If you are wondering why the Nexus 5 is so important, or what makes it worth the wait then, look no further than Kit Kat, or Android 4.4 and wearable devices.
The rumor is that Google’s Nexus 5 is coming next week and that it will be the first phone with the new version of Android. Everyone is hoping that this means improvements in system performance and the obligatory bump in battery efficiency.
It’s expected that Kit Kat will improve standby performance for better energy conervation, but we are most excited about the LTE support. You should see easy switching between regional networks in different territories, two compatible versions of LTE, and better use of processor power.
It is unlikely that Google will change much about the UI although we should see some different color schemes, some nice new screen transitions and some major cosmetic upgrades. And bug fixes. Mustn’t forget bug fixes.
On the spec front, seeing as LG made this thing for Google, the Nexus 5 is very similar to LG’s G2 in pure hardware terms. Leaked documents on the Nexus 5, now removed from the web, indicated a 4.95-inch screen, slightly smaller than the G2’s 5.2-inch screen. It is also likely that the phone will have an 8 MP camera in the back, instead of the 13 MP camera in the G2. The camera is expected to be the first smartphone MEMS (microelectromechanical technology) camera. Here is a video of the technology in action.
Otherwise, it will be powered by the Snapdragon quad-core 800, and come in 16 GB or 32 GB versions. There is some confusion as to wether it will support Bluetooth 3.0 or 4.0, but it is expected that Google isn’t going to fall behind Apple and support Bluetooth 4.0 irrespective of what leaked documents show.
Bluetooth 4.0 is going to be better in terms of energy consumption, a real big plus for the latest revision of this must-have technology. It was designed for the emerging category of wearable devices like the Nike+ and Fitbit, which don’t have the power profile of a smartphone. You could safely assume that these devices, and even Google Glass, are going to be major communicators with smartphones so, a primary concern has to be lowering the battery drain of Bluetooth.
All in all, Nexus 5 kind of pushes for simplicity and conservation when it comes to power and usage. It sets Google up nicely to promote the notion that you won’t just need a smartphone but you will have a smartwatch and smartglasses to deal with, too. The smartphone kind of acts as a hub for all these devices. Reducing the power profile and enhancing the OS to deal with this Internet of Things is probably where Google is going to push us next.
