Which is better Android Lollipop or Kit Kat. Disable automatic creation of desktop icons. What is a software update on Android and why is it needed?

Above the date Android release Many people wondered about 4.4 in the fall of 2013. At first she was “assigned” to mid-October. But then the 15th arrived and nothing happened. There was information about October 18, but new information brought everything down to the end of October, in particular to the 31st. And so it happened - the release date of Android 4.4 was set for October 31, 2013.

Google decided to make us happy on Halloween in a special way and it succeeded. It was possible not only to announce a new system, but also a new Nexus smartphone 5 - 5 inch device, main feature which is an excellent screen, a high-performance processor and affordable price. But we will stop at this towards the end of the article.

Note that the new version 4.4 offers noticeably more changes. In general, the last release was mainly aimed at developers. From the point of view of programmers, everything was just fine there: OpenGL ES 3.0, updated APIs with animation support, and so on. In general, programs should become cooler. But Android 4.4 already offers new features aimed at everyday use. There are changes both in the interface and built-in basic programs. By the way, there are even more such programs. It’s not for nothing that the code name has finally changed from Jelly Bean on KitKat. But first things first.

Android 4.4 – what's new?

Of course, this is not a new major version of the system from Google - back in May 2013, but instead Android 4.3 was released, and now 4.4. So we don't expect any major changes to the interface. No, they exist, but they are rather cosmetic. Like white font and icons in the notification bar at the top, which replaced the blue one first introduced in Android 4.0. The panel itself is made translucent. The Roboto font used in the system has also been redesigned. Google's OS has once again been simplified in terms of interface - it is not so intrusive and does not distract from work.

In general, now Android has almost introduced its own Siri. Well, of course, not to the full extent - we are not talking about a complete assistant, like Apple app or Samsung S Voice. Rather it's quick call voice search. Now, being on the desktop, just say “OK Google” and the application will open Google Now. If someone feels awkward about this, then you can simply “swipe” the screen from left to right and the same thing will happen.

Overall, Google Now has done a decent job. This application now searches not only the Internet, but also takes into account data from your location, sites visited, and even TV shows watched. Just some kind! The similarity becomes even stronger when you learn that Google Now can direct you not to the browser to this or that page, but to the corresponding application. For example, to reserve a ticket, it will be launched required program. Of course, if one is installed.

Google also worked hard on the music player. First of all, the operation of the system was optimized during this process, which does not require significant diversion of computing resources. The company promises up to 60 hours of music playback. Plus, when something is playing or streaming on Chromecast (yes, that too new feature), an image of the album the song is included in is displayed in the background on the lock screen. Or it could be a movie cover. In addition, here you can control playback without unlocking the phone.

Remember the Back, Home and Call buttons context menu, which Google decided to remove from the smartphone and transfer to the screen? Do you remember how she endured them? All this was done so “powerfully” that these buttons “hung” even in games where they could be accidentally pressed! No, no one removed them, but Android 4.4 introduced a special “full-screen” mode where these buttons will not be present. I just want to shout: FINALLY! However, developers must still activate this mode in their applications. Then there will be happiness. For now, only the desktop background will extend under these buttons.

Separately, work on multitasking is noted. Although everything is more modest here. In Android 4.4, they simply optimized the distribution of resources between applications. Now switching between them occurs more smoothly and without unnecessary delays.

By the way, Google generally positions new Android as a panacea for fragmentation. It seems to be able to work on devices with 512 MB of RAM, for which both the system itself and standard applications were optimized. Although the question is, how will Google force device manufacturers to update all of them to Android 4.4? After all, this is not iOS or Windows Phone, where a notification about the possibility of updating will appear - here everything does not depend on the OS developer, which is a pity. But in any case, we’re still waiting budget smartphones with Android 4.4.

Some Android users are unhappy with the built-in dialer. Moreover, this may be the one that the manufacturer offers in its own shell. To eliminate the need to install separate application, the standard “dialer” was modernized. In fact, yellow pages were built into it - the most frequently called contacts. It has become easier to search by contacts, and not only by them - from the “dialer” you can also search by local companies and people added to your Google Apps domain.

By the way, determine Android number 4.4 will now be not only for your address book. More precisely, not so - if the caller’s number is not there, the system will try to find data about him somewhere else, for example, in Google Maps. Of course, its location will not be revealed, but if they call from any company whose number is publicly known, then information about it will be shown.

And Google clearly wants to oust WhatsApp. How else to explain such a serious integration? own application Hangouts in Android 4.4? How serious? Yes, it is now used as the main means for sending SMS, MMS, as well as making voice and video calls. You can even send through it animated gifs! Of course, you can use a more traditional tool for SMS and MMS, but Hangouts is more versatile and functional. Moreover, Emoji icons have also been added - there is everything from emoticons to flowers with cars. Of course, this applies to changes in on-screen keyboard, not Hangouts - icons are available to any application.

In June 2012, and then, a year later in September 2013. Now Quickoffice is part of Android 4.4. Including this office suite integrated with Google Drive– all documents can be directly saved there. They can also be opened from there.

Another notable “office” innovation is printer support. You can send a photo, document, or web page for printing. The main thing here is to take care of connecting the printer. Not by wire, of course, but through an app like Google Cloud Print or HP ePrint, or any other similar plan from the store Google Play. In addition, applications can now add printing capabilities to their functionality.

Other Google changes lists them in almost one line, since they will be almost invisible to the average user. Although can you say the same about the built-in pedometer? Or about the redesigned application for downloading files? Among other things, we added HDR+ mode to the camera application, redesigned the standard mail client, and the Location item was added to Quick Settings. Improved support for IR ports for management consumer electronics, if one is built into the smartphone. Another decent update is the new open architecture for NFC payments. All this is done through Host Card Emulation (HCE) and any application can use it.

Developers were able to use the Chrome browser engine in their applications to display various web components. And in general, all applications will be executed in a special protected environment, Security-Enhanced Linux. Also now in Android composition 4.4 service included remote search devices.

Speed up your 3D games It will be possible using RenderScript. The corresponding graph shows a noticeable increase in speed. But again, support must be provided by the developer himself. Continuing the topic of graphics and screens in particular, let's add what is now supported Wi-Fi standard Miracast, which allows you to broadcast images to your TV.

By the way, a very cool feature is the ability to capture the screen to record video. Why this is needed, everyone will decide for themselves (for example, to demonstrate an application, create marketing material, and so on), but in any case, it is a useful thing. The video is recorded in screen resolution or close to it. All this can be configured, as well as the bitrate. The resulting video will be saved as an MP4 file. And yes, none special program no need - everything is built into Android 4.4!

To summarize, we note that there are noticeably more changes in Android 4.4 KitKat than in Android 4.3, introduced in July 2013. Moreover, these are changes to such basic applications as the dialer and SMS messages. Yes and systemic music player has become better, printer support will be useful to someone, as well as the pre-installed Quickoffice. Now we can say for sure that innovations are visible to the “naked eye” and they are really useful. However, we are all waiting for Android 5.0 and all that it has to offer us. And in conclusion, let's talk briefly about the Nexus 5.

Nexus 5

The Nexus 5 smartphone was introduced along with Android 4.4. Actually, this is the first device based on this system. In the summer, let us remind you that the Nexus 7 tablet was updated. And now, in addition to the “tiny” Nexus 4, an older brother has appeared. It’s not hard to guess that its main change is a 5-inch screen (4.95-inch to be exact).

The Nexus 5 screen resolution has increased to 1920x1080 (445 ppi), which is just modern trend. An IPS matrix is also used. But the processor has become noticeably more powerful - it is a 2.26 GHz 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip. This is considered to be one of the fastest solutions on the smartphone and even tablet market.

2 GB of RAM is installed - like many modern flagships. Built-in memory – 16 or 32 GB. Slots for microSD card everything is also not provided. They save money, you know! But there is an 8 MP camera and a 2300 mAh battery. At the same time, the weight of Nexus 5 is not very large - only 130 grams. Its thickness is 8.6 mm, which is also quite small. Plus, the smartphone supports wireless charging!

The cost of Nexus 5 is set at $349 for the 16 GB version and $399 for the 32 GB version. For the money this is a very good deal!

However, many are interested in the question: when will other smartphones receive Android 4.4? We answer: soon. More precisely, Google promised to provide an update “within weeks.” So in November 2013 the issue will be resolved. We are apparently talking about at least the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets, as well as Developer Edition devices – Galaxy S4 and HTC One with bare Android. And HTC promised to equip it very, very quickly new system your HTC One. It would be absolutely wonderful!

But I wonder if Google is so actively promoting Android 4.4 as a super-optimized OS that can easily run on 512 MB of RAM and is perfect for budget devices, does that mean its Nexus One and Nexus S will also receive an update?? Yes, it has a single-core processor and only 512 MB of memory, but these are precisely those “budget” devices by modern standards!

Okay, let's leave it all up to Google. In the meantime, we will wait for the next Android. If only it were Android 5.0! And so we ask you to tell us about your experience with Android 4.4, as soon as it appears, in the comments below. Or just share your opinion about the new OS.

After the update came out operating system Android up to version 5.1 with the sweet name Lollipop, many users were interested in the question, what has changed? Today we will compare two 4.4 and 5.1 for you and help you finally see which version Android is better Lollipop or Kit Kat, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

Main differences

Many people say that in new version Android Lollipop hasn't changed anything. Others say Kitkat has been changed beyond recognition. In general, the developers worked on many areas, which we will now consider.

“We have developed a new design philosophy” - that’s right Google developers commented on the new version. They've updated every corner of the system, from volume to Wi-Fi icon. In the new version of Android, they added colors, made the design bright and contrasting, which was not the case in KitKat.

Company Google Inc significantly redesigned the main functions of the system. They have improved the “multitasking screen” function (several open applications on one screen) expanded notification settings. The developers have also introduced new features. They created a “smart lock” (the device is blocked once if it is in “ safe place", the device saw your face or is nearby trusted gadget), it became possible to work with the “curtain” application.

The developers said that the new version of the operating system will increase performance and the device will hold more charge. A comparison of OS 4.4 and 5.1 showed that this is a myth. Though Google company and made a complete transition to the ART runtime (Android RunTime) and made support for 64-bit processors, but various tests did not show anything new.

Changes have also been made to graphics. The new version of Android has brought us a new graphics API(Application Programming Interface), which made games more vibrant, high-quality and exciting. Android Lolipop is great for gaming.

In the new version of OS 5.1, the audio output has been improved (now it can also be used in the USB connector, which made it possible to obtain digital quality), Bluetooth (they created a new protocol 4.1, now it catches the network perfectly). The developers have increased the speed, quality and reliability of the connection.

Pros and cons of Android 4.4

Back in 2013, Google released a new version of the operating system called KitKat. The developers planned to get rid of various bugs and comments, which were abundant from users, and make the new version more comfortable for people. Although the Android 4.4 OS has become very popular, the developers have not succeeded in everything.

Advantages of Android OS KitKat

RAM

Google was going to make the OS available for any gadget. KitKat introduced the Process Stats function, which made it possible to use the new OS on the cheapest devices without slowing down, while more expensive models received their advantages from this, which manifested themselves in multitasking.

Interface

Developers who create new applications for the Android OS can now work more with application design. Also added different variants full screen mode. All this has led to the appearance of applications becoming better and more beautiful.

Unified signatures

With the KitKat OS, it became possible to choose the font size that is on the screen, the background color, and the language of the captions.

KitKat has introduced support for several sensors that can respond to steps (the first sensor recognizes, and the second counts steps).

Infrared sensor

Many people would like to use it to manage their home appliances some kind of control panel. With the help of the new Android operating system, this has become possible.

Flaws

Recording prohibition

Since the Android KitKat version, the developers have prohibited writing applications to external drives; this was done to protect the system. But at the same time, the functionality of applications that may be located on an external memory card was disrupted.

In KitKat OS, it was impossible to automatically erase SMS messages that requested applications to control the balance of the device.

operating room Android system KitKat is perfect for users who have budget devices. Updating the system to this version will bring a lot of new things that will make working with the device more comfortable.

Pros and cons of Android 5.1

In 2015, Google made a statement that they would soon release a new, updated OS. Android Lollipop. The long-awaited update came out only a few months later. Android 5.1 became a new generation operating system, but it did not achieve great popularity right away. This is a new generation operating system in which almost everything has changed - from appearance up to performance.

Advantages of Android OS Lollipop

Interface

Google took care of users; in the new version of the system they began to use rich and bright colors, due to which the eyes do not strain and are not irritated. The interface has become more responsive to requests, and the standard buttons have been changed geometric shapes.

Device Security

The developers created new feature Smart Lock, which allows you to access the device when connecting it to “trusted” devices, but they must support the Bluetooth protocol.

Memory card

In Lollipop, you can bind each application separate folder, only there it will write, read and use various data. Due to this new technology, we can save internal memory. For this to work, every developer must optimize their application for this technology.

Internet and media

Google has improved the "video stream processor". Smooth transitions, high-quality and clear pictures immediately catch your eye. There are also new options for setting up the camera, through which you can take high-quality photographs.

New Open GL 3.1 technology ( software for creating applications that use two or three-dimensional computer graphics) allows you to run the highest quality games. Using this technology, you can run applications that have graphics similar to some consoles.

Google Assistant

Now, in order to “talk” to your gadget, you don’t need to unlock it; the device can be locked and in your pocket

Flaws

Performance and battery life

Google can't handle everything main problem- gluttony of devices. Now their new operating system requires about 2 GB random access memory. The developers also promised to increase the battery life, but after various tests, it turned out that they did not change anything.

Interface

In the new version of the operating system, the developers focused on minimalism. All standard icons replaced with simple geometric shapes, and “Gallery” was renamed “Photo”.

Incompatibility

Lolipop will simply not support some useful and important applications. To fix this, it is necessary for all application developers to make support for the new operating system. Even though it came out a long time ago, many developers are in no hurry to do this.

Android Lollipop is not recommended for use on budget models, as it will heavily load the smartphone, which will lead to slowdowns. For users expensive models It is recommended to upgrade to a new version of the OS, if you like minimalism and ripples in your eyes, then do it.

Conclusion

We looked at Android KitKat and Lollipop, and helped you understand the main features and nuances of these OS versions. But what better version It's up to you to choose whether to use 4.4 or 5.1. Nowadays the main versions of Android used are 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 5.0, 5.1, in some cases even versions 6.0 and 7.0.

Not all owners of budget devices will be able to upgrade to the new version 5.1, so you will have to stay on old version OS, as it will provide more stable operation. Expensive devices can be updated to Lillipop and enjoy new features.

The market for mobile products is structured in such a way that as new versions of the Android OS are released, smartphone manufacturing companies introduce their support into their own, both recently released and already proven models. How it works? At the time of purchasing a new mobile product, it is available basic version system installed by default. After some period of time, Google releases new release Android. After six months or a little later, depending on the geographic region, when the new version becomes tested and stable, you can install it on your smart phone. As a result, you get a new, modern interface, support for new applications and more settings and customization. In this material we have compiled a detailed guide for you, how to update Android on your phone.

What is a software update on Android and why is it needed?

You need to be aware that as a result of updating or rolling back the operating system, all data stored on the phone will be irretrievably lost. Be sure to do backups all the data you need ( address book, notes, photos) to a reliable external media before taking any of the steps in this guide. It could be external storage, hard drive on a PC (as a last resort, a memory card, but not advisable).

One more nuance. Since updating the operating system will require certain time(from 5 to 10 minutes, and sometimes more), be sure to charge the phone to 70-80% of the total battery capacity so that the update procedure is not interrupted due to problems with the phone’s battery.

Automatic Android update

The most accessible and least the hard way updates. Go to the options menu and select the “Phone Information” section. Here we go to the “Software Update” item. On your device, this section may be located somewhere else, so you may have to go through the settings.

Now tap on the “Update” button, having previously set the option to download updates only via Wi-Fi, so that the update does not “eat up” all your money from your account.

Option in the settings menu to automatically update the OS

When all the data from the manufacturer’s server has been downloaded, in the menu that appears, tap the “Install” button and wait until the device reboots.

Since using the method described above you can only update your mobile device to the minor release build, you should also use special utility from the manufacturer (for Samsung gadgets it’s Kies, for LG it’s PC Suite, etc.) or updated “over the air” (most of the companies that produce smartphones or tablets have such a proprietary feature).

Latest Android update, if it is already available on the server, you can download it to your device at any time using just such a program.

Manually updating Android firmware

Almost all service centers use this method, but we can easily update ourselves, using only available means. The system is used for updating. Odin app. You can download it on many web resources (for example, on the same w3bsit3-dns.com). Using this technique, you can only install a new version of the official firmware, but not a custom one.

1. download the Odin program. We need version 1.83 (or later) - it is very popular among technicians and is suitable for the vast majority of products

2. find and download an archive on the Internet with the firmware we need. After extracting the contents from the archive (you will need it first), you should have 3 files on hand: PIT, PDA and CSC

3. connect the smartphone to the PC. It is critical that the phone is detected correctly in Windows

4. launch Odin. If the device connection was successful, in the program yellow the port name will light up in the corresponding field

Indication of successful connection of the device to the PC for updating in Odin

5. turn off mobile device and put it into Download Mode by pressing the home, power and volume down keys at the same time

6. Confirm activation of Download Mode by holding down the “Volume Up” key

7. in the central Odin window, select the downloaded files so that they correspond to the PIT, PDA and CSC objects

8. In Odin, click the Start button and wait until all files are updated.

If the Android system update went smoothly, a field with the inscription PASS in green will appear on the application screen.

Successful system update via Odin

Rollback to previous version

Perhaps you updated to one of the latest versions and were not satisfied (the phone is slow, errors appear frequently, you need to reboot, etc.). If necessary, you can roll back to any version you need. How to roll back?

1 way

Suitable for those who want to return the basic official factory firmware installed in the device at the time of its purchase in the store. This is quite easy to do. Go to the device settings and select the item responsible for resetting the settings (this can be “Privacy” or “Backup and reset”). On the test phone, this function was available in the “Backup and reset” menu in the “Personal data” category.

Section in the options menu designed to reset the device to its factory state

We go to this section of the menu and stop at the “Reset settings” item.
A form pops up warning you that all data from the gadget will be deleted. If the backups are already saved in a safe place, feel free to click “Reset phone settings”.
The phone begins to reboot. After 5-10 minutes it will boot again, with a clean basic system on board.

Method 2 - reset to factory settings (hard reset)

turn off the phone/tablet
simultaneously press and hold down the “Volume Up”, “Home” (bottom center) and “Power” buttons. The Recovery menu opens.
Using the volume keys, check the “wipe data/factory reset” item.
press the power key to confirm your choice
in the next menu you need to confirm your decision. Select “Yes – Delete all” user data» via the volume control keys
Press the power button again. The main menu pops up in front of you again
Using the power key, select “reboot system now”

All is ready. Next time the factory version of the OS will boot.

How to rollback if a custom version of Android is installed (Cyanogenmod, MIUI, Paranoid Android)?

If you installed a custom ROM, return official firmware can be done the same way manual update, - using the one already mentioned in the review Odin programs. First, you will have to search the Internet for files with the firmware you need, individually suitable for your smart model. Perhaps, best resource For search - mobile portal 4PDA, here you can find any firmware for almost every phone model.

connect the mobile device to the PC
launch Odin
turn off the phone and enter it into Download Mode. To do this, press the home key, power key and volume down key.
when the phone is booted, press the volume up key to activate Download Mode
on main form Odin select downloaded files as matching PIT, PDA and CSC
In Odin, click the Start button and wait until all the files are updated.

The successful completion of the rollback procedure will be indicated by a green field with the inscription PASS at the top.

Information about a successful rollback to previous version via Odin

How to update Play Market on Android

The first time you boot a fresh system, you have to configure everything again: account, language, mail, time zone, network, etc. The same goes for Google store Play Market. An update to this module will become available immediately after setting up a Google account on your mobile device.

Proposal to connect your Google account to the system

Once you enter your account authentication information Google posts, Play Store components will appear in the notification panel, which can be updated exactly like any other applications.

Updates for Play Market components

If you are using custom firmware, you need to go to the store itself at least once to update. After this, an update for the service will appear on the display.

Answers to readers' questions

When will the new Android update be available?

Answer. Since a certain time passes between the immediate release of a new version of Android and the physical possibility of installing it on a gadget (from 2-3 to 6-8 months), you need to be patient and follow the announcements of companies. Among the first products with marshmallow support are devices from the Nexus and Android One. As for the Samsung brand, this month they promise updates to 6.0 for following models mobile devices: Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge+; in January 2016 – Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge; in February – Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.

Now about other brands. Sony announced an update for all current devices Xperia line, starting from the Xperia Z Ultra GPE released in 2013 and ending with all models of the Z5 series (both Premium and budget). The range of devices from LG is limited to the G4, G3 and G Flex2. HTC, in turn, limited itself to only the last two generations of devices of its own production: One M9/E9 and One M8/E8. In addition, companies such as Motorola, Xiaomi, Huawei, Asus, OnePlus and ZUK promise to equip their flagship devices and mid-level devices with Android 6.0. This list is not yet final. Subsequently, we will keep you updated on the latest announcements.

I have Huawei phone U9500, and I didn’t know or didn’t understand that I needed to update the version. Now I have Android 4.0.3, how can I update the firmware to the new version, please help!

Answer. Update process Huawei firmware described . In short, there are two ways to update the Huawei U9500 firmware.

We take out the battery and hold down the volume buttons on the phone. After this, the Android update process will begin.
Go to Settings -> Storage -> Software Update -> SD Card Update, launch the Android OS update.

I have a MFLogin3T tablet and until now I didn’t know that it was possible to update the system. I read it on different sites, tried it, but it doesn’t work. I have Android 4.4.4. How to update the Android version?

Answer. The easiest way to update your phone is through Settings - Options - About device - Software update. IN different versions Android OS partition location may vary. Thus it is fulfilled standard update on Android, download the official software. This is the safest and easiest way.

I have a Samsung Duos, version 4.1.2, I can’t update the operating system to a higher version. Please help me update Android on my phone!

Answer. First you need to find out if it is possible to update Android on your phone to version 5.x. It turns out not. The fact is that specifications your phone does not allow you to install newer ones Android versions.

On the other hand, you can download the update for Android from the 4pda forum, where modified firmware is posted. But we wouldn't recommend setting it to enough old phone such updates if you do not have the necessary skills and are not prepared for a drop in the performance of your mobile device.

Lenovo A1000, Android is not updated. I'm trying to update version 5.0 to the newest one. At first everything goes well, but then he writes “Error” and shows an opened Android with a red triangle hanging above it with exclamation point. What should I do? How to update OS to latest version?

Answer. Why isn't Android updated? The fact is that Android 5.0 is the latest OS version to which you can officially update the firmware on your phone. At least that's what users of the 4pda forum say. Of course, you can update your phone by installing custom firmware, but no one guarantees stability after such an update.

Has gained NTS one m7. I can't update Android 4.4.2. The device does not find the software update, how to solve this problem? How to update it?

Answer. NTS one m7 can be updated to at least Android 5.1. If you can't install official update, try downloading custom firmware on the 4pda forum. Instructions for updating on this device are also collected there (see). In this topic you will find solutions to the problem if the Android OS is not updated.

I have a Moto x play, I don’t want to update the system, the message “Android 6.0.1 software available” constantly appears, which is wildly annoying. Please tell me how to remove this message so that it doesn’t appear again. I even contacted the support service of the smartphone manufacturer itself, All the instructions they gave me did not bring any results.

Answer. To disable firmware updates, go to Android settings, section About phone - Software update and disable updates by unchecking the corresponding item.

A year ago, the memory on my device died (the phone stopped turning on), it was replaced, but the firmware was not the original one (it’s no different, only the yellow Kernel inscription appears in the corner on the startup screen). Naturally, there are no updates for this firmware. Can I use Kies to roll back Android (install the native one) and update it?

Answer. In order to roll back the update, you need to reboot the phone into Recovery mode, select wipe data/factory reset, wipe cache partition and reinstall the firmware from the zip archive previously downloaded to the memory card. You can find the official firmware both on the manufacturer’s official website and on the 4pda forum, in the section with the corresponding name of your mobile device.

Tablet Acer Iconia A1-810. I don't have firmware updates... I click system update and it says "your device requires an update." How can I “force” it (forcefully update the Android system) or update it myself?

Answer. This model The tablet was released about 5 years ago, it does not support new versions of Android, so the manufacturer does not provide firmware updates. You can search for custom (unofficial) firmware on the 4pda forum, but we do not recommend installing them - it’s better to purchase new tablet than experimenting with firmware to the detriment of the stability and speed of the device.

The build number does not open on Android. I called for a long time. What should I do?

Answer. Number Android builds initially available for viewing in the “About smartphone” (“About tablet”) section. If you go turn on hidden settings(section “For Developers”), you can activate them by clicking on the build number, just 4-7 clicks on this line.

To begin with, I would like to apologize to our readers for such long delay in the publication of this article. Let me remind you that for the most impatient we already had a small material with Google presentations, this same article is intended for those who are planning to buy a smartphone or tablet with 4.2 on board and want to know what benefits they will receive from the new version of Android. We will also refer to this article in the future when we talk about 4.2. Now, without further ado, let me move on to the review itself.

Keyboard

To tell the truth, I personally am already so used to installing when testing or buying a new smartphone third party keyboard, what in Lately I didn’t even pay attention to the innovations in stock. I still remember the irritation you feel when initial setup tablet on 4.0, when to enter English characters you need to go to settings and activate other languages. Fortunately, in 4.1 this problem was fixed and finally added a separate button for switching languages. But Google decided not to stop at these improvements, and in 4.2 the keyboard received another new feature: entering text using swipes. To do this, you need to activate this function in the settings.

To me new way I liked the input, although its accuracy is sometimes inferior to the original Swype, however, we hope that over time it will increase.

Notification line

Google (apparently due to popular demand or with an eye on TouchWiz and CyanogenMod) has finally decided to add functionality to the notification shade.

Swiping to the right now opens the switch panel. Clicking on most of them takes you to settings ( we're talking about about Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, charge indicator), in some cases pressing will immediately activate the action (for example, enabling/disabling screen auto-rotation). On the right is your Google+ profile photo; clicking on it will open your address book.

A swipe to the left opens the usual notification panel. Now it adjusts to the number of notifications, rather than reclining to the full height of the screen.

Interestingly, a different combination is used on smartphones: for example, a two-finger swipe brings up a panel with switches, and a simple swipe brings up the notification panel.

What's New in Gmail

You can now quickly zoom in on a letter using a two-finger pinch. This function is enabled in the settings. Double tap after scaling adjusts the text to fit the screen size.

Widgets on the lock screen

Starting from version 4.2, you can install one of several widgets on your lock screen. By default, mail, calendar, clock, and Google+ widgets are available. Third-party developers can also add support for lock screen widgets. On this moment The developers of HD Widgets and Plume have already taken advantage of this opportunity. If you have a Nexus device, be sure to try HD Widgets, I think their lock screen widgets are really cool.

Watch

Google decided to improve this application and add additional functionality to it. When you open it you see big clock With current date. There are three shortcuts at the bottom, one of them takes you to the alarm clock, the second allows you to set the time zone, and the third is responsible for switching to night mode and settings.

By the way, you can control the timer and stopwatch after launch directly from the lock screen.

The application also has its own digital widget. Now you finally don’t have to think about which third-party widget to install on your home screen.

Sleep mode

You can now configure how your device behaves when entering sleep mode. For example, so that you don't get bored just watching your tablet being turned off and charging, Google decided to add several screensavers that turn on in sleep mode. First, you need to select the time when they will turn on. Then you need to decide on the screensaver itself; there are five templates in total: clock, collage, media, frame and colors.

Collage displays your photos as scattered miniatures. You can choose the folders with displayed photos yourself. You can also select photos from your web storage in Picasa. If any of the photos interests you, just click on it to open it in full screen mode.

In Media mode, you can see on the screen last news from application of the same name. Clicking on a news item opens a short announcement of it, and you can immediately go to the application itself.

The idea is that when you add a new user, they have their own desktops, games, and applications. All its settings are personalized. At the same time, information such as Wi-Fi passwords is available to all users immediately. Using multiple accounts will be in demand, first of all, in families, and will eliminate problems like: “Dad, why did you delete my game?” However, it is important to remember that, despite the presence of two accounts, the amount of internal memory is still the same. By the way, about the internal memory: if you log in from one account and connect the tablet to the computer, then you will only see files uploaded for this account, for example, screenshots taken from another account will not be visible.

Also in 4.2 it became possible to shoot a 360-degree panorama.

Android is an operating system that has many versions. A user who keeps up with the times undoubtedly wants to try new versions. To do this, you can buy a gadget with the latest version already installed or upgrade Android to that. But not everyone knows how to update Android. We will tell you how to install a new version of Android in this article.

We offer step-by-step and detailed instructions for Android update. In order to understand how to update Android on your device, you need an Internet connection (preferably Wi-Fi so as not to empty your mobile account).

Android updates are individual for each smartphone or tablet. Therefore, there is no universal software or program for PC to “update Android”. The update method common to all device models is updating the Android version over the air.

How to improve the version of Android on your phone

Perform a series of simple manipulations:

go to " Settings» system of your Android device and connect to the Internet using Wi-Fi
if you have a new Google account, go back to " Settings" and go to the section " About the smartphone (tablet)»

allow me automatic update operating system. When a new firmware version is released, you will see a corresponding message on the tablet

click " Restart and Install" This way you will run the update and within half an hour your device will be updated to the latest version of Android

Process Android updates individual for each individual trademark and device models