3 Hi-Tech Features Introduced in Android Jelly Bean 4.1. Now Giving Success to KitKat and Lollipop
It’s been almost 3 years when Android Jelly Bean 4.1 was introduced by Google. Despite dwindling share, it still holds more than 17% of the Android OS market. Newer versions KitKat 4.4 and Lollipop 5.0, on one hand, are starting to dominate the smartphone and tablet global market.
But who can forget the Nexus 7, the first Android mini-tablet computer co-developed by Google and Asus that runs Jelly Bean 4.1. It was with Nexus 7 that Google decided to first include full movie downloads. Thanks to Google engineers, many hi-tech features in the latest Android operating systems trace their roots to Jelly Bean 4.1.
Let’s look back at some of these most promising features first introduced in Android Jelly Bean 4.1 and were then expanded on the succeeding versions of Android OS.
Project Butter for User Interface
Project Butter was first heard by the public during the launching of Jelly Bean 4.1 at Google I/O conference on June 27, 2012. The objective of this project is to address the growing concerns of many users related to response lags and poor performance of Jelly Bean’s predecessors.
Google responded by introducing features that can better improve the functionality and performance of the user interface. With triple buffering, a smoother feel across the UI created good impressions to users. With VSync timing, improved frame rate on graphics and animation, faster gesturing, and better touchscreen synchronization features became visible to users in Jelly Bean 4.1.
In Jelly Bean 4.3, Google introduced OpenGL ES 3.0, the latest version of the industry standard for high performance graphics.
In KitKat, we saw the multitasking feature. They improved the touchscreen sensitivity settings so that it can respond faster and more accurately. Google did this by doing some tweaks on the software.
In Lollipop, they further enhanced user’s mobile graphics experience by introducing OpenGL ES 3.1 and Android extension pack. In addition to that, they also introduced Material Design, a more responsive UI design for consistent and intuitive experience across all devices.
Voice Search + Google Now
The power of combined Google Now and Google Voice Search was first felt in Jelly Bean 4.1. First, the voice-to-text search feature (first introduced in Ice Cream Sandwich) was further enhanced to become more accurate. Then they tied up this search feature with Google Now, an advanced search feature showing series of cards aimed to bring users the information they needed when they needed it - like weather and traffic updates. Google Now gained constructive reactions and reviews from the Android community.
Google did not do much improvement on Google Now in the next two versions of Jelly Bean, except for adding more cards. The first major upgrade was on KitKat 4.4 when they added the feature “Ok Google”, a voice search technology that uses natural language.
In Lollipop, “Ok Google” can be used even when the screen is off. They also implemented this unique search feature on Android watch and Smart TV.
Android Beam
Android Beam (also first introduced in Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0) is a technology for transferring data via Near-field Communication (NFC). In Jelly Bean 4.1, NFC was used for the first time to enable Bluetooth in pairing two Android devices. The result was faster transfer speed and large payload transfer. Samsung Android S Beam, an extension of Android Beam, used NFC to establish Wi-Fi Direct connection between two devices for the data transfer.
In Jelly Bean 4.3, Google added the Bluetooth Smart Support (also known as Bluetooth Low-Energy or BLE) to minimize power consumption while measuring and transmitting data for fitness sensors like Fitbit and Runtastic.
There were several Android Beam enhancements introduced in KitKat. One of them was the open architecture for NFC payments which was first applied on Google Wallet’s Tap-to-Pay method. Bluetooth Message Access Profile (MAP) for cars and the infrared blaster used on TV remote control were also introduced in KitKat.
In Lollipop, BLE was further enhanced in such a way that it can quickly scan nearby Bluetooth devices. Google Cast support for Android TV, a technology that directly stream videos via Wi-Fi from the Internet or a local network, was also introduced in Lollipop 5.0.
