Google Launches Nexus 5 and Android 4.4

Google has officially unveiled the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4, aka KitKat.

Like its predecessor, the Nexus 5 is manufactured by LG, rather than Google-owned Motorola. Its the first device to run Android 4.4, is 4G-compatible, and features a 5” screen, 2.3GHz processor and 2GB RAM.

The camera promises an improved lens for brighter night shots, optical image stabilisation to reduce blurriness, and a HDR+ mode to combine a rapid burst of photos into a single  shot.

Like the Moto X launched earlier this year, the Nexus enables hands-free usage through voice activation, part of Googles efforts to more deeply integrate its services into the device. Users can search, make calls or send messages with an “OK Google…” spoken command.

Android KitKat

The focus of the 4.4 update seems to be reaching lower-end devices, with reduced memory consumption so that the OS can run comfortably on devices with 512MB RAM.

A new immersive mode automatically hides everything except the app being used, while some of the apps driving the core functionality of device are receiving a much-needed lick of paint.

The updated Phone app, Google says, makes it easier to find and call contacts from various sources, while Hangouts gathers together SMS, MMS and video messages. Google Now will also see an update soon, bringing in updates from selected sites and blogs.

For developers, possibly the most interesting addition is app indexing, a capability for Google Search which can link directly to apps. For example, users searching for a film might be pointed to the Flixster, IMDB or moviefone apps – if they already have them installed. Initially, the funciton is being trialled with a small group of apps, which include OpenTable, Expedia, Etsy and Wikipedia.