Beneath the mild cosmetic changes, version 4.4 of the Android OS is about optimization. Using fewer resources to perform the same tasks makes Android more agile and should, at least in theory, lead to a lower minimum spec for devices. Lower specs mean lower costs for hardware manufacturers, which in the ruthlessly competitive smartphone market does actually translate to cheaper prices for consumers. So Google is democraticizing smartphone access, a fine feather for its public-facing cap, while pursuing its own business interests.
The focus on improving entry-level performance with KitKat is, in the eyes of industry observer Avi Greengart, “one of the smartest things Google has done for Android in a long time.” Greengart notes that although Android enjoys the lion’s share of smartphone sales in developing markets like China, those are most commonly Android 2.3 devices with sluggish responsiveness and no access to Google Play services. His perspective is supported by Strategy Analytics data that shows the Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing market for smartphone shipments and Android is the primary shipping OS — but “older versions and piecemeal UI tweaks have led to a compromised user experience.”
With KitKat, Google is aiming to thwart the proliferation of forked Android versions and subpar responsiveness, thereby achieving two complementary goals: enticing low-end phone makers to shift to its latest, Google Play-enhanced OS, and encouraging users to use their phones more by making the experience more enjoyable. More users plus more engagement equals more advertising dollars.
Source : The Verge
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