Google unveils new smartphone in Nexus line

Google's new Nexus 5 with KitKat. Image: Google

The hotly anticipated addition to Google's Nexus line is powered by a new "KitKat" version of Android, which was redesigned to work across the wide range of handsets built with the Internet company's free software.

"Now you have one version of the Android operating system that can ship across all versions of smartphones in 2014," Sundar Pichai, head of the Android and Chrome teams, said while providing a look at the new software and Nexus 5.

"As we get on our way to reach the next billion people, we want to do it with the latest version of Android," he said.

The move aims to solve the problem that with a wide variety of Android systems being used around the world it becomes challenging for makers of fun, functional or hip smartphone or tablet apps to design programs that work on all devices.

Being stuck with old versions of Android means that users don't get access to upgrades or improvements cranked out regularly by Google.

Apple executives routinely boast about how most users of its iPhones, iPads and iPod touches are on the latest version of the iOS operating system while many Android users are stuck with old versions are stuck with the old versions of the operating system software.

Have a break, have a KitKat

Changes in KitKat include its fine tuning to work with the limited memory capacities of Android smartphones priced for markets in developing countries or other places where buyers are on tight budgets.

"It is important to us to get the same version of Android to scale across all versions of devices," Pichai said.

Google partnered with South Korean consumer electronics company LG to make the Nexus 5 smartphone to showcase the prowess of KitKat.

The Nexus 5 is available for purchase in 10 countries through Google's online Play shop, priced at US$349 for a 16GB model and US$399 for a version with 32GB of memory.

KitKat has been released to handset manufacturers so they can begin building their own smartphones using the software, according to Pichai who claims it is a cutting-edge operating system but will also run on older phones.

It is up to Android smartphone manufacturers whether to push KitKat updates to people using their devices running on old versions of the operating system.

Unify the Android systems

"The idea is to finally unify all of the Android operating systems to the point where they stop fragmenting," said analyst Tim Bajarin, president of Creative Strategies in Silicon Valley.

"Vendors have every reason to keep their customers happy," he added. KitKat improves the smartphone user interface with richer and more immersive graphics while tapping into Google data centres for features such as anticipating what smartphone users wants to see before being asked.

For example, a KitKat-powered smartphone can recognise when you are near a movie theatre and automatically pop up film times.

"KitKat also takes into account what most people do at a certain spot to predict what a smartphone user might want," Pichai explained.

If the software noticed a person was at the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park it would automatically display information about when it was due to spout.

If an incoming telephone call is from a business, information from its website will be displayed as the handset rings.
"Our vision is that every time you pick up the phone, the information you want is right there in front of you," Pichai said.

"This is the kind of thing we really get excited about doing; bringing the power of Google to the device," he added.

Google is both a rival and an ally to Android smartphone manufacturers. While Google has worked with partners to make Nexus smartphones for several years, its acquisition of Motorola Mobility last year has made it a competitor in handset hardware.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge