Android 4.0. Part 1

1. By Sergei Shostko
Android 4.0Android 4.0
Innovations and improvements

2. 2
Presentation
Ice Cream Sandwich was announced on May 10, 2011 at
the conference Google I / O 2011 and released
on October 19, 2011, together with the
communicator Galaxy Nexus.
Matias Duarte, director of
Android user interface
development,
stressed that logic of the
new Android interface has
been thought
out anew, from scratch.
Although we have been
shown only the
smartphone version, it will
also run on tablet PCs.

3. 3
The main difference
If we talk briefly about Android 4.0, we
should say that this is a new system
combining features of tablet version
and 2.xx
smartphone versions.
The interface
sometimes differs
according to
the display size.
.

4. 4
Special features
•One shell for all Android-based devices
•Open Accessory API - for integration with various devices
•Real-time Transport Protocol API Support for audio
•Improved multi-tasking
•System tray changing
•Improved creation of folders on the desktop
•Scalable widgets
•Modified lock panel with labels imposition
•Improved text input and spelling check
•Improved mode of the voice text input
•Traffic Control System
•Software camera improvements: panoramic photography, image stabilization, real-time
video effects
•Support for taking screenshots with OS tools
•Updated browser with tabs support, Google Chrome bookmarks synchronization.
Updates of the core WebKit and V8 engine with Crankshaft support
•Extended security features: unlock via face recognition, full device encryption, ASLR, a
new VPN API.
•Wi-Fi Direct support

5. 5
Main screen
There are new virtual buttons replacing the usual hardware
and performing similar functions: return, transition to the
desktop and calling recently used programs.
For quick access to frequently used
applications, a small panel Favorites tray
is implemented, where you can
add shortcuts to applications, folders,
and files.
Google search is no longer a widget,
it is placed at the top of all desktops.

6. 6
Widgets
The size of all widgets can be
changed at your discretion. By
icons zooming, additional
information will be displayed .
Now, you can use many
functions (checking email,
viewing calendar events,
playing music) without
launching appropriate programs.

7. 7
Folders and applications list
•All applications on the home screen can now
be grouped into folders by simply dragging
appropriate icons above each other
•Separate section with the widgets
•List of applications lets you
view information about
programs, uninstall them
or block apps that were pre-
installed by the manufacturer

8. 8
Notifications
•Improved design and
functionality of the system tray
•On smartphones, all updates
will be displayed at the top
of the screen, and on
devices with a large
display - in the system tray
•You can remove any
notification with one finger
motion (swipe)

9. 9
Lock mode
music control
camera launch
drop-down of the top
panel to read
messages
sending SMS by call
refusal
face recognition
Google did so that the most popular
activities can be carried out without lock
removing:

10. 10
Multi-tasking
•improved system capabilities
for simultaneous working
with multiple applications
•a new, more user-
friendly Windows Task
Manager displaying a small
image of the apps’ work
screens
•closing any application with a
finger motion (swipe)

11. 11
Text input
•Improved misprints correction
•Standard and custom dictionaries
•Text drag by selection
•Highlighting
of misspelled words.
When you click on
them, a menu
with options
for correcting appears.
• Improved voice input

12. 12
Traffic control
•Wi-Fi and 3G traffic
consumption
•Consumption statistics fo
r each application
•Limit for preventing
and hard switching off the
mobile Internet

13. 13
Camera and
screenshots
Screenshots taking without root and extra
programs. Hold down the power button and volume
key, and the screenshot will be saved in the device
memory.

14. Camera and
screenshots
Improved image stabilization while zooming
Reduced shutter time
Quick photos saving while video shooting in the
same resolution as the video itself
Easy creation of panoramas (rotation through
360 °)
Autofocus on people’s faces
Simple image processing
Improved systemic gallery grouped by time,
location and tags
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15. 15
Browser
•synchronization with the desktop Chrome
•view of mobile and common versions of
the site
•
• up to 16 tabs
•pages saving
•runs up to
5 times faster in
some JavaScript-
tests

16. 16
Connections
Функция Android Beam позволяет обмениваться
данными с помощью NFC. Для инициирования
обмена понадобится лишь коснуться
телефонами и подтвердить отправку файла,
приложения, ссылки, карты или контакта.
Функция Wifi Direct позволяет соеденять два
гаджета по wifi без использования точек
доступа или интернет подключения (P2P).

17. 17
ICS Good Bye
However, not everything is well
done. The version is still raw; and
there are some bugs.

18. To be continued…
•Next time, we’ll tell you about important
innovations, which Android 4.0. offers for
developers.
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