The first day of Google I/O 2012 was without doubt a busy one. With several hardware announcements and some really nice pieces of software, Google has more than fought its corner amidst opposition from Apple and Microsoft this month. But the main announcement of Day One was an update to the mobile operating system, Android 4.1. 4.1 carries on the tradition of sickly sweet dessert names, by carrying the moniker 'Jelly Bean'.
So, what
are the new features coming to Android? Look no further!
PROJECT BUTTER - Project Butter is Google's attempt to, quite frankly, make Android suck less. Have you ever felt like your Android phone is sluggish, laggy or otherwise dissappointing in performance? Well then Project Butter could prove to be your answer. The Android team have added several technologies to the underlying code of Andoid in an attempt to speed up the way the operating system runs.
And according to initial reports, it seems to have worked. Some beta testers are saying that the new engine makes old apps 'look and feel like Slow-motion', and Google has confirmed that every app will now run at a blistering 60 fps. It's not clear, however, if developers will have to update their apps to take advantage of Thsi new speed boost. Regardless, it's nice to see the big G working to deal with some of the worst Android gripes.
IMPROVED KEYBOARD - WITH VOICE!In Jelly Bean, the stock UI keyboard has been given a nice update. Making use of Google's amazing semantic search and prediction abilities, the new keyboard is smarter and slicker. While it doesn't look a whole lot different, the feel of using it appears to be much more like a cross between BBOS10's predictive text and the Android tweak Swiftkey.
Also added to the new keyboard is the ability to dictate text without the need for an Internet connection. With Android 4.1, you will be able to compose emails or text documents with your voice, even while your phone is locked in the takeoff curse of Airplane mode.
CAMERA APP UPDATESAndroids stock camera app has also been given a nice update, with some quick shooting features. The interface is identical to ICS, but users now have the ability to pinch back and visit a film strip to review their shot photos and videos.
ANDROID BEAM
Google has given thier NFC sharing app a little bump, with the ability to share videos wirelessly. It is also possible to pair your Android device with an NFC equipped set of Bluetooth speakers.
NOTIFICATIONS have also been updated with a slightly nicer interface, including thumbnails and larger text previews.
However the most exciting features to hit Android Jelly Bean are the last 2, Knowledge Graph Search and Google Now.
Together, these features basically form Google's response to Siri on iOS. With Knowlege graph, you cause your voice to Google questions and be answered with a response. What makes it even more powerful is that these answers are actually pooled from Google search results, meaning they are accurate and (usually) reliable.
The second part is the most exciting. Google Now is an online service that tracks your behaviour to work out what you are are doing, where you are, and what you might want to know. The service might sound a little creepy - it taps into your app data, contacts and search history - but the benefits could be amazing. Examples include your phone automatically working out where you work, the public transport times and then automatically calculating and telling you when you need to leave your house in order to make the bus or train. If it works, it will be astounding stuff.
All in all, Android Jelly Bean looks like another great update for lovers of Google's little green robot. There are plenty of other features, such as web controls for updating and uninstalling apps, but there is plentry of time for you to hear about them, as it's unlikely you'll be seeing Jelly Bean anytime soon. The update has only been confirmed for Nexus devices and the Motorola Xoom, which is a 'Google Experience' device.
