Google unveils Nexus 5 running on Android 4.4 KitKat

With the release of much awaited Android 4.4 KitKat, Google has also announced its similar much awaited smartphone: Nexus 5. It is available to buy from Play Store.

Specs of this Nexus is quite similar to the leaked spec sheet. Display of Nexus 5 is a 4.95" full HD 1920 x 1080p IPS Corning Gorilla Glass screen with 445 ppi. It is loaded with 8 MP OIS enabled camera and a front shooter of 1.3 MP. On the inside there's a 2.26 GHz quad core Snapdragon 800 CPU, Adreno 330 GPU, 2,300 mAH battery, 2 GB RAM, Bluetooth 4.0, LTE, NFC, Dual band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wifi. Dimensions of the phone are: 69.17 x 137.84 x 8.59 mm and weighs 130 gm.

Nexus 5 is available in two usual color models: Black and White and two storage editions: 16 GB and 32 GB, which is twice than that of Nexus 4 as Nexus is available in 8 and 16 GB variants. Unlocked 16 GB variant from Play Store costs $349 and 32 GB variant is available at $399. 

Find Nexus 5 on Play Store.

Google officially announces Sweeter taste of Android 4.4 KitKat

Now we don't need to breathe hard. Google has just announced Nexus 5 running on Android 4.4. Yes, this officially puts the end to the rumors of arrival of Nexus 5 and Android KitKat. The name was announced back in September this year, but after seeing numerous leaks and rumors, it was hard to control. Finally, KitKat is official. 

This is a beautiful update to Android. KitKat has a new launcher, more clean look, system apps icon are brighter than the previous versions. Notifications bar become hidden or translucent when opening some full screen app. This version of Android uses maximum part of screen. And when you are using Nexus 5, you get better results. Although, it is still not so serious upgrade, but Google has added some important features. 

Touchless Control like that of Moto X is now a standard part of Android. You don't need to touch your phone, just say "Ok Google" and you're welcomed with familiar screen of Google Now. You can get directions, call a friend, play a song, search for images and links on web etc. Lock screen is also updated. This time on unlocking, if some music is being played or some video is being mirrored via Chromecast, the cover art/ movie art will be shown on the lock screen. 

Google has updated the dialer. It highlights those contacts with which you talk most. If you receive a call from some unknown number, then it searches that phone number on the web and checks out if it is from some business in local area, following by showing you the picture of that business. SMS and MMS integration is made in Hangouts, so you will stay connected with your offline and online friends. It is somewhat like Apple's iMessage. Google calendar, a third party app from Google, is also updated with more Emoji icons. 

Screen's beauty is enhanced by "Immersive mode". This feature is useful for developers who want to create apps that can use every single pixel of the screen. Android 4.4 also brings the feature of recording screen as a video and save it as a mp4 file. Multitasking has been enhanced to a greater extent. App switching works fluidly. 

After iOS, Android is also able to connect with cars enable of Bluetooth can share information with Android devices using Bluetooth MAP (Message Access Profile). This will help developers to create apps like Siri in car. Your Android phone can now be used as a TV controller. By adding IR Blaster support to KitKat, Google has made it simple for users as well as developers to control Televisions using a Android device. 

If you want to save juice of your phone or tablet but don't wanna stop your favorite music, then here's a nice feature: Low power audio playback. This feature consumes lower battery life and thus produce nonstop playback of 60 hrs of your favorite music (claimed on a Nexus 5).

Two new sensors are also introduced with Android 4.4: Step detector and step counter. These counters collect data about the users walking, stepping on stairs, move away or running. This kind of sensors will help developers to create health regarding apps. 

There are not only these features, there's a plenty of it. Even Android 4.4 is not a major upgrade, but it brings a bag full of updates and improvements. What's the good thing is, that all current Nexus devices i.e. Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will receive taste of the KitKat soon. Wait till Google pushes out the updates. You can check whole changelog on Android Developers page (link given below). 

Links: 

• Android
• Android KitKat
• Google Developers
• Official Android Blog

Sprint Galaxy Nexus receives Android 4.3 update

After the announcement of rollout of Android 4.3 update to Galaxy S4, Sprint is rolling out Jelly Bean update to Galaxy Nexus. It has been 9 months till Galaxy Nexus received Android 4.2.1 update. This update will be rolled out OTA and will take few weeks to reach all users. Cross your fingers for your update.

A confidential leaked doc shows Android Kitkat support for wearable gadgets and low end devices

Android fans, here's an exciting news for you. A document has been leaked from Google and Amir Efrati has brought this to us. This document gives more information about Android Kitkat saying that Google's update to the OS will not only support wearable gadgets but also the low end devices. This is a "confidential" document that Google shared with companies that make Android devices to explain the most important new features.so this time, the report seems to be accurate, at the first glance. 

Google wants Kitkat be able to run on low end devices because these devices hold a major percentage of Android's total market share. 

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.

Not only limited to small devices and tablets, Google also wants to run Android 4.4 on wearable gadgets such as smartwatches and Google Glass. According to the confidential document, KitKat is expected to support three new types of sensors: geomagnetic rotation vector, step detector and step counter. These sensors will help in measuring the distance covered by the user and also will help to develop health related apps and gadgets such as Fitbit and Nike Fuelband This looks like a good response to Apple's Motion Coprocessor that was introduced with this year's release of iPhone 5S. These may be loaded on Google's smartwatch or new Glass. 

With addition to these sensors, Google is also working on NFC on a greater extent NFC is currently used in Android devices for payment such as Google Wallet but doesn't have made much scope though. Google seems to be enhancing the ways to use the NFC enabled devices. 

 This document also shows that Search giant is working on controlling your TV with Android device. This will help in improving the way the control to TVs using IR Blasters which was a initiative by Samsung, HTC and LG. Mountain Giant is also working to improve Bluetooth functionality by adding Human Interface Device (HID) and Generic Attribute (GATT) profiles. These profile will help Android devices to interact with each other using Bluetooth Low Energy protocol, which was introduced in Android 4.3. 

Android 4.4 shows signs of better improvements and introduction of new technologies. We are hoping to see Nexus 5 capable of all these sensors and communication support, running on Kitkat. Prepare yourself for a sweet new treat. 

Source: Amir Efrati from Jessica Lessin

Google updates Play Store Devices section UI

User Interface. The first thing with which we interact. And when it's eye catchy, who will not get impressed. Here, Google has updated the UI of Play Store's Devices section. Although changes are not much, but a drop down list is added for memory and connectivity options such as Wifi or 3G. It also shows suggestions when the device doesn't suit your required configurations.

Google has also recently updated Photos and Hangouts app, it is also reported to update its 14 service apps. Now we are seeing UI update to Devices section. We have also seen leaks about Nexus 5 and Android Kitkat. Is this everything hints towards a soon launch of new Nexus and next taste of the Android ?

Google is updating its service apps for Android Kitkat

Android is coming soon. Google has recently updated Google+ app. We also saw that SMS integration is coming to Hangouts app. Search giant is keeping updating apps to take user experience to the higher levels. Images of Nexus 5 are also continuously leaking, we have seen Black and White versions of Nexus 5, as well as retail boxes of forthcoming Nexus smartphone from LG Canada. So it all hints at one direction, Android 4.4 Kitkat is no far. 

Google is also preparing itself for the great rumored launch. Not only Google+ and hangouts apps, it is going to update a whole bunch of its apps which will be rolled out soon. There are 14 such apps: Google Play Services, Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Earth, Translate, Chrome, Goggles, Play Magazines, Keep, Wallet, Blogger, Analytics and Fiber.

All of these preparations show that Android Kitkat is soon. When? We don't know. But when it is, we will surely let you know. 

Google introduces update to Glass with a mono earbud and better hardware

Google has introduced a new edition of Glass. This time it contains Earbuds, but let me correct, it is a mono earbud. Also these models support prescription lenses i.e. your reading lenses. Google says that instead of telling the world, it shows what it does and what it can do. Shown in a Google+ post, Google also says that new Glass Explorers will get new editions later this year.