem then it will take a massive step towards making Android feel as slick and responsive as iOS.
Android KitKat: Improved security and bug-squashing
Android has a very bad reputation when it comes to general security, with many critics citing the prevalence of malevolent apps on the Google Play as a serious cause for concern. Google is clearly aware of this and has recently made it easier to report malicious downloads, but it's clear that the OS still lags behind the iPhone when it comes to keeping things locked down.
Android also has a few underlying bugs - like any OS, really - and Google is promising to eradicate those with Kit Kat.
Android KitKat: And finally, some kind of confectionery tie-in
Google teaming up with food brand Nestle is a major event, and we're sure that there will be some kind of promotional feature to Android 4.4 – even if it's just as simple as pre-installed app which links in with the tasty Kit Kat chocolate snack. Perhaps key parts of the UI will have a chocolate-like theme to them? Or maybe you'll get free sweets by registering your phone? Time will tell, but just thinking about it is making us hungry.
October 31 2013
Android 4.4 KitKat supports wearable devices and older, low-memory handsets
Android 4.4 KitKat's arrival is imminent, but up until now, apart from some clues about UI changes we've had very little info about what will be new.
Now it seems that much of the tweaking is about making the most up-to-date iteration of the platform compatible with more devices, including older handsets with smaller quantities of RAM and a new wave of wearable tech.
The word comes via former Wall Street Journal reporter Jessica Lessin's tech blog, where Amir Efrati reports having had access to a "confidential file" which Google has allegedly shared with Android device manufacturers.
A big part of the new push is addressing Android fragmentation, which means older devices, the kind with 512MB of RAM or less, will be getting special attention.
The report says KitKat "optimises memory use in every major component" and has "tools to help developers create memory-efficient applications" for "entry-level devices."
There are also hints that Android KitKat will have plenty of features aimed at wearable devices such as smartwatches and possible devices similar to Google's Glass.
"According to the confidential document, KitKat is expected to support three new types of sensors: geomagnetic rotation vector, step detector and step counter," reports Efrati.
October 28 2013
Nexus 10 2 will run Android 4.4
Can Google keep a secret? That's what the Inquirer are asking in the wake of another leak - this time of Android 4.4. running on what looks like an updated version of the Nexus 10.
October 18 2013
Android 4.4 KitKat UX revealed ahead of launch
Thanks to Google we've now had our first glimpse at what Android 4.4 will look like. The search giant accidentally published marketing material, complete with official press shots, onto the Google Play store. Said images were quickly removed but screengrabs were obtained, which you can see below.
Overall the UX doesn't look all that dissimilar, however, there are some notable style changes – the translucent menu bar and navigation buttons, for example. Folders appear to have been modified slightly and, if we're not mistaken, it looks as if Android's Roboto font has also been tweaked ever so slightly; it looks more delicate than before.
The phone and camera app icons are also different –– the camera has a bigger lens and the phone is, well, more bendy looking than before. The app tray icon (the one in the centre) is now translucent and Google appears to have gotten rid of the line that divides the bottom for apps and the homescreen apps.
The changes are pretty subtle but they are there and, like a magic eye, the longer you look at the two UXs side-by-side, the more obvious they become. Check out the below image to see what we mean:
Android Jelly Bean on the Nexus 4 is on the left and Android KitKat, as seen on the Nexus 5 leak, is on the right.
- Notification bar is no longer black. Now transparent and icons are white
- Google's Roboto font appears to be narrower, similar to the HTC Sense 5 UI
- Bar above the app tray is gone. The only divider is a homescreen page indicator using translucent dots
- Camera icon is completely new
- App drawer icon no longer has an outer circle. Now a translucent circle and dots appear more rounded
- Phone icon is completely new. Darker blue, flatter and with less prominent gradient/highlights
- Like the notifications bar, the control bar is no longer black and is transparent with white icons for the navigation controls: Home, Back and Multitasking
And once you're done looking at that why not read our Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review –– it's a stonker of a handset, maybe even our favorite of 2013 thus far.
October 22 2013
Will KitKat be released on Halloween?
Whoa. We've only just got our heads around iOS 7 and along comes another huge operating system update – this time Android 4.4. KitKat.
Before every update comes a flurry of activity. And as Gottabemobile notes, Google has spent the last three weeks updating every single one of its major applications inside its Android platform (we're talking YouTube, Play, Maps, Gmail, and more).
Now they've updated the Play Store, where one can buy apps. So what does version 4.4.21 mean? It means that we'll be seeing KitKat "very, very soon" – possibly next week.
According to latest rumours the new operating system could be released with a brand spanking new phone –– the Nexus 5 –– on 31 October, giving Android fans even more reason to look forward to Halloween.
October 17 2013
Android 4.4 KitKat Google Play update to see Google Now-style sliding menus
The next iteration of the Google Play app, set to debut on Android 4.4 KitKat, will feature a new sliding menu layout according to leaked screenshots.
The images come courtesy of Android Police's anonymous sources and show Google Play, also version 4.4 just like the OS, with a navigation menu which slides out from the left-hand side of the display.
This means Store Home, My Apps, My Wishlist and Redeem, Shop and My Movies & TV categories now come in with their own menu rather than being stuffed in alongside the Settings and Help menus in the top right corner button - this remains, but is now much tidier.
What isn't clear, is how this new menu is activated, we can't tell if it's a case of pressing the title bar at the top or a swipe gesture from the side of the display.
While there isn't any further screenshot evidence, the report goes on to suggest that "Google will change all the things to be even more card-like," according to rumours, so expect Google Now vibes throughout.
While the new Google Play 4.4 build will debut on KitKat, it's said that it is backward compatible "all the way back to Froyo."
October 16 2013: 14.12
Second official KitKat teaser emerges via Twitter - suggests October 28 launch
Not content to let people get the wrong end of the stick with its "Everybody Dance Now!" Google+ post, the official @KitKat Twitter account has posted a second teaser which goes some way to clarifying the matter. At least as far as cryptic and somewhat tenuous music links can possibly be clear.
@KitKat posted a picture of text spelled out in KitKat fingers, reading "This is it", with the tagline "sometimes you have to look at the signs." This appears to be a reference to the Michael Jackson song and film of the same name launched on October 28.
How does this link with the earlier teaser? Well something which has emerged since is the original name of C+C Music Factory, the band whihc released the track with the lyrics "Everybody dance now!" (actually called "Gonna Make You Sweat"), apparently the band used to be called "The 28th Street Crew."
Assuming you buy into all this tenuous linkage, then both tips would appear to indicate October 28, which sits a bit closer to the October 30/31 dates previously rumoured.
Sometimes you have to look for the signs… pic.twitter.com/XNBxaGP3sD
— KITKAT (@KITKAT) October 16, 2013
Incidentally, October 28 also sits closer to the launch of the Nexus 4 with Android Jelly Bean in 2012 - October 29.
October 16 2013: 11.20
Dancing Android KitKat Google+ post sets tongues wagging for October 18 launch
Google has posted an Android KitKat teaser on its Google+ page showing the chocolatey Android mascot striking a bit of a disco pose and with the tagline "Everybody dance now!". The hashtag is #AndroidKITKAT.
Why is this significant? Well the comments section has exploded with speculation, but some of the more interesting points suggest this is a cryptic clue from Google.
Apparently, the C+C Music Factory hit "Everybody Dance Now" was launched on October 18 1990 and is exactly 4 minutes and 4 seconds long. Some are taking this to mean Android 4.4 KitKat will launch on Friday October 18 2013 - ie: this Friday.
It's a tenuous link, but a rather compelling one, so we're going with it for now. Rumours still remain that October 30 or October 31 will be the big launch of the Nexus 5 complete with Android 4.4 KitKat debuting onboard.
October 3 2013
A big batch of photos has appeared online showing what the Android 4.4 KitKat UI may look like and giving an insight into a few of its features.
The images, which emerged via GadgetHelpLine, are still unverified and could be fakes, but they appear to show an early build still with the Key Lime Pie branding running on a Nexus 4.
Visual tweaks to the UI are apparent, though they're small and subtle changes and overall it still looks very much like Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. Some UI elements are now a bright white, making the overall setup look a bit punchier. Animations have also reportedly been made smoother.
A couple of significant features include native support for printing from your phone or device and a section of the menu dedicated to "payments" with an icon suggesting this has something to do with NFC and e-Wallet functions.
Native photo editing also appears to be getting an overhaul with the ability to save to PDF, a range of export options and new effects and filters. Google's Drive and Keep apps are also now built-in rather than you needing to download them.
October 2 2013
Android 4.4 KitKat release date?
Android KitKat might not be official yet but already we're hearing word on when the update will be rolled out to handsets. Apparently Android 4.4 is coming later this month –– October –– to the LG Optimus G.
The news comes via UberGizmo, which reported the following:
"LG France might have confirmed that the handset –– Optimus G –– would indeed be receiving the update and that it has been planned for a release in October. This is according to a conversation a user had with an LG representative, in which the LG rep pretty much stated that the update has been planned for a release this October."
Which is great… except for two things: the first is that there's no evidence of the conversation having ever taken place and, two, even if it did the LG rep could simply have been talking out of his ass.
LG hasn't made an "official" official statement regarding this omission but if Android KitKat is coming in October to non-Nexus handsets, it could be very telling of Google's plans for the update –– get it out fast and to as many droid handsets as possible.
Android KitKat spotted running on Nexus 10
Google's forthcoming Android build, version 4.4 KitKat, has been spotted running on a Nexus 10 by a Chrome bugtracker.
According to a report from myce.com, a Google developer using a Nexus 10 reported a Chrome bug with Android build KLP KRS74D, while another used version KLP KRS74B.
KLP might well have you thinking "Key Lime Pie", but we now know the next build will be called KitKat thanks to Google's big reveal of the new name. It could well be that Key Lime Pie has previously been a working title and we're still seeing remnants of the name in these reports even if the official name is now changed.
Myce's analysis suggests that within the KRS74D/KRS74B designation, the K stands for KitKat or Key Lime Pie, R represents the "primary development branch", S is for the year's third quarter and the 74 is the day number for that quarter. Meanwhile the B and D designations are the builds for that day, B being the second and D being the fourth.
The bug report details a problem with video playback on Youtube and mentions that the same video "plays fine on a Nexus 7 v2," suggesting the KitKat build is also being tested on Google's latest tablet device.
Little is known at present regarding what changes Android 4.4 KitKat will introduce but current rumour suggests we may see it launch in October. Google usually launches its new software aboard a flagship Nexus device and we're increasingly seeing leaks and information about the alleged Nexus 5 handset said to be in development by LG.
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