Google’s Android has captured a major share in the smartphone market and its growing with each passing day, but the problem that android users have always faced was the improper software support for the old phones. Apple has always kept its 3-4 years old devices up to date with versions of iOS supporting them to the maximized tenure and they did manage to do it gracefully, while android started disappointing its consumers after ICS 4.0 made debut as many old devices (Samsung’s Galaxy S) could not be updated to operate it and it was quoted as “Hardware Limitations”. This time Google has taken Android to a new direction with Android 4.4 KitKat being disclosed to support all low end devices (Yes 512MB RAM and 800~1000 MHz single core processor’s).
The news was published by former Wall Street Journal Amir Efrati, and sort-of resonates with a previous report from the publication that said Google’s “K-release” Android version will be compatible with older devices and other devices than just smartphones and tablets. Efrati has obtained the information from a “confidential file that Google shared with the companies that make Android devices to explain the most important new features”. The document apparently reveals that Google wants KitKat to “work well” on low-end phones, just as it would on high-end devices:
KitKat “optimizes memory use in every major component” and provides “tools to help developers create memory-efficient applications” for “entry-level devices,” such as those that have 512 megabytes of memory, according to the document.
With that being said and discussed there are also some other key points that seem to have huge improvements in android 4.4 which include NFC, InfraRed (IR Blaster for remote control) and Bluetooth enhancement on which Efrati quotes :
Google wants Android apps to be able to interact with a wide variety of devices using Bluetooth technology. Those devices include joysticks, keyboards, and in-car entertainment systems. In KitKat, new support for something called Bluetooth HID over GATT and Bluetooth Message Access Profile will allow Android to talk to more devices than before.
Well if all this is true than Google did one hell of a work with Android 4.4 KitKat and it sure is as good as its NAME. Stay tuned for updates on Android 4.4 KitKat which might be officially announced anytime soon now.
