With the recent release of Android 4.4, Google has fans cheering. However, even more exciting plans are expected in the next year.
1. Better SMS Apps
Up until now, Android developers have had to rely on workaround to create third-party apps for messaging because of how Google kept the API hidden. Chomp SMS and Handcent are among the popular options available in the Play Store, and now their developers will be able to use the official Android messaging API. This is good news for users who want to use something other than the stock messaging app without experiencing strange message errors. Plus, the release of the API means integrating Hangouts with SMS will work with third-party apps.
2. Smartwatch Compatibility
Rumors have been swirling for a while that Google is working on its own smartwatch to compete with Apple. Of course, Samsung already released an option in its Gear line, which you can currently purchase along with Samsung Galaxy S3 cases. However, a pure Android smartwatch means that more devices will be compatibility, so you can potentially answer your phone, take photos and view text messages, among other activities, straight from your wrist while your phone is charging in the other room.
3. Better Searching within the Store
While this isn’t a change to the operating system itself, it makes it easier for users of Android to fine new apps. Google added sub-categories to the “Games” genre. The list splits up the existing categories — Arcade & Action, Brain & Puzzle, Card & Casual, Racing and Sports Games — into eighteen new categories:
- Action
- Adventure
- Arcade
- Music
- Simulation
- Strategy
- Puzzle
- Educational
- Card
- Casual
- Board
- Family
- Trivia
- Word
- Racing
- Sports
This change was a long time coming!
4. Faster CPUs
Apple has already started using 64-bit processors — like those that modern PCs now use — in the iPhone, so it only makes sense that Google follows suit. New Android devices will have powerful processors that should allow you to run more apps, and more demanding ones, simultaneously. This could mean better games for Android, so we hope developers are paying attention. It will be interested to see the price split between new, more-powerful handsets and those that still run on less-powerful CPUs in 2014.
Article by,Tricia Borren
Posted by, Ross Deprey
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