Though it was a bit late in coming, Android 4.3 is finally here now. Announced at a media event on 24th July, the new update will first surface in the newest Nexus 7 tablets, followed by, Nexus 10, and the Galaxy Nexus tabs. The update will be released soon for Google Play. This isn’t a software-redefining update, and it wasn’t meant to be so. But it still delivers some significant new features and other improvements. Some of the major features of the new update are:
- Expanded mode for multi users in tablets, with a new option to build restricted profiles. This is mainly geared towards parental control settings, which restrict access to only a few content and apps.
- Improved system to switch users from lock screen, which is faster than the previous version.
- Bluetooth Low-Energy or Bluetooth Smart, which allows the devices to pair with accessories such as fitness sensors; and AVRCP 1.3 support for Bluetooth, which allows features like song name display on stereos.
- OpenGL ES 3.0 support, which allows for a photo-realistic and more detailed 3D graphics in games.
- DRM programming interface support, which allows for high-definition 1080p streaming from applications like Netflix on tablets and smartphones.
- Scan-only Wi-Fi mode, which allows the use of Wi-Fi for scanning access points and improving location gathering, without having to turn on the Wi-Fi. This affects both battery life and location accuracy.
- Auto complete capabilities in “smart dialer”. This lets the dial pad suggest names from your phonebook when entering letters or numbers.
- Better performance for joysticks and gamepads.
- New system settings tab that allows you to see and manage the disabled apps grouped together.
- Apps can now tap into 4.x-level Quick Response function of Android, which means that you can now use other apps instead of the standard messaging application, when rejecting a call with a predefined text message.