Google this morning have held a Press Conference in San Francisco where they have announced the new 2013 Nexus 7, Chromecast and Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), so what’s new in Android 4.3?
If you remember when Google announced Android 4.2 last year, they introduced Multi Account Support. With Android 4.3 they have pushed it to a new level by allowing the owner of the Android device to set up restricted profiles. These restricted profiles work in the same way as multi user accounts and include the functionality to remove access to certain features from apps such as in-app purchases, or other features that you may not want other users of the device to access.
Google have also introduced OpenGL ES 3.0 the latest industry standard for 3D graphics, into Android 4.3 making it the first platform to support this new standard. So what is OpenGL ES 3.0?
Android 4.3 is the first mobile platform with OpenGL ES 3.0. This brings the next level of complex graphics to mobile devices, with updated shading language, enhanced floating point textures and texture compression.
This has big implications for game developers and gives great opportunity for photo-realistic games and rendering to advance on Android.
Another feature introduced with Android 4.3 is Bluetooth Smart technology (Also known as Bluetooth low energy). Bluetooth Smart technology allows devices running Android 4.3 to connect to low power Bluetooth devices such as smart watches, pedometers and heart rate monitors.
Lastly Google have introduced Media DRM support to Android 4.3, this will allow media providers to easily secure content that they provide through their applications on any Android device.
If you own a Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 or a Nexus 10 you will be getting the update to Android 4.3 from today.
If you have managed to get your hands on a Google Play edition of the Galaxy S 4 or the HTC One, the update to Android 4.3 will be available in the coming months.
What are your thoughts on Android 4.3? Is there anything that you think still needs to be improved on from 4.2.2?
