10 new features in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Ketan Pratap



Google has announced the roll out of the next iteration of its Android operating system, dubbed as version 4.3, with the launch of its new Nexus 7 tablet. The new version will be called 'Jelly Bean' and would actually be the third version to carry the same tag after Android 4.1 and Android 4.2. The latest update comes about nine months after Google introduced Android 4.2.

However as suggested by previous leaks, the new Android version doesn't bring a big makeover and comes with a few major features. The new OS is being rolled out first to Google's Nexus range of devices including the original Nexus 7, Nexus 4, Nexus 10 tablet and will ship with the new Nexus 7. We take a look at its new features.

1. Restricted profiles

Google added multi-user profiles in the last iteration of Android and it seems the search engine giant wants to enhance that experience through restricted profiles. With the new feature, users can restrict app usage and content consumption on an Android device. So you'll be able to set profiles for each user of the device in case of multiple users. For instance, parents can control what apps or games their kids have access to on their tablets. However, it's worth pointing out that the new restricted feature is only available on Android tablets.

2. Bluetooth Smart Ready

Google seems to be making way for wearable technology by introducing the Bluetooth Smart Ready feature in Android 4.3. Devices running Android 4.3 will now support low-energy Bluetooth Smart accessories like heart rate monitors, pedometers, thermometers and many others. Users can now sync the low energy devices without these affecting the battery usage of the device, as per Google. This feature was missing on Google's mobile operating system, till now. This would also make way for Android friendly wearable tech.

3. Dial-pad Autocomplete

Android 4.3 now adds the autocomplete feature in the dial-pad suggesting contact names or phone numbers when users start keying-in something. This is not a new feature as OEMs like Samsung and HTC had already introduced this feature on to their UI skins running on top of Android, but devices running stock Android were missing it. Users can initiate the feature by going to the app settings and enabling 'Dial Pad autocomplete'

4.Notification Access

The Notification bar has been a popular feature on Android and with Android 4.3, you can control and interact with the status bar notifications. This would allow users to control how notifications are pushed to the primary and connected devices(smart watches, fitness bands). Users will also be able to see all the notifications at one place.

5. OpenGL ES 3.0

If you are a gaming junkie, the new update will definitely excite you. This feature would let Android devices render high quality graphics in games and other apps. Google claims that Android 4.3 supports the new version of the industry standard for high performance graphics. Google also gave a demo of a game showing detailed textures, lens flare, and reflections. This was missing in Android 4.2.

6. Simplified Setup Wizard

Android Jelly Bean now supports corrections to user inputs while signing-in to the device, the first time. This is due to more streamlined user agreements. Now a user can change the information that was keyed-in during the first boot of the device. Google has also introduced faster user switching from the lock screen in case of multiple users.

7. Bluetooth AVRCP

Google devices running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean can sync with Bluetooth enabled car stereos and offer additional functionality. The Bluetooth AVRCP 1.3 version allows stereos to display metadata such as song names when music is being streamed from an Android 4.3 device.

8. Location accuracy features via Wi-Fi scan only mode

Google has now increased the location accuracy of Android devices by allowing location scanning via Wi-Fi.

It now allows apps to get location data through Wi-Fi even when Wi-Fi is set to off and not being used for data access.

9. Keyboard & input

Android 4.3 comes with an upgraded algorithm for tap-typing recognition that makes text input easier while chatting via messages or even while composing emails. It also brings a new emoji keyboard, which we've previously seen in iOS. The update also adds lower latency input for gamepad buttons and joysticks.

10.Hindi support lands on Android 4.3

Google has introduced native local language support to its operating system for Africaans, Amharic, Hindi, Swahili and Zulu. Hindi has finally reached the stock Android operating platform.

With the update, Google has also added support for Hebrew and Arabic (right-to-left) in the home screen, Settings, Phone, People, and Keep apps.

Bonus - New Camera UI

Android 4.3 also offers a new updated Camera app that features a new arch based menu which makes it easier to control and switch camera settings.

Server Message Block Protocol (SMB protocol)

The Server Message Block Protocol (SMB protocol) provides a method for client applications in a computer to read and write to files on and to request services from server programs in a computer network. The SMB protocol can be used over the Internet on top of its TCP/IPprotocol or on top of other network protocols such as Internetwork Packet Exchange andNetBEUI. Using the SMB protocol, an application (or the user of an application) can access files at a remote server as well as other resources, including printers, mailslots, and named pipes. Thus, a client application can read, create, and update files on the remote server. It can also communicate with any server program that is set up to receive an SMB client request.

Microsoft Windows operating systems since Windows 95 include client and server SMB protocol support. For UNIX systems, a shareware program, Samba, is available. The SMB protocol originated at Microsoft and has gone through a number of developments. A given client and server may implement different sets of protocol variations which they negotiate before starting a session.

Microsoft has offered a public or open source version of SMB for the Internet to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Called the Common Internet File System (CIFS), this new protocol provides more flexibility than existing Internet applications such as the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). CIFS is envisioned as a complement to the Internet's Hypertext Transfer Protocol for Web browsing.

10 tips and best practices for software localization

By Guest contributor

Takeaway: Localizing your software can be an exercise in frustration. Avoid major headaches by following this practical advice.

Many companies seek to expand their business and provide software products for the worldwide market through localization (L10N) — translating or adapting a software product into different languages or for a specific country or region. Many localization attempts are met with frustration once the software is built: Text is garbled, fonts aren't exact, encoding of exotic languages doesn't look right, sentences are cut off, and in general, software builds may not work as designed.

Here are some pointers to help you avoid these problems and produce a quality product for the global market.

1: Plan ahead

For many companies, software localization turns out to be a last-minute rush before a product release.  All localization scheduling and scoping efforts should take into account the translation, testing, and regression that must occur to produce a quality product.

2: Test your software

In most cases, localized software should be tested as rigorously as the original English software. There's no replacement for the awareness that comes with seeing a foreign language "in context" within your software.

3: Develop a detailed English test plan

Use this same test plan in your localized testing. The same crucial UI dialogs and functionality will be put to the test. Reusing the English test plan for localization testing is common in the industry and will avoid delays in L10N testing.

4: Leave plenty of space for text expansion in other languages

Many languages take up to 30 percent more space than English! If your engineers design the software for which English "just barely fits," you'll have a problem down the road. Leave ample space or program dynamic UI expansion into your software.

5: Use localization-friendly encoding of strings

When possible, source your string tables or software resources in Unicode/UTF-8 encoding. This will avoid extra conversion steps, time-consuming debug work, and garbled text.

6: Perform "pseudo localization" to root out hard-coded strings

In a separate temporary branch, use a regular expression to replace all letters in the string textwith a single repeating character, such as "XXXXX." Build the software, and any hard-coded text will really jump out at you, showing string IDs that are not defined in string tables.

7: Avoid concatenation and overuse of single strings

A combination of words in English will most likely not follow the same order in most other languages. Concatenated strings and strings that are used in multiple contexts will have grammar and gender agreement issues. Gone are the days of optimizing software due to memory limitations, so be generous when localizing your product.

8: Provide "internationalization" support in your software (i18n)

This will enable dates, numbers, and other region-specific data such as currency to show up in a familiar and comfortable way to all users around the world.

9: Provide numerous comments in software resources that define context

Knowing the context and use of certain strings will help translators choose the right translation from the beginning. Most translation tools will allow translators to see these comments as they translate the strings.

10: Perform localization of Help and software (GUI) at the same time

Users around the world will notice when context-sensitive help tells them to click on a button that is worded differently in the software itself. Seek a responsible and experienced translation company to handle both your software and Help/User's Guide at the same time to ensure consistency between your software and help documentation.

About the authors

Jeremy Coombs is senior vice president of operations for translation service provider MultiLing, managing large-scale translation and localization projects for companies such as Dell, LSI Corporation, Qlogic, Intuit, and GE Healthcare.