Google introduced Android 4.0!
Today, the expected by all users of Google Android operating system event: a significant upgrade includes a new operating system, formerly known under the codename Ice Cream Sandwich and is now officially received the title of Android 4.0. The system is designed to unify the platform, Android, making it the same for smartphones and tablets.
Google will highlight three main characteristics of the platform Android: ease of use, attractiveness and, finally, the maximum access to the web and cloud features. It is now difficult to believe that the mobile ecosystem, Google is only three years: it is present everywhere and is the most popular mobile OS in the world, mass produced vehicles totally different class.
The first difference represented an operating system Android 4.0 from previous versions is the new Font typeface, which received the name Roboto. This font will be the new face of the operating system in the world, where tablets and Android smartphones will share a single software. In appearance it may seem like just another chopped font, but Google says that it is the basis of the design philosophy of Android 4.0, adding that the font is “modern, accessible and emotional.” Pure geometric design dictates the font and general appearance of the other blocks operating system, which has also received a clear-cut lines, smooth animation and got rid of “unnecessary” items. To some extent a bet on the font as a basis for design of operating systems like Microsoft’s approach to Windows Phone.
Google also introduced a new home screen, bringing together not only links to applications, but also widgets that can now change the size of both the tablets and smartphones. Creating folders is also not difficult: you just drag one icon to another – in this folder will be created automatically. Then you can rename and arrange the icons in the correct order. In the folder, you can add not only applications but also the most used contacts for quicker calls.
In Android 4.0 now has a choice of recently used applications, as in the Honeycomb, allowing to switch from one to another. The company has also redesigned the Windows Task Manager, which allows a more attractive way to run applications. In the OS now has a quick creation of screenshots: just press simultaneously power key and volume reduction. This will greatly simplify the work of journalists. The company has enhanced the action alerts. Learn more about !
Google paid considerable attention to the keyboard in the Ice Cream Sandwich. Has been improved error correction, spell checker, word choice options. Copy, cut and paste are also improved and become more uniform within the operating system. In general, during the event clearly expressed theme was consistency – one of the main problems of Android so far. The conference demonstrated improved speech recognition for dialing a text message. Android now can recognize it in streaming mode, receiving a lengthy dictation. However, the demonstration worked imperfectly, to confuse, for example, «man» and «map».
In Ice Cream Sandwich lot of new features, such as, Face Unlock. As you might guess from the title, it is about recognizing the user’s face to unlock the phone. Smartphone will literally know in the face of its owner. This is hardly a new idea, but Google it introduces for the first time. Unfortunately, the demonstration did not all go smoothly – refused to recognize the smartphone user. Hopefully, in real life, the function will be useful.
Of course, the Android 4.0 has been improved and built-in browser. He got a new design tab, selecting the user sees a preview of each. Supports up to 16 tabs – you can easily add and remove. Introduced a very useful feature to “seek the desktop version of the site”, which instantly sends the user to enjoy a full, rather than the mobile version of the resource. The browser can now be synced with bookmarks Chrome. Available to the user saving pages for offline access mode only one click.
In the new style (of course, with new characters) have also been reworked such standard applications such as Gmail, Calendar, YouTube, Maps and so on, which are both convenient. It is also worth noting that in the Ice Cream Sandwich implemented online search.
Using the traffic becomes very important with the growth of the online capabilities of smartphones. Now tracking data is built into the operating system itself. In the setting of new section devoted to the use of traffic operator. There is a common usage data, and estimated the amount of traffic in the future. User can set your own limit.
With the release of Ice Cream Sandwich platform Android, finally, a big step forward in terms of functionality, camera and gallery. The application interface is completely redesigned the camera – it is faster and easier to use, access can be obtained directly from the lock screen. Snapshots are made instantly through zero lag bolt is kept constant auto focus and face detection. Functions are available at the touch focus, AE lock, added a handy digital zoom slider. The application provides the user with auto-splicing panoramas.
Gallery is also seriously reworked: it added filters, built-in editor, which allows, for example, crop, rotate and reflect the images. All the changes, you can save in a separate file, leaving the original intact. Photos can be sorted by location, shown to people (if previously prescribed tags). Supported video recording resolution of 1080p, with autofocus and a constant increase during the recording. Some of these features yet can boast of only Galaxy Nexus, but many of them will also appear on older machines.
Google notes that the center of the Ice Cream Sandwich is the people. Application of the same name appeared People. Contacts can be arranged as usual list or grid of photos. Every person can be contacted in various ways, including through social services like Twitter, Google + and LinkedIn. Android API through a third-party applications can be integrated with the People.
This is complemented by a new application for the calls, which is associated with the People. In the call history can now listen to the voice mail by pressing, slowing down or speeding up playback. Reject call people now can not just click Cancel and select from the list of pre-generated messages, for example, “I’m at work,” “Busy,” “call back later” and the like.
Finally, the last significant feature Android 4.0, demonstrated in Hong Kong, is the Android Beam. As you know, Google is actively promoting the technology NFC, including mobile payments. As is the case with the function Touch-to-share collapsed smartphones and tablet HP, now machines running Ice Cream Sandwich and supporting NFC, can exchange information. This feature works with a variety of applications and services to Android, including videos YouTube, contacts, maps, web pages, links to applications in the Android Market. In addition, the SDK is already available this functionality could be integrated in third party applications.
So, in November, Android 4.0 will appear in the Galaxy Nexus. However, the new OS at the time can get some other machines. Journalists saw the Nexus S with Ice Cream Sandwich, and even Google has officially confirmed that the device will receive the update. In general, the search giant has promised that most of the devices running Android 2.3, will be updated. Google notes that, currently working on porting Ice Cream Sandwich at Nexus S, but “theoretically a new OS can run on any device, 2.3″. It is hardly surprising that the exact update time is not yet known, but let’s hope that this time the manufacturers will release updates more quickly than is the case with Gingerbread. On the plates has not reported.