9 ms·

What's new for developers in Android 4.4 KitKat

101 points by 6thSigma 13y ago

Tarang 13y ago
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.
- AshleysBrain 13y ago
  It doesn't support WebGL or WebAudio though, according to https://developers.google.com/chrome/mobile/docs/webview/overview https://developers.google.com/chrome/mobile/docs/webview/ove... - a big shame, since this still means it'll be poor for gaming, especially since HTML5 audio won't play unless in a touch event...!
  - double051 13y ago
    This is only for the WebView object embedded in Android apps. Chrome and Firefox have supported WebGL on Android for a long time.
    - cheapsteak 13y ago
      Have they made it so users don't have to go to about:flags to manually turn it on anymore?
- rockdoe 13y ago
  Firefox for Android is finishing up a GeckoView that will essentially bring that capability to older devices, or WebAudio/WebGL for new ones.
elwell 13y ago
KitKat isn't trademarked?
- DanBC 13y ago
  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.
  - moutarde 13y ago
    They were not "killing babies" they were "monetizing the vast network of uniformed African's who were potential baby killers". If they were technically doing anything wrong then Google wouldn't have partnered with them, because as Eric Schmidt said: “If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”
    - ars 13y ago
      Um, wasn't this like 3 or 4 decades ago? It might be time to move on.
      - deleted 13y ago
        [deleted]
  - Zikes 13y ago
    Also the bottled water debacle[1]. [1] http://www.theorganicprepper.ca/nestles-wet-dream-they-mark-up-water-53-million-percent-06052013 http://www.theorganicprepper.ca/nestles-wet-dream-they-mark-...
  - ars 13y ago
    > Nestle engage in really shady practices - pushing formula Engage? It was 40 years ago (or 29). I think it's time to move on.
scottmp10 13y ago
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 13y ago
  Yea, sadly your clipper card has a secret key that you can't access.
- ge0rg 13y ago
  I would really like to know on which devices the host emulation API will be available at all.
  - vshastry 13y ago
    Most Android devices with NFC will probably support the API assuming they are running or are upgraded to KitKat. Edit: including link to source: http://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html#44-hce http://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html#44-h... "Support for HCE is already widely available on most NFC controllers, which offer dynamic support for both HCE and SE transactions. Android 4.4 devices that support NFC will include Tap & Pay for easy payments using HCE."
- guelo 13y ago
  The best you can do is read the info, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codebutler.farebot https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codebutler...
- josephhardin 13y ago
  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 13y ago
  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
suprgeek 13y ago
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?
- mikeyouse 13y ago
  Must be a response to Apple's inclusion of a dedicated movement-sensing M7 processor on the iPhone 5s. http://www.technologyreview.com/news/519531/what-apples-m7-motion-sensing-chip-could-do/ http://www.technologyreview.com/news/519531/what-apples-m7-m...
  - glhaynes 13y ago
    Surely it was scheduled for inclusion previous to the M7's announcement 6 weeks ago.
    - mikeyouse 13y ago
      Surely it was, but 'rumor' sites were writing about the dedicated movement processor in late August (at a minimum of 10 weeks ago) and I'm sure there are enough moles at either company so that Google / Apple know what their competitors will do several months in advance. * * * Late Edit * * * So I looked through the Google public Git repo, and it looks like the initial Step_Counter functions were added in Dec 2012.[1] The hardware must've been wrapped more than 6 weeks ago, so I was probably wrong. Google must've been working on this for months ahead of time. [1]https://android.googlesource.com/platform/hardware/libhardware/+/a455772 https://android.googlesource.com/platform/hardware/libhardwa...
      - lnanek2 13y ago
        I doubt Google has anything to do with the hardware for this. Qualcomm has been pushing movement tracking and user context recognition using sensors with their chips without using a lot of power at conferences for over a year now. This is probably just Google throwing in a cut down version of their Pivot functionality. It's basically a chipset feature, just like how the chipsets are who pushes the OpenGL ES drivers and demos each version.
sergeykish 13y ago
> 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 13y ago
  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.
weixiyen 13y ago
> 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?

101 points by 6thSigma 13y ago

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.

AshleysBrain 13y ago
It doesn't support WebGL or WebAudio though, according to https://developers.google.com/chrome/mobile/docs/webview/overview https://developers.google.com/chrome/mobile/docs/webview/ove... - a big shame, since this still means it'll be poor for gaming, especially since HTML5 audio won't play unless in a touch event...!
- double051 13y ago
  This is only for the WebView object embedded in Android apps. Chrome and Firefox have supported WebGL on Android for a long time.
  - cheapsteak 13y ago
    Have they made it so users don't have to go to about:flags to manually turn it on anymore?
rockdoe 13y ago
Firefox for Android is finishing up a GeckoView that will essentially bring that capability to older devices, or WebAudio/WebGL for new ones.

elwell 13y ago

KitKat isn't trademarked?

DanBC 13y ago
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.
- moutarde 13y ago
  They were not "killing babies" they were "monetizing the vast network of uniformed African's who were potential baby killers". If they were technically doing anything wrong then Google wouldn't have partnered with them, because as Eric Schmidt said: “If you have something that you don’t want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.”
  - ars 13y ago
    Um, wasn't this like 3 or 4 decades ago? It might be time to move on.
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
- Zikes 13y ago
  Also the bottled water debacle[1]. [1] http://www.theorganicprepper.ca/nestles-wet-dream-they-mark-up-water-53-million-percent-06052013 http://www.theorganicprepper.ca/nestles-wet-dream-they-mark-...
- ars 13y ago
  > Nestle engage in really shady practices - pushing formula Engage? It was 40 years ago (or 29). I think it's time to move on.

scottmp10 13y ago

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 13y ago
Yea, sadly your clipper card has a secret key that you can't access.
ge0rg 13y ago
I would really like to know on which devices the host emulation API will be available at all.
- vshastry 13y ago
  Most Android devices with NFC will probably support the API assuming they are running or are upgraded to KitKat. Edit: including link to source: http://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html#44-hce http://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html#44-h... "Support for HCE is already widely available on most NFC controllers, which offer dynamic support for both HCE and SE transactions. Android 4.4 devices that support NFC will include Tap & Pay for easy payments using HCE."
guelo 13y ago
The best you can do is read the info, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codebutler.farebot https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codebutler...
josephhardin 13y ago
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 13y ago
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

suprgeek 13y ago

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?

mikeyouse 13y ago
Must be a response to Apple's inclusion of a dedicated movement-sensing M7 processor on the iPhone 5s. http://www.technologyreview.com/news/519531/what-apples-m7-motion-sensing-chip-could-do/ http://www.technologyreview.com/news/519531/what-apples-m7-m...
- glhaynes 13y ago
  Surely it was scheduled for inclusion previous to the M7's announcement 6 weeks ago.
  - mikeyouse 13y ago
    Surely it was, but 'rumor' sites were writing about the dedicated movement processor in late August (at a minimum of 10 weeks ago) and I'm sure there are enough moles at either company so that Google / Apple know what their competitors will do several months in advance. * * * Late Edit * * * So I looked through the Google public Git repo, and it looks like the initial Step_Counter functions were added in Dec 2012.[1] The hardware must've been wrapped more than 6 weeks ago, so I was probably wrong. Google must've been working on this for months ahead of time. [1]https://android.googlesource.com/platform/hardware/libhardware/+/a455772 https://android.googlesource.com/platform/hardware/libhardwa...
    - lnanek2 13y ago
      I doubt Google has anything to do with the hardware for this. Qualcomm has been pushing movement tracking and user context recognition using sensors with their chips without using a lot of power at conferences for over a year now. This is probably just Google throwing in a cut down version of their Pivot functionality. It's basically a chipset feature, just like how the chipsets are who pushes the OpenGL ES drivers and demos each version.

sergeykish 13y ago

> 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 13y ago
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.

weixiyen 13y ago

> 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?