Yesterday Google announced Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for Android devices with a press event titled “Breakfast with Sundar Pichai”. Android users have been waiting for this update for a long time, before the Google I/O 2013. A lot of us expected to hear about it in in IO13 but Google didn’t announce it. So, 24 July 2013 mark the day of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS update. This is an incremental update from Android 4.2 but with a lot of improvement, bug fixes and amazing graphics experience for gamers. The new Nexus 7 will be the first to run Android 4.3 and it will be shipped with this update installed.
Following the announcement Google pushed Android 4.3 to AOSP and released the new update for Nexus users. I’ve downloaded installed the update for my Galaxy Nexus (Maguru) working well.
The update brings some new features, performance and security enhancements. The new things added in Android 4.3 are OpenGL ES 3.0, Bluetooth Smart, Restricted Profiles, DRM, Notification etc. Some new languages were added in the list and more support.
OpenGL ES 3.0 is the latest upgrade from its 2.0 version. Brings a lot of improvement in display and more performance for gaming. The demo video presented by Google’s Hugo Barra was really cool and more detailed output on graphics. Google is working close with few companies to publish some nice games that supports OpenGL ES 3.0. Gamers get ready.
New Restricted Profile, great for sharing a tablet between users but with a limited access. You can set it up easily. If you are a parent and you have kids who like to play games, you can give them the games to play but without the ability to buy anything new.
Bluetooth Smart, the name says it. Your app now can communicate with the bluetooth LE devices and can show you real time data what was once confined to your thoughts but now has become a reality. Using wearable gadgets and getting data from them became easy and much happier.
Download your Android 4.3 update if you are a Nexus user from Google Developers website. This is an alternative to the OTA update. Select your device and model carefully and update your Nexus device. The Google Edition phones will get the update very soon. Though Galaxy S4 users were already enjoying the Android 4.3 for a while from a leaked image.