What to Look Forward to in Android 4.3

Not long after Android 4.3 Jelly Bean was officially announced by Google, smartphone manufacturers started to make their own related announcements. Sony, in particular, gave a short list of phones that will run on the newest Android version. Of course, you do not have to buy a new phone just to run Android 4.3 – some existing models will have the capability to upgrade when the time comes. (If you want to use that as an excuse, though, there’s nothing stopping you!)

But, what’s Android 4.3 Jelly Bean all about? Is it really worth getting excited about it?

While Android 4.3 is merely an update to the current version – not a whole new operating system – there are some things to look forward to.

For Users

• Bluetooth Smart – the bottom line is that this feature will allow us to connect external devices to Android 4.3 gadgets. Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and all those little gizmos will have no issues connecting to your Android 4.3 Jelly Bean device. Also known as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
• Restricted profiles – this is most useful for devices which have multiple users. After all, not all of us have the luxury of having one device per person. With this feature, you can create profiles which have highly controlled access. Parents, are you thinking what I’m thinking?
• Dial Pad auto complete – auto complete can be a pain, but this feature will make it easier to call your contacts.

Developers

• OpenGL 3 – developers will look forward to this as they will have an easier time creating awesome apps – as a standard feature.
• Better profiling tools – developers can tweak their apps so they are faster and perform better
• DRM – for media content providers, the new DRM feature will be a welcome one. Not sure for certain users!

It all seems underwhelming, doesn’t it? What’s your take?

Need specific instructions on how to upgrade to Android 4.3? Here you go.

[Image via Lifehacker]