After two months of agonizing wait, Google just few hours ago revealed the features of the brand new OS v4.4 KitKat along with brand new phone Nexus 5.
Google's Android ecosystem is already the biggest mobile platform in the world with more than 75 percent smartphone subscribers, now in its bid to widen the gap between rivals (Apple iOS, Windows Phone & BlackBerry) the search engine giant has kept the new KitKat OS system requirements to minimum, making budget phones with 512MB RAM eligible for the latest OS upgrade.
Here is key enhancements brought in to the v4.4 KitKat OS
Improved Caller-ID: If a caller receives a call from unknown number, the phone will look for matches on the net with local listings via Google Maps.
Priority Contacts: The new OS empowers the phone to automatically prioritise contact list for easy access, based on the frequency of the peoples' contacts to which users talk.
Immersive display: To enhance entertainment factor, the new OS comes with immersive mode, where the status bar and navigation buttons disappear in to the back ground while you play music, games and read e-books. Users can just swipe the edge of the screen to bring back the utility buttons.
Enhanced Message grouping: taking a leaf out of Apple's iMessage feature, Google has brought in some improvements to the new Hangouts app; now, users can find all their text SMSs and MMSs, audio and video call details all at one place. They can also share location and send animated GIFs.
Emoji Characters: Initially, users had to install third party app to use colorful characters in their SMS. Now, with KitKat, the keypad comes with native Japanese Emoji emotion icons.
Voice Search: Google has brought in Google Now, a voice based search system. which was seen on the recently released Moto X. Users can initiate phone with voice command 'Ok Google' and then can initiate web search, play music tracks and even call people without having to touch the screen.
NFC and Wireless Printing: Google's new OS comes with improved Quickoffice app where-in people can create and store word documents online as well as print files wirelessly on NFC-enabled HP printers.
Bluetooth MAP (Message Access Profile): This feature enables android devices in cars with Bluetooth support to exchange messages.
Multi-tasking: with efficient memory management, users can multi-task by opening multiple applications; Listen to music while you can browse through the net.
Performance: with low system requirements, the new KitKat OS is expected to bring performance enhancements and also increase battery life.
The new v4.4 KitKat OS is currently available for Nexus 5. Google has confirmed that the older Nexus devices-Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 as well as Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play Editions are lined to get new OS in coming weeks (probably in 30 days).
Other top-end Android phones are expected to receive the new KitKat OS update only by early 2014.
