New features summarized in Google's new OS "Android 4.4 KitKat" Summary
ByJon Fingas
On November 1, 2013 "Nexus 5"Google's latest OS officially released with"Android 4.4 KitKat"Has added many new functions such as" Full screen display of application "," Improved performance "," Print function "," Hardware sensor that enabled energy saving "," Pedometer ", and so on.
Android - 4.4 KitKat
http://www.android.com/versions/kit-kat-4-4/
Android KitKat | Android Developers
http://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html
◆ "Google Now" to start with a voice of "Ok Google"
You can now start up "Google Now", which allows you to search, send SMS, play music etc. by voice, just by talking to "Ok Google", not by pushing a button or tapping an icon.
◆ Lock screen dedicated to audio / video playback is installed
A lock screen dedicated to music playback and sending movies to Chromecast was installed. During locking, album artwork etc. are displayed on the background, play, pause and seek are possible.
◆ Full screen display of the application is possible
Application can be displayed on full screen. When watching movies or playing games, when reading, the status bar and navigation buttons are automatically hidden, making it easier to see.
◆ Optimize memory usage and achieve high-speed operation
Android 4.4 KitKat reduces the amount of memory used and it is designed to operate at high speed even with 512 MB of RAM. In order to realize high-speed operation, the system has been redesigned, such as tuning around JIT of JAL, kernel virtualization (KSM), zRAM (embedded DRAM memory technology) support.
Improved memory management at the time of application execution, upgrading to specifications that are started sequentially from a group with small consumption so as to lower the peak of memory consumption when multiple applications are started at the same time.
New APIs (ActivityManager.isLowRamDevice) can create applications with high memory efficiency. Application developers can check correspondence / non-compliance of entry machines from APIs, and can also change / invalidate in-memory control.
◆ Prioritize who you want to call
A new function has been added that gives priority to the people who will be calling from the cumulative call time and the frequency of calls.
◆ Search for unknown phone numbers with Google Maps
When you receive a call from an unknown phone number, Google Maps searches for that phone number and displays the subscribers of the matching phone number. With this, it may be less thrilling to call while I feel excited from whom.
Unification of message applications
The new Google Hangouts,SMSYaMMSUnify application to one. Also, as a new feature you can now share "sharing your location" and "sending GIF animations" with Google Hangouts.
◆ Emoji can be used
Added Japanese emoji to Google Keyboard.
◆ Printing function
With new API, printing function is added, and it corresponds to all types of printer. Wi-Fi Somewhat searching for available printers via Google Cloud Print, you can set paper sizes, page settings, and print. PrintAPI puts top priority on maintaining compatibility, adopting PDF format as standard. Because Android 4.4 KitKat preloaded Google Cloud Print, you can use the corresponding application immediately.
◆ "Quickoffice" application
KitKat is optimized for Google's free application Quickoffice, which allows you to create and edit documents, spreadsheets and presentations of Microsoft Office.
◆ NFC host card emulation
Android 4.4 KitKat corresponds to NFC host card emulation (HCE). You can run ISO / 7816/4 based smart cards using ISO / IEC 14443-4 (ISO - DEP) protocol. We are assuming that we will use devices with NFC controller for secure NFC based settlement.
◆ Hardware sensor with reduced power consumption
Android 4.4 KitKat batches the access to hardware sensors to reduce power consumption, so sensor batches can acquire sensor events even when the system goes to sleep, making it ideal for long time use with low power consumption.
◆ Pedometer
Supports two new composite sensors, "Step Detector" and "Step Counter". The two sensors track information such as the user walking, running, going up and down stairs. However, because it is necessary to deal with hardware, we are working with chipset vendor to respond.
◆ Translucent style UI
Adopted a UI of a style in which the search bar is translucent and the background looks transparent.
◆ Add animation framework
Adding an animation framework makes it easier for users to understand the screen switching and so on. In addition, it is possible to create applications that adopt high quality animation.
◆ Speed up Chrome browser
Chromium based WebView was implemented, HTML5 / CSS3 and JavaScript support, and the Javascript engine V8 was speeded up. Support for remote debugging is also provided for development, and Chrome DevTools allows you to analyze content on WebView on your development machine.
◆ Screen recording function
With screen recording function, you can now record application tutorials, gameplay etc in MP4 file format.
◆ Audio monitoring tool
With the audio monitoring tool, it is possible to visualize music.
◆ Energy saving of music reproduction
By supporting audio tunneling of Digital Signal Processor (DSP), battery usage during music playback has been reduced, and the playing time has increased by 60 hours than before.
◆ "LoudnessEnhancer" to strengthen the size of the sound
Only LoudnessEnhancer which can strengthen the size of the sound is mounted only in the voice part of the audio file.
Improvement of graphics
By upgrading SurfaceFlinger from OpenGL ES 1.0 to 2.0, color correction is improved and special effects etc are supported.
Other new functions are as follows.
· Supports infrared communication and supports remote device operation (On-board model only)
· Supports Bluetooth HOGP profile · MAP profile
· Memory usage analysis tool Procstats
· Wi-Fi TDLS support
· Enhanced security
· Closed Caption · Subtitle support
· Photo shooting compatible with HDR +
· Supports Chromecast
· Supports Common Encryption for MPEG-DASH
· Supports HTTP live streaming
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