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android 4.4 (kitkat) - overview

[WHAT]

  1. ] android 4.4 (kitkat) is (the newest) version of the open source mobile phone and tablet operating system software(backed by google), it was released in 2013-10 
    1. *] this article highlights the most important features in this upgrade to the android os, for a more complete listing of all android 4.x features see here

[WHY]

  1. [ UI ]  
    1. ] design updates 
      1. ] flat, simple, halo
      2. ] transparent permanent onscreen menu bars for the 'menu buttons' on the bottom and the 'notifications bar' at the top of the screen.
      3. ] new system wide font, 
    2. ] immersion mode
      1. ] full screen mode that hides the onscreen menu button and nofications bars when using immersion mode for applications that support it , ...
      2. ] example - reading books, goes to full screen, text only, removes buttons, menus, ...
  2. [ MANAGEMENT ]
    1. ] tool 
      1. ] ?view process? - memory usage on a per app basis - 
  3. [ NETWORKING ]
    1. ] NFC
      1. ] 
  4. [ APPS-NATIVE ] 
    1. ] contacts
      1. ] prioritized contacts - most frequently contacted people appear at the top of your contacts list
      2. ] integrated maps -
      3. ] search - extended to google "local places" where you can get listings for of "__" near your, not just results from your "contacts" but results via g.search results, results have action buttons "call" to interact
    2. ] google search
      1. ] 
    3. ] google now 
      1. ] say "OK Google" to launch the "google now" app with a voice command, app has 'always on/listening' (but only on devices with Snapdragon 800 processor)
      2. ] swipe in from left - to bring up the "menu screen" with the most recent now card displayed
      3. ] 
    4. ] google hangouts
      1. ] default messaging client for android - 
      2. ] adds sms/mms functionality, 
      3. ] 
  5. [ APPS-THIRD-PARTY ] 
    1. ] Our curated list-of-best in category - top 5 android APPS in 25 different categories
  6. [ECOSYSTEM]
    1. ] Google Play - is googles ecosystem storefront. It offers up the largest collection of third party android apps, a music service, options for purchasing books, magazines and video content(television and movies). It also sells devices from google including the nexus line of smartphones and tablets, the chromescast and more ....
    2. ] 3rd Party App Stores
      1. ] Amazon -
  7. [ PERFORMANCE ]
    1. ] improved memory managment - lowers system requirements to .5 gb ram, this will allow 4.4 to be installed on lower end devices as well as older models of smartphones that may have not met the system requirements for previous 4.x version  
  8. [ OTHER ]
    1. ]

[WHERE]

  1. ] nexus 5 - the newest smartphone in googles "nexus family" which is a line of products designed to showcase the latest releases of the android os, nexus devices are typically the first to recieve any future os updates as they don't have the added layers of OEM and carrier software adds to go through.   

[WHEN]

  1. x] 2013-10-31
    1. ] source code released

[EXAMPLE]

[HOW-TO]

  1. ] Guide to the Guides
    1. ] a list of several android user guides, cheat sheets, etc to help you get started with your android device

[REVIEWS]

  1. REVIEW-SUMMARY - Review @ ArsTechnica
    1. ] by Ron Amadeo - Tons of user- and system-level changes make KitKat one of the biggest releases ever.
  2. REVIEW-SUMMARY - Review @ TheVerge
    1. ] by Dieter Bohn - designed by Google for Google

[REFERENCE]

  1. ] android 4.3 jellybean overview
  2. ] android 4.2 jellybean overview
  3. ] android 4.1 jellybean overview
  4. ] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Cream_Sandwich_(operating_system)#Android_4.0.x_Ice_Cream_Sandwich 

 

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ID: 1898

NAME: os-android-4.4-kitkat-overview

DESCRIPTION: an overview description of this version of the open source android (by google) operating system, released on 2013-11-01 and debuting on the ...

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STATUS: Write

PRIORITY: -5

OWNER ID: 75

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