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What's new for developers in Android 4.4 KitKat

101 points| 6thSigma | 12 years ago |developer.android.com

32 comments

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[+] Tarang|12 years ago|reply
Finally the webview uses Chromium instead of the native android browser. I've been waiting so long for this.

I hope they find a way to roll it to more devices really quickly so more people use the latest version. I guess its a big problem but there's plenty of value to google in finding that solution.

[+] rockdoe|12 years ago|reply
Firefox for Android is finishing up a GeckoView that will essentially bring that capability to older devices, or WebAudio/WebGL for new ones.
[+] suprgeek|12 years ago|reply
The Step Detector and Step Counter platform support is an especially interesting addition.

Perhaps a nod to the wearables market, with the upcoming Google watch hooking into it for some Fitness tracking smarts?

[+] sergeykish|12 years ago|reply
> Android now supports the Common Encryption (CENC) for MPEG-DASH, providing a standard, multiplatform DRM scheme for managing protecting content.

wow, discussion of web DRM was much louder

[+] promoCode|12 years ago|reply
Well, yeah. Because you don't have to root/jailbreak normal computers.

The true horror of "appified-zomg-everyting-in-teh-cloud" tablets, smart phones and other mobile devices is that the walled garden model leaves most people benumbed to the concept of DRM, as if it were a novocaine injection.

Then, to top it off, the combination of shitty cell phone reception along with the price of a required data plan behaves like some continuous supply of laughing gas, and net neutrality just goes out the window.

It's different when you use a real computer, because you haven't acquiesced to all the limitations of cramming every last tidbit of computation and networking into the space of a 3' x 5' index card. People stop caring about standards compliance, page rendering consistency, and the whole works. Most people are still amazed that full motion video, megapixel cameras, the internet, and gigabytes of storage can fit in the palm of their hand, and then get put on pause and stuffed in their pocket for later. We don't complain as much because we're so happy for the convenience.

The Web does not exist within the mobile domain as it does among laptops and desktops. Your standards are 1,000 times higher, sitting at a desk in a controlled environment, than they are while standing in a train station or an airport, or sitting in the back of a taxi cab.

[+] scottmp10|12 years ago|reply
Anyone know if NFC emulation will let me create an app to replace my Clipper card and work key fob? I would have guessed that NFC chips would have an embedded secret that you can't get directly.
[+] thethimble|12 years ago|reply
Yea, sadly your clipper card has a secret key that you can't access.
[+] ge0rg|12 years ago|reply
I would really like to know on which devices the host emulation API will be available at all.
[+] josephhardin|12 years ago|reply
I doubt it. You'd have to know the update strategy, as well as the key. Theoretically it's impossible to get the secret out of the device(though in actuality, I doubt that is true).
[+] BioMeditate|12 years ago|reply
Looks like both my work card and NFC operate at HF - 13.56 MHz so the technology is there. I would love some tips on software though
[+] elwell|12 years ago|reply
KitKat isn't trademarked?
[+] DanBC|12 years ago|reply
There's a deal between Google and Nestle. This has caused some consternation because many people see Nestle as Evil.

Nestle engage in really shady practices - pushing formula milk in developing nations, ignoring wide spread international laws and drives to encourage breast feeding. This isn't just "giving mother's freedom to chose", it's killing little babies.

[+] chengsun|12 years ago|reply
It is, but Nestle have allowed Google to use the name, as part of a mutual promotion.
[+] weixiyen|12 years ago|reply
> Android 4.4 is designed to run fast, smooth, and responsively on a much broader range of devices than ever before — including on millions of entry-level devices around the world that have as little as 512MB RAM.

Does this mean that it will run the same as it is running now, but just on more devices, or does it mean that KitKat is even more responsive than JellyBean?