Android KitKat

Submitted to the public on September 3, 2013 and released as a beta for some models of the Google Nexus series called Android K. Initially, the release was called “Key Lime Pie” (lime pie), but the director of Android global collaboration John Lagerling and his team dropped this code name, deciding that "only a few know the taste of lime pie." The developers were striving for a “funny and unexpected” name, and then the KitKat version appeared. Lagerling contacted Nestlé, the owners of the brand outside the United States (the Hershey Company owned the brand domestically), and quickly agreed on a deal between the two companies, which entered into place in February 2013 at the next World Mobile Congress. The partnership was not public, and therefore many believed that version 4.4 would be released as a “Key Lime Pie”, up to September 2013.

The main task of Android 4.4, like Android 4.1-4.3, was optimization for increased performance without sacrificing functionality. The initiative received the code name "Project Slimness". Her chief executive, Dave Burke, joked that there was a weight loss plan after Android JB - the then “Project Butter” (“Project Oil”) “added weight” to the OS. To simulate low device specifications, Android developers used Nexus 4 with weak processors to actively work at a slower processor speed with only one core, 512 MB of memory, and in display resolution specifications 960x540 are designed to represent weak Android devices. The development tool, known as proctools , is designed to analyze the memory usage of applications over time, especially those with background services. This data has been used to optimize and unlink Google applications and services to be inefficient, thereby helping to reduce memory consumption. In addition, Android K was designed to be more aggressive in managing memory: using application protection spends too much memory.

• Google Now, active voice assistant.
• Display covers and control buttons on the lock screen when playing music or showing movies via Chromecast.
• Navigation buttons and notification bar are automatically hidden.
• Faster task switching and memory allocation.
• Priority in the phone book.
• Smart caller ID and calling organization.
• Hangouts communication center.
• Japanese emoticons in the standard keyboard.
• Cloud printers support.
• Fast file saving to the cloud.
• Support Message Access Profile in cars with Bluetooth .
• Chromecast support.
• Launching web apps via Chrome.
• Displays movie subtitles in a standard video player.
• "Remote control Android".
• Updated file uploader design: list or thumbnail.
• Switch launchers through phone settings.
• Update mail.
• Support applications via infrared.
• Access to location settings via the icon in “Quick Settings”.
• Setting the method of determining the location: exact or with less battery consumption.
• Running applications in the sandbox.
• Support pedometers .
• Making payments through Google Wallet and storing statistics.
• Beta version of Android Runtime (ART)
• Immersive mode.