Android KitKat Released 358
First time accepted submitter taxtropel was one of many readers to note that Google has officially released its newest version of Android. taxtropel extracts from the announcement: "Today we are announcing Android 4.4 KitKat, a new version of Android that brings great new features for users and developers. The very first device to run Android 4.4 is the new Nexus 5, available today on Google Play, and coming soon to other retail outlets. We'll also be rolling out the Android 4.4 update worldwide in the next few weeks to all Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 devices, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Google Play Edition devices."
Reader SmartAboutThings adds: "Almost all of the features that the Nexus 5 comes with are not a surprise, since they were heavily leaked before. Still, for those that have obediently waited this day, here are some of its most important specs: 2.2Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 800 and 2GB of RAM, 4.95-inch 1080p display, Wireless charging, 2,300 mAh battery, LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac WiFi and NFC; Gorilla Glass 3, Front 1.3-megapixel camera and 8-megapixel sensor on the back with optical image stabilization (OIS)."
the name (Score:5, Interesting)
I still think it's cheesy to use a brand-name food as the OS name, instead of a generic name.
Otherwise, looks neat. :-)
Count me out this round (Score:1, Interesting)
I'm sorry, but if it were a newer 4" phone with outrageous features, I'd be "okay, I'll probably get one." But a phablet? I just can't get behind it. I have my Nexus 7s. I have my Nexus 4. If my Nexus 7 needs data, I can tether from my phone. (Most of the time, it's WiFi or I don't really need it.) My eyes are still pretty good. I can still count the pixels on a 22" monitor with a 1920x1080 display. But this sub-retina display? I wonder. I think we just went beyond reason. Each of those pixels is memory which is used to display them. I can think of better uses of memory... and the power to drive such displays. It's a phone right? Power and battery life are important. Also, portability is important. A 4" phone already exceeds the size of what a person should wear on his belt and certainly exceeds what goes in my pockets. But 5"? This is be balking.
I like the new Google things. But I think I'll just spend a significant amount more with Samsung on my next device. It will be paid-for, not supplemented through carrier contracts because I enjoy a lower phone bill... a significantly lower phone bill. I hope Samsung stops playing the carrier game as well and starts selling directly at prices competitive with Google gear.
Google wallet (Score:4, Interesting)
Still no native Opus codec support? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:the name (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Galaxy Nexus (Score:4, Interesting)
Not that it's a substitute for proper support, but one small sop is that the Nexus phones are the easiest Android phone to re-flash yourself, and Cyanogen Mod is at it's best polished on Nexus devices. As long as it can handle it hardware-wise, there's nothing stopping you installing the KitKat-derived version of Cyanogen Mod (once it is released).