Android 4.3 – New Features and Improvements
Android 4.3
is here, or at least it is if you’ve got a Nexus device or Google
Edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One, and while it’s not a huge
improvement to the Android operating system it does include a few
enticing features and updates.
Restricted profiles
Restricted profiles are arguably the headline feature of Android 4.3. They’re an improvement to the multiple user profiles feature that was added in Android 4.2 and they let you restrict the apps and content that each user has access to, so for example if your sharing your tablet with your kids or you just want some privacy you can make certain things off limits. Equally if you run a company where a tablet is shared between employees you can block distracting apps such as Facebook.
Bluetooth improvements
Bluetooth Smart support will now be available for certain Android devices, such as the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7. This means that they will now be compatible with low-energy Bluetooth Smart accessories, which will be especially useful for fitness junkies, as many fitness accessories such as heart-rate monitors make use of Bluetooth Smart.
Android 4.3 also brings support for Bluetooth AVRCP 1.3, which allows song names to be displayed on your car stereo when streaming music from your Android device.
Auto-complete
The stock Android dial pad now features auto-complete, making contact suggestions from your address book as you begin typing numbers or letters.
OpenGL ES 3.0
Android 4.3 includes support for OpenGL ES 3.0, which is the latest version of the industry standard for high performance graphics. This makes improved visual effects possible, which will be especially useful for games.
Wireless display
The Nexus 7 (2013 edition) and Nexus 10 now both support wireless display, allowing you to project images or videos from your tablet to your TV.
Virtual surround sound
Users of Nexus devices will now be able to enjoy virtual surround sound when watching movies from Google Play.
Improved input
Text input should see an improvement thanks to a new algorithm for tap-typing recognition and if you connect a gamepad to your device there should be lower latency when using the buttons and joysticks.
More Languages
Android 4.3 adds additional language support. Text can now be translated into Africaans, Amharic, Hindi, Swahili and Zulu. Right-to-left languages such as Arabic and Hebrew are also now supported on the home screen as well as in the settings, Phone, People and Keep apps.
Location improvements
No longer do you need to manually turn Wi-Fi on whenever you want to use Wi-Fi to detect your location, instead it will automatically happen.
Other improvements
On top of all the above improvements and features there are a bunch of other small changes in Android 4.3. For one thing it increases the speed of user switching from the lock screen. It also improves the ‘Daydream’ feature, allowing you to navigate through interesting photo albums. You’ll also see improvements when you first setup your Android device, as you can now correct or change things that you’ve previously input and user agreements have been streamlined.
Finally there’s a new tab on the settings screen for ‘Disabled Apps’. This can be found in the ‘Apps’ section of the settings screen and lets you see at a glance which apps have been disabled.
Thoughts
Android 4.3 isn’t the overhaul we’d hoped for, in fact it’s such a marginal update that it still falls under the Jelly Bean moniker. That’s not to say that it’s not worthwhile, as some of the features- such as restricted profiles, OpenGL ES 3.0 and Bluetooth Smart support will be tremendously useful for certain users. But many other users will probably barely notice the difference, particularly those who already have Android 4.2 on their device.
Users of Nexus or Google Edition devices should be able to get the Android 4.3 update already. Everyone else will have to wait and it will really be down to the device manufacturers as to if and when the update will arrive, though as a general rule of thumb the newer and higher end your device the more likely you are to get Android 4.3 anytime soon.
It’s absolutely worth upgrading if and when you’re offered it as there’s really no downside, but it feels like a starter to tide us over before the main course and we’re still left more than a little hungry for Key Lime Pie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwXA27TWD3k
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