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Tag: Android 4.4

  • Nestle May Be Using A Michael Jackson Reference To Tease Android 4.4’s Release Date

    Last month, Nestle told some fans on its German Facebook page that Android 4.4, or KitKat, would be available at some point in October. At the time, it said that Google only knew the date, but a number of teases out of the candy maker seems to suggest that it knows more than it was letting on.

    On October 15, the official KitKat Twitter page sent out an innocuous Tweet featuring a KitKat Bugdroid busting a move:

    Many took it as just a nice bit of social media relations, but the conspiracy theorists that lurk on the Internet went much deeper. They theorized that the tweet was a thinly veiled announcement of Android 4.4’s release date using two facts. The song, “Gonna Make You Sweat,” which the tweet references was released by C+C Music Factory on October 18. The group was also formerly known as The 28th Street Crew. Put two and two together and you get a release date of October 28.

    Now, that might seem a little silly, but it’s apparent that these Internet sleuths were onto something. Just five hours ago, the KitKat Twitter account tweeted this out:

    Not only is the tweet encouraging people to look for “the signs,” but the image is a reference to the Michael Jackson album and documentary of the same name. When was This Is It released? October 28.

    With both of these teases, Android fans are now confident that Google is going to release Android 4.4 on October 28. We’re also likely to see the Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 on the same date.

    It’s worth reminding fans to keep their expectations in check. This could be nothing more than social media chatter from a brand that’s having way too much with its new association with Google’s mobile OS. That being said, it seems almost too deliberate at this point so we’ll just have to wait and see.

    [h/t: Droid-Life]
    [Image: KitKat/Twitter]

  • Here’s 7 Minutes Of The Nexus 5 In Action

    We still don’t know when Google’s Nexus 5 will be released, but recent rumors peg it as launching later this month. That certainly seems appropriate as more and more people are somehow getting their hands on the latest smartphone from Google and LG.

    smartphones.sfr.fr recently got its hands on the Nexus 5, and uploaded seven minutes of them playing around with it. Even more exciting than the Nexus 5, however, is getting to see more of Android 4.4, or KitKat. Unfortunately, the build on display here is incredibly early so it’s probably lacking some of the features that are likely to be in the final release.

    Still, it’s our best look at the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 yet, and it’s looking really good so far. Like the Nexus 4 before it, the Nexus 5 looks to keep things simple with a nice design that doesn’t try to drastically change the smartphone in any way. It will surely be a hit when it launches later this month (or year), especially if Google is able to keep it at $300.

    If you need a refresher, the Nexus 5 is pretty much confirmed to be near identical to the LG G2 in terms of specs. That means the phone will have a 5-inch 1080p display, 32GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM, a quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU, a 2300mAh battery, LTE compatibility and NFC.

    We’re likely to see it revealed alongside the new Nexus 10 and Android 4.4 sometime later this month if Nestle is to be trusted.

    [h/t: Droid-Life]
    [Image: Enaze Uddin/YouTube]

  • The Nexus 5 Will Retail For $299 Off Contract [Rumor]

    The Nexus 5 Will Retail For $299 Off Contract [Rumor]

    Google’s Nexus line has always been a great place for the cost-conscious shopper to find the latest and greatest hardware at super affordable prices. It’s all thanks to Google subsidizing the hardware themselves in the hopes that it increases the number of Android devices on the market, and by extension, increase their ad revenue. Well, it works, and it looks like Google will be continuing that trend with the Nexus 5.

    An unnamed source speaking to PhoneArena told the publication that the Nexus 5 will only cost $299 off contract when it launches presumably later this month. This version of the device will include 16GB of internal storage and 2300mAh battery. It’s also being reported that a 32GB version with a 3000mAh battery will be offered for $399.

    The above prices are incredible for a phone with the Nexus 5 specs. A leaked service manual tells us that LG and Google have built what amounts to the manufacturer’s flagship G2 smartphone. That means you’ll get a 5-inch full HD display, a Snapdragon 800 CPU and 2GB of RAM. The only difference between the two is that the Nexus 5’s camera will be downgraded to an 8MP rear camera and a 1.3MP front camera.

    Even with the inferior camera, the Nexus 5, much like the Nexus 4 before it, will represent a hell of a steal if it really does only cost $299 at launch. With mobile carrier subsidies, it might cost even less. At those kind of prices, those who want a powerful smartphone with the best Android has to offer will flock to Google’s Nexus line yet again. We can only hope that Google and LG have anticipated the demand this time around.

    [Image: LG Service Manual – now removed]

  • Nexus 5 Service Manual Leaks, Confirms Specs Once And For All

    Nexus 5 Service Manual Leaks, Confirms Specs Once And For All

    Late last month, an Android 4.4 log file pulled from a Nexus 5 was leaked onto the Internet. It seemingly confirmed the specs that Google’s Nexus 5 would be packing. With how leaks go, however, it very well could have been a fake. With that in mind, a recent leak pretty much confirms that leaked log file was the real deal.

    Droid Life reports that the Nexus 5 service manual from LG was leaked over the weekend. It tells us pretty much everything about the hardware, including confirmation that LG and Google have pretty much built the G2. That means Nexus 5 buyers will be getting a 4.95-inch 1080p display, 32GB of internal storage, 2GB of RAM, a quad-core 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 CPU, 2300mAh battery, LTE compatibility and NFC.

    Of course, there are some differences between the Nexus 5 and the LG G2. The most obvious is that the Nexus 5 ditches the G2’s unconventional design that found the volume and power buttons placed onto the back of the device. The Nexus 5 will instead stick to conventions with buttons on the side.

    The other big difference is that the Nexus 5 packs an inferior camera on the front and back to reduce costs. The LG G2 packs a 13 MP rear camera and a 2.1 MP front camera, whereas the Nexus 5 packs an 8 MP rear camera and a 1.3 MP front camera.

    While the service manual doesn’t give us a price or launch date, we can probably assume that it will cost a little more than the Nexus 4 and probably launch around the end of the month. Google will most likely unveil the Asus-built Nexus 10 and launch Android 4.4 at the same event as well.

    If you’re interested in learning more about the Nexus 5, you can check out the service manual below:

    LG D821

  • Jelly Bean Is Now On Almost Half Of All Android Devices

    Earlier this year, Jelly Bean was slowly working its way up the Android distribution charts as Gingerbread sat atop its near majority share. Slowly but surely, those roles have reversed with Jelly Bean now on the brink of being on a majority of Android devices.

    In the latest Android distribution chart released today, it’s revealed that Jelly Bean is now on almost half (48.6 percent) of all Android devices. Compare that to Ice Cream Sandwich (20.6 percent) or Gingerbread (28.5 percent) and you see that Jelly Bean is now without a doubt the new king of Android.

    Jelly Bean Is Now On Almost Half Of All Android Devices

    Jelly Bean can’t celebrate just yet, however, as it’s still not over the 50 percent threshold. Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich will undoubtedly continue to decline in usage, but Jelly Bean will soon have a new version of Android to compete with.

    So, will KitKat present any immediate threat to Jelly Bean’s dominance? It’s not likely as Android 4.4. will likely only be available on Nexus devices for the first few months of its existence. This year’s best selling Android handsets are only just now upgrading to Android 4.3 so who knows when they’ll make the jump to Android 4.4.

    The launch of Android 4.4 may present an interesting look at how Android distribution evolves though. Over the past year, we saw Jelly Bean emerge as only a tiny blip on the distribution charts when it first launched to now being on almost over half of all Android devices thanks to its proliferation on devices like the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One.

    Will KitKat see the same amount of support next year when Samsung, HTC and other Android handset manufacturers launch their new flagship devices? It’s certainly possible, but we’ve also learned throughout the years that handset manufacturers stay one generation behind where Android currently is. That helped with the proliferation of Android 4.1 this year, but it may just mean that next year’s devices will ship with Android 4.3 instead of 4.4. If that becomes the case, it may be a while before we see KitKat make any significant progress on the Android distribution charts.

  • Android 4.4 Leak Reveals Nexus 5 Specs

    Android 4.4 Leak Reveals Nexus 5 Specs

    Earlier this month, Google announced that Android 4.4, or KitKat, would be launching before the end of the year. We also understand that the latest version of Android will be accompanied by a new Nexus phone made by LG – the Nexus 5. Beyond that, we don’t know much else, but a recent leak may have just given us a bit more information on the latter.

    MyCE reports that it has obtained a log file of a Nexus 5 running Android 4.4. There’s some interesting stuff here, but it should be first noted that Android 4.4 was indeed going by the code name of Key Lime Pie before Google named it KitKat. I would have much preferred the former, but Google is probably right in saying that more people are aware of KitKat than they are of Key Lime Pie.

    Moving on to the more interesting news, the log file revealed the Nexus 5 specs. As many have guessed, the Nexus 5 will be pretty much identical to the LG G2 spec wise. What we got here is a 5-inch full HD display, 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, 8MP rear camera, 1.2 MP front camera, a 2300mAh battery and LTE support.

    As Droid Life points out, the 8MP camera in the Nexus 5 is inferior to the 13MP rear camera that’s in the LG G2. It’s thought that Google made that particular decision to help keep costs low. Some may feel cheated that Google is sticking with an 8MP camera on the Nexus 5, but it’s a better option than replacing the Snapdragon 800 CPU with an inferior CPU.

    As for details of Android 4.4 itself, we don’t have much. The log file only reveals that the latest version of Android will have a black notification bar with grey icons. Beyond that, we just don’t know what changes Google has in store for its latest version of Android. I suggested that Google may be broadening the scope of Android with version 4.4, but we won’t know until it’s officially unveiled.

    Speaking of which, we may not have to wait long. The official KitKat Facebook page said that Android 4.4 would be out sometime in October. Android 4.2 and the Nexux 4 were both announced at the tail end of October last year so it only makes sense that both Android 4.4 and the Nexus 5 will be unveiled later next month as well.

    [Image: Engadget 中文版/YouTube]

  • Nestle Says Android 4.4 Will Be Out In October

    Earlier this month, Google announced that the next version of Android would be called KitKat. Beyond the name and the announcement of a partnership with Nestle, Google didn’t say much else about it. Most importantly, we weren’t given a release date. Google isn’t saying anything, but Nestle is.

    Earlier this week, the KitKat Facebook fan page for Germany shared the following update:

    Post by Kit Kat.

    If you can’t read German, that’s fine. The post isn’t what’s important. The important bits lie in the comments. After one fan asked when Android 4.4 would be available, Nestle’s German Facebook team said that it would be available in October. It reconfirmed the October launch month multiple times throughout the comments as more people asked for confirmation.

    Later in the comments, one person asked if Nestle knew when Android 4.4 would launch in October. Nestle’s social media team responded in English with, “Maybe you should ask Google directly. They know the answer.”

    In other words, we now know that Android 4.4 will be launching in October, but we don’t know the day. Of course, the launch date makes sense as Android 4.2 and the Nexus 4 both launched in October of last year. That hopefully means that Google will launch the Nexus 5 alongside Android 4.4 next month.

    We may now know the launch month of Android 4.4, but its new features remain shrouded in mystery. I took a stab at what Google may be planning with its latest version of Android, but we won’t know for sure until Google decides to lift the veil.

    [Image: Kit Kat/Facebook]
    [h/t: Droidlife]

  • Googler Left The Nexus 5 At A Bar, Here’s Video Of It

    In late August, Google unveiled the latest Android operating system – KitKat. While some were speculating what Google’s newest mobile OS was capable of, others had combed through the announcement video to find what appeared to be a brand new Nexus phone. Google quickly pulled the video after the revelation, but it seems that Googlers in possession of the newest Nexus phone aren’t exactly the cautious sort.

    9to5Google reports that a Nexus 5 was left unattended by a Google employee at an unnamed bar over the weekend. During his absence, the bar employee was able to snag a few videos of the new device presumably running on KitKat. Unfortunately, the phone was locked so he couldn’t get into it to see all the juicy details. Still, we at least have a better idea of what the phone looks like thanks to the leak:

    So, we know what the Nexus 5 looks like, but what about specs? Thanks to a recent FCC filing, we can get a pretty good idea of what Google’s attempting with its latest Nexus device. In short, it’s an LG-made phone that’s very similar to the company’s recently announced G2. That means it will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, 5.2-inch display and 4G LTE support. Thankfully (or unthankfully for fans of the G2), however, the Nexus 5 will not sport the backplate buttons that made the G2 unique among its peers.

    At this point, we know pretty much everything about the Nexus 5 except for its launch date. We’re likely to not know anything about that either until Google announces its next Android event. We’re likely to find out more about KitKat at the same event as well.

  • Android KitKat Gets The NMA Treatment

    Last week, Google announced that its latest Android operating system would be called KitKat instead of the oft-rumored Key Lime Pie. Google said the name was chosen partly due to its employees’ love for the crunchy chocolate bars. Leave it up to NMA then to turn it into a story about a laser-eye KitKat Bugdroid.

    In the latest video from our favorite Taiwanese animators, NMA reports on a recent study from Google that sought to cut down on the amount of chocolate that its employees were eating. The company felt that too many of its employees were eating way too many M&Ms, and such a poor diet could lead to the employees being unhappy. They found a clever way around the chocolate obsession by storing the M&Ms inside opaque jars while leaving healthier options in clear jars.

    That’s one problem solved, but Google still has a hankering for chocolate. It’s one of the reasons why the company decided to name its next Android version KitKat. Does that mean that we’ll have an Android version named M&M in the next few years? I don’t know, but I’m not entirely opposed to having candy coated shells shaped like Bugdroid.

    [Image: NMAWorldEdition/YouTube]

  • Donut And Eclair Are Finally Wiped From The Android Distribution Charts

    For the past few months, Android versions 1.6 and 2.1 have been teetering on the brink of oblivion in the monthly Android distribution numbers. With the proliferation of Jelly Bean, these two early versions of Android are finally on their way out.

    In the September update to the Android distribution chart, Google reveals that Donut and Eclair – Android 1.6 and Android 2.1 respectively – are no longer being tracked. The official reason is that the new Google Play store app only supports Android 2.2 and higher, but Google also notes that versions older than Android 2.2 only account for about 1 percent of all devices signing into Google’s servers.

    With two versions being eliminated, we’re left with only five versions of Android on the distribution chart. Out of those five, the three most prominent Android versions are Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean. Jelly Bean continues its meteoric rise as it gains almost 4 percentage points over last month. Ice Cream Sandwhich and Gingerbread continue to see declines, however, as more people are upgrading to Jelly Bean or buying new devices with the latest OS installed.

    Donut And Eclair Are Wiped From The Android Distribution Chart

    So, what’s going on the chopping block next? I don’t think Google will remove Google Play support for Android 2.2 anytime soon, but usage numbers may soon necessitate the removal of Honeycomb, or Android 3.2, from the list. Ice Cream Sandwich made the tablet UI of Honeycomb obsolete, and the usage numbers call its relevance into question.

    As for the future release of KitKat, it will be interesting to see distribution numbers once it’s out in the wild. If my theory on KitKat being Google’s big push to put Android on more devices is correct, we could see the Android distribution charts taking devices like game consoles and smart watches into account. Mobile devices will still be the primary home of Android, but it will be interesting to see if other devices can make a dent in the distribution numbers.

    [Image: Android Developers]

  • KitKat 4.4 Is The Future Of Confectionery Delights

    It’s no secret now that the next version of Android is called KitKat. Google and Nestle have even teamed up to give away free Nexus 7s and Google Play credit. In announcing the partnership, Nestle has put together a genius piece of advertising.

    Below, you’ll see Christopher Catlin, Chief Breaks Officer at KitKat, describe what makes KitKat bars so special. You’ll learn that it’s “confectionery perfectionary” and available in two and eight “megabites” options. There’s even a chunkybite KitKat – whatever that is.

    The more illustrious among you may recognize that Nestle is parodying Apple’s hardware introduction videos. Catlin is an obvious Jony Ive parody, and the focus on aesthetics over functionality is an Apple trademark.

    It’s a little weird that Nestle is parodying Apple for an Android promotion, but perhaps it’s easier to parody a soft spoken hardware designer than ads about learning how to speak in public.

    [Image: KIT KAT/YouTube]

  • Is Google Putting Android On More Than Just Mobile Devices With KitKat?

    This afternoon, Google surprised the lot of us by announcing the new version of Android. Instead of the rumored Key Lime Pie name, Google partnered with Nestle to name it KitKat. That’s about all we know at the moment, but one could easily speculate where Google will be taking Android with this latest iteration.

    To understand KitKat, which is being referred to as Android 4.4, we have to look at the differences between the last two versions. Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich, was the first time Android could stand toe-to-toe with iOS as it had a refined and easy-to-use UI. Android 4.1, or Jelly Bean, made it even better by introducing Project Butter and Google Now. It also introduced a number of other tweaks in Android 4.2 and 4.3 that made Jelly Bean arguably the best mobile OS on the market.

    So, what’s up with Android 4.4 then? If we assume that remaining in the Android 4.x line means that it won’t receive a major UI overhaul, what does the new dessert name mean? The new dessert name usually implies a major new feature – like Project Butter in Android 4.1 – and Google gives us a pretty good hint as to what we can expect in the latest version of its mobile OS.

    On the official Android page under Android 4.4, Google says that its goal with KitKat is “to make an amazing Android experience available to everyone.” One could easily look at that and see a simple statement that says Google wants to bring Android to more people around the world. By looking at the mounting evidence, however, KitKat’s big new feature could be that it will start supporting more than just mobile devices.

    Over the last year, it’s been rumored that Google is working on a game console, a smart watch and a notebook line that will all run on Android. It could very well be that KitKat’s intention of bringing Android to everyone means that it’s finally moving beyond mobile devices. Sure, devices like the Ouya and cheap Chinese notebooks have already moved Android beyond its humble smartphone roots, but there’s been no official effort on the part of Google to do so.

    With Android KitKat, we may finally see Android serving as the OS to more and more consumer electronics. Android is already at home on smart TVs, but what if other smart devices throughout the modern home integrated Android? What if the modern home had a security system, a refrigerator, washing machine, thermostat and other appliances and devices all running on Android?

    There are certainly smart appliances out there today that can communicate with Android devices, but they aren’t using Android themselves. With KitKat, Google could finally display ads on more than just phones and tablets. Just imagine a smart refrigerator that displays ads for foods based upon what you currently have in it.

    It should be noted that all of the above is merely speculation. Google could have made an innocent statement about its intention to make an Android for everyone with KitKat. I just happen to believe that the evidence points to Google having big plans for Android.

    [Image: Google]