Google's Big Bang Event: Android 4.4 KitKat Launch, LG Nexus 5 Release, Chrome OS Integration in October 2013
Google's development teams are not stopping on integrating their software and services to more electronic devices. Google is ready for their 2013 "Big Bang" event in October which features Android 4.4 KitKat, next-generation Nexus 5 and expanded Chrome OS.
Android 4.4 KitKat
October 14 is the speculated official release date of Android 4.4 KitKat - major Android software upgrade - which will optimise all Android phones and tablets, old and new models alike. Google and Nestle made an agreement that will define Android 4.4 integrity similar to KitKat chocolate bars which are sweet, smooth, beautiful and addictive. Here are features pointed out by their Web site which includes:
- Updated, refreshed and revamped user interface
- Enhancement of the battery life
- Wider global coverage among network carriers and network modes
- Optimisation among old Android phones and tablets
- Lightweight system and better performance
Meanwhile, here are some features collected by sources:
- Firmware available for older phones
- Fragmentation changes via screen re-sizing
- Miracast updates
- New Gallery Visualisation
- New APIs regarding animations
- Palette colour themes instead of the default blue Android
- New Notifications Widgets
Android fans can expect add-ons from Android Jelly Bean such as Google Now, Project Butter, Actionable Notifications, Quick Settings, Bluetooth Smart, OpenGL ES 3.0, Daydream and more.
Next-Generation Nexus 5 Smartphone
Thin body, narrow bezel, latest OS and upgrade camera technology are just some of what the Nexus 5 will offer consumers soon. The next-generation Nexus smartphone is also expected to be released on October 14, 2013 - same time with Android 4.4. It would be the first to run the latest major Android version which will be pushed later on to other Nexus owners before the year ends.
LG is probably the chosen manufacturer after the success of Nexus 4 and will impart similar G2 designs on Nexus 5. Some of the technical features include:
- Android 4.4 KitKat OS version
- 5.0 inches of screen display with full HD resolution
- 2.3 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor
- 2 GB of RAM
- 13 MP camera with Optical Image Stabilisation
- LTE connectivity
- Bluetooth Smart aka Low Energy
- 2300 mAh battery unit
Chrome OS Integration
Google is not settling with one operating system and now the company will expand using Chrome OS on mobile devices which begins with processing chipsets. A new Vega series graphics chip technology from Vivante has been launched for mobile devices running Android and Chrome operating systems.
Vivante's new chipset design focuses on the world's smallest, fastest and coolest graphics and compute cores for battery efficiency. Their chipsets are also believed to be compatible with wearable devices such as streaming TV dongles, tablets and more.
"Combined with the trend of embedding visual intelligence into all products regardless of form factor, size or shape, the GPU is at the epicenter of these market trends and the driver for product differentiation," said by Jon Peddie, president of John Peddie Research, as quoted by VentureBeat.
Android and Chrome OS are planned to work in tandem on achieving overall support on all kinds of electronic devices from computers to mobile gadgets. Chrome OS is currently supporting notebooks called Chromebooks and the desktop version Chromebox, but Google plans to launch Chrome OS-running smartphones as well.
Google aims to promote both OS with sharing ecosystem due to their compatibility. Android 4.3 Jelly Bean supports 4K resolution which allows the OS to be imparted on Smart TVs and other appliances such as refrigerators and wall ovens that are running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Chrome OS features exclusive applications and add-ons based on the Chrome browser with secured clouding system. Chromebooks specialises on fast boot up time, e-Learning and private corporate database syncing.