It's been a pretty big day for Google. It all kicked off when the Android maker announced via Google+ that the next version of Android would be called Android 4.4 KitKat. The first time that a brand name has been used for one of Google's famous sweet inspired version names, KitKat is more than just a title.
Google has just unveiled Android 4.4 KitKat. The naming convention for major Android operating system releases doesn't take a genius to figure out. With each new big release getting a name based on popular sweets, and those names following the alphabet series, the next release after Jelly Bean was believed to be called Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Now, after an announcement by Google itself, it's clear that isn't quite accurate.
The Nexus 7 tablet made waves around this time last year when it was first released to market, and the announcement of its successor just a short while ago caused a similar stir in tech circles. As well as offering an upgraded processor and more RAM than its predecessor, the second-gen ASUS creation also boasts a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera, something that was sorely missed last time around. After a successful Stateside launch, the Nexus 7 2013 has now been made available to other markets, including the UK, Japan, France, Germany and Spain.
The LG-manufactured, Google-branded Nexus 4 smartphone has proved popular with consumers thanks to its relatively low price allied to a fairly impressive list of hardware specs. Today, the Big G has lowered the price some more, with the device now retailing in the sub-$200 category for the 8GB model.
With any new Android device - smartphones and tablets alike - the first thing that people are on a lookout for is ways to customize it even deeper. Now, in the world of Google’s open source operating system, root access is usually the first base that you have to cover to reach somewhere on that front, and that’s exactly what we’re going to teach you to do in this post for the new Nexus 7, also labeled Nexus 7 2013.
Yesterday, we shared with you that YouTube v5.0 had been seeded to users by Google. Up until now however, this new version has been reserved for Android users, but we quickly found out that an iOS version was on the horizon - and it just dropped onto the App Store in the form of YouTube v2.0 for iOS. As Ben pointed out in his earlier post, the biggest change in this update is without doubt the new in-app multitasking functionality that allows you to watch a video, and browse the app itself with ease simultaneously.
YouTube for Android has long since offered a great set of features, bridging the gap between two of Google's foremost services. Today, the official app has been given a massive update, bringing the release number up to version 5.0. Full details of the improvements, as well as the download link, can be found after the break!
CyanogenMod, the most popular custom firmware for Android based solely on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), usually serves as a sigh of relief for the plethora of users that otherwise would be stuck on an older Android version owing to the fact that OEMs are not really that keen on releasing updates for older devices. With the release of Android 4.3, a lot of Android users were looking forward to tasting the latest goodies on their device thanks to the famous custom ROM, and CM developers have not disappointed - CyanogenMod 10.2 nightlies have started making appearances on the official channel for a variety of devices, which is based on Android 4.3.
Google Glass has made waves since the search giant first announced the project last year, and with many developers and creatives currently testing and helping to enhance the wearable tech ready for launch early next year, we've just caught wind of the kind of price point we should be expecting. Glass has long since been perceived as an expensive gadget, and as such, many analysts and commentators have been quick to suggest that $1000+ would simply be too steep a climb for the average consumer. But if a report originating from the China Post carries any weight, the actual retail cost of Glass will be significantly cheaper than that.
Google has once again delivered a weighty bundle of features in the second iteration of the famed, ASUS-made Nexus 7 slate, and if you happen to reside in the UK and wondering when you would be able to purchase the heavily-lauded 7-inch tablet, you'll be pleased to learn that it will hit the Play Store before the end of the month. As confirmed by ASUS, the new Nexus 7 will be available in Britain from August 28th, and with the base, 16GB version retailing at just £199, it offers the same incredible value that made it a hit this time last year.
