GOOGLE ANDROID MOD

KitKat look any different from the last version 

Android cleaner and simpler than ever before. Google has dressed up the Android interface, with visual tweaks like finer support for full-screen mode and more flawlessness effects.

On the leaked pictures of Android 4.4 KitKat, they were pushing the transparent navigation and status bars and white icons, so we should not be surprised to see them in the final version on the Nexus 5.

The horizontal line separating the home screen the dock is gone in its place, you now have a multi-dot display showing which panel you're currently viewing, similar to what many OEMs had already employed in their own Android-based UIs.

One thing that Google really concentrated on in Android 4.4 was performance. One thing they really pushed was the ability for Android 4.4 to work efficiently on low-end devices; ones with as little as 512MB of RAM! 

(source : Techcrunch.com)

There's a new launcher, It's not nearly as glaring a change as iOS 7 was, and commonly speaking KitKat still airs a lot similar Jelly Bean, but the design directions feel very similar.

Google just released the latest version of the Hangouts App that integrates SMS and MMS.

Voice activation really an internal part

Not Fully. KitKat does introduce a new voice command -- "Okay, Google" -- that swiftly takes you to Android Voice Search. But the command doesn't wake the phone on demand, as it does with the Moto X; it works on passive way.

Dialer get smarter.

Google's essentially built the Yellow Pages into its dialer app. When someone calls you and they are not one of your contacts, the phone will automatically check for the number against local listings using Google Maps and will let you know if it is a local business.

Photography  smarter.

A new feature called HDR+ will take a flurry of photos, then use high-dynamic range technology to combine them, allowing for better images in tricky lighting situations and less motion blur.

Wireless printing

Android 4.4 KitKat will bring wireless printing support to Android users. As we have already seen in leaked images, users will have the opportunity to print documents and pictures directly from their handsets, and customize the print jobs from the phone and/or tablet.

HP ePRINT

Wi-Fi TDLS Support

TDLS, for those that don't know, stands for Tunneled DIrect Link Setup.

One more KitKat feature , it's Wi-Fi TDLS., Wi-Fi TDLS, as Google describes it, is 

"a seamless way to stream media and other data faster between devices already on the same Wi-Fi network."

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance:

“Two TDLS devices automatically use their highest common performance and security features, regardless of the feature level supported by the network. TVs, smartphones, cameras, printers, PCs, projectors, and gaming devices, for example, can connect directly to each other to transfer content and share applications quickly and easily.”

Google Wallet

Kit Kat brings support for Host Card Emulation (HCE), which means any Android NFC device could be used for mobile payments without needing access to a secure element. With HCE any app can emulate an ISO/IEC 7816 smart card that use the contactless ISO/IEC 14443-4 (ISO-DEP) protocol for transmission.

Emoji everywhere

Until now, using emoji in parts of Android besides Hangouts could be a little tricky. Thankfully, Google has spread "Emoji everywhere" with Android 4.4 KitKat, integrating the set of awesome emoji with Google Keyboard for easier access. Users can now spice up their text messages, emails, and other announcements with fun Japanese-inspired characters and mood icons.

Step Detector and Step Counter

Google really worked on this new operating system to make it lean and fast. They also included many new features that will allow app developers use these new features as easy as possible.

The Step Detector examines accelerometer input to identify if the user takes a step and triggers a follow up event for each subsequent step the user takes.

The Step Counter will track the total numeral of steps taken until you restart the device; then it will start over keeping count.

(Source :appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com)

Audio Tunneling to Save More Battery

In KitKat, Google has introduced audio tunneling into DSP. Instead of using the application processor to decode audio or respond to audio output requests, this responsibility is offloaded to the onboard DSP. The DSP is now much more efficient at such tasks than the CPU, and now Google is estimating that the amount of power used playing back audio on your phone could decrease by about 50%.

(Source:appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com)

when will KitKit actually come to my phone?

Google has said on their announcement post that “KitKat will soon be available on the Nexus 4, 7, 10, the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play Editions.”

In an interview with Engadget, HTC's Jason Mackenzie revealed that they aren't beating around the bush with Android 4.4 KitKat. The goal is to first push the update to the HTC One Google Play Edition within the next 15 days. After that, the unlocked and developer editions of the HTC One should see an update within 30 days. As for U.S. Carrier variants of the One? While delays can obviously happen, the goal is to push out the update to all carriers within 90 days or less.(Source :appeared first on androidauthority.com)