Android L is coming out in a few months and Google has promise a lot of additions that everyone wanted. Would you wait?
It’s that time of the year again, when Google comes close to releasing its next version of Android and you’re left wondering whether to wait for it. The biggest problem is that you don’t know when Google will actually release it, except that it will be soon. Also, you know that it is going to be much better than the older version of Android, thanks to Google’s developer preview at the I/O Conference. So, the decision for you is whether to wait for Android L before you purchase a new smartphone or just buy one right now. Let’s see if we can make that choice any easier with some reasons why Android L is better than its predecessors.
– Longer battery life
– Better performance
– Improved camera performance and features
– More secure
– Support for 64-bit architectures
– Support for a variety of device
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Extended battery life..
To start with, Project Volta is the keyword for Android L. The new OS is expected to solve one of the biggest issues with smartphones today — the battery life. We have in fact tested the developer preview on a Nexus 7 tablet and found that Android L increases the device’s battery life by around 40%. This is a huge plus, considering that there are already devices that come with a full-day’s battery life with KitKat. A 40% battery boost could mean that your new smartphone, built on Android L, will be much more reliable in terms of the battery life.
Double the performance..
Google has also changed the default runtime on Android from Dalvik to ART. What would a runtime do for you though, right? Lots. According to Google, the new runtime will improve the performance of apps without the developers needing to make any changes. The ART runtime is present on KitKat too, but as a hidden feature that you can activate from your developer settings. ART also provides better garbage collection than KitKat. That is saying something since KitKat already does a pretty amazing job of it. Google has claimed that ART saves lots of RAM, improving, in fact doubling, the performance from older versions.
Click click click..
Also coming with Android L are changes to the camera. Google has made changes to the camera API, which till now had been a let down on stock Android. The best known of these changes is the support for RAW format images on Android L. In addition, the new camera API also allows for manual controls, which means you can use the Camera app to control shutter speed, focus, white balance, exposure etc. yourself. This is something that many manufacturers provide, but was missing from Google’s stock Android version. So for those of you who didn’t buy a pure Android device because of a bad camera, there’s a lot to look forward to. There are other changes too and Google has seemingly revamped its entire algorithm for the camera to add many more features.
Oh so secure..
Ok, maybe that heading is an overstatement, but we can’t say for sure before Google actually releases Android L. The new version is expected to be much more secure. “Android ‘L’ will improve system security,” reads the headline of a blog post by security giant Kaspersky. The post explains that thieves love smartphones because they can be sold for a substantial sum of money and in order to protect themselves, they perform a quick factory reset on your phone right after stealing it. In Android L, factory reset will require a password that only you will know, making it difficult for the thief to wipe out your smartphone. Combine this with the Android Device Manager locking option and the thief has a brick in his hand that he can’t sell or use, except perhaps for parts.
If you aren’t down with that, then we got two words for you — Samsung Knox. The South Korean manufacturer has got a lot of accolades for its enterprise security feature and it has contributed this to Android L’s codebase, enabling Google to bring the Android for Work solution. This allows users to separate work from home on the same smartphone, adding more security to the device. Kaspersky describes this as a smartphone inside a smartphone, which would show you separate screens for business and home.
There’s also the personal unlocking feature, which Google talked about at the I/O. This makes your device smarter, allowing it to recognise certain situations. You can determine a Zone of Trust, where the device would know it is you using the phone and getting rid of the lock screen. Similarly, if the device finds your smartwatch nearby, it’ll understand that you are near the device, again removing the lock screen. Basically, Android L will learn from your habits to make unlocking your phone easier and more secure.
64-bit support..
This part could have been added to the performance bit, but looking at Apple’s success with iOS 7, it deserves more. So, Android L has support for both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures, meaning you have a wider variety of apps available along with different, perhaps even better hardware. Apple’s dual-core A7 processor has been tested repeatedly and found to be at par with the Snapdragon 800s and other powerful quad-core processors running on devices. The same could be brought to Android now, with support for 64-bit architectures. So, the new device you buy after waiting may be much more powerful than any current smartphone.
Better support for other devices..
Android L wasn’t the only OS that Google showcased at I/O this year. In fact, the company launched Android Wear, which is its answer to wearable devices. Android L also has been designed to perform better with other devices. Now for those of you looking to make a truly smart environment around you, this would be a very good thing. A phone run by Android L, a smartwatch on Android Wear and Android TV. There, you have your very own Android run life. Is that good? We'll leave that decision up to you.
Bottomline..
You should wait for Android L before you purchase your new smartphone, provided you already own a smartphone and are looking to upgrade. The new version will be launched by the end of the year and you would do much better with a smartphone that has been tailored to run on Android L than one that is getting the update. While there are many devices that are already known to get the update to the new version, not all features will be available on them. The material design is a great change to Android overall look and feel and is worth waiting for as well. So, it would be better to wait and spend your hard earned money on a completely new generation smartphone. If you don't own a smartphone and want to buy one immediately, then make sure that the one you pick up has been recently launched and will get the Android L update.
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Prasid Banerjee
Trying to explain technology to my parents. Failing miserably. View Full Profile
