While today may be iPhone launch day, there's obviously other things to talk about. Thankfully, Google's been giving us plenty to discuss over the last couple of weeks, especially ever since they announced the next major version upgrade to their mobile operating system, Android. Word on the street was that it would be Android 5.0 "Key Lime Pie," but Google pulled a quick one on all of us, and went with something a little bit different.
Android 4.4 is called KitKat, and as you can see from the top image, they're taking it pretty seriously. Or, at least as seriously as every other confection-based mobile OS version codename before it. Which is fine, because plenty of people find KitKats delicious, and maybe after Google names an Android version after it, more people will give the sweet treat a try.
All joking aside, there's never been any serious reason for the names behind Android's software versions. Google's always made it seem like a lighthearted joke, and that trend is continuing well into the future with KitKat. I know plenty of people who have Android phones and have no idea which version of the software they're running, let alone what it's codename is.
Plus, it gives Google a reason to have ridiculous Android-based statues outside their headquarters. What's wrong with that?
The important part about the next version of Android is just like any other piece of software that will ultimately be used by many, many people: the features. There's no doubt in my mind that Android already has a strong backbone when it comes to features, even when compared to its major competitors. Android has come a long, long way, and hopefully Google doesn't have any plans to settle that down.
Because they haven't really slowed anything down, not since the release of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, anyway. Sure, they've had a few software upgrades since then, all the way up to Android 4.3 (with other, smaller, updates in between), but those were all part of the same overall build. Jelly Bean. The smaller, incremental updates made sense in that case, especially as they built towards the larger update, Android 4.4 KitKat. Just as the name would indicate, the update from Android 4.3 to Android 4.4 will be noteworthy in that it's launching another version of the OS, a major upgrade. With that, people are probably expecting a few things.
That's a normal reaction. We know that with a major upgrade, whether it's hardware or software, we expect to see plenty of reasons why we, as the consumer, should upgrade. Whether it's just under the hood updates, or things we can see in the aesthetic changes right up front, there needs to be something that changes to make our purchase make sense. We expect anyone, including Google, to give us a reason to want to get the newest version of their mobile operating system.
Most people will expect the same from the Mountain View-based company in the coming weeks when they unveil the details regarding Android 4.4 KitKat. Even if Google has never intended the next version of Android to offer a tidal wave of new features, that's what people will expect. At least to start. So Google will obviously do their best to make the new features, even if their just tweaks under the hood to optimize the software, sound amazing and essential.
But, it's about the consumer around here, so I'm curious: what are you expecting to see in Android 4.4 KitKat? What are you *hoping* to see? Is there a feature that you're just dying to see added to Google's mobile OS? Maybe a gray color scheme? Or do you think Android is as good as it can be, save for some front-facing features (like Daydream)? Let me know!
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