It’s an exciting time to be a mobile developer, both of the top players, Google and Apple, are gearing up to release new operating systems. Both of which should add significant improvements to the way we use and develop for mobile devices.

Apple’s latest operating system, iOS7, was released recently on September 18, 2013. Google’s current operating system, Android 4.4 (Kitkat) was released on October 31, 2013. Now rumors of an upcoming release of Android 5.0 are spreading. The new OS, nicknamed “Key Lime Pie” is expected to release sometime in the near future.

Current Features of Android 4.4 (KitKat)

• Optimized to work better on all devices, especially older ones.
• Speculated to be greatly compatible with television. It is rumored that Google will rebrand its “Google TV” to “Android TV”.
• Said to perform best on devices having low RAM. For this, Android 4.4 might get a new Linux 3.8 based kernel which will have lower Ram consumption.
• Display changes like home screen icon design, messaging app, etc.
• Updated core features including Email, Hangouts, Clock, etc.
• Weaves features like mobile payments through Google Wallet.

There were rumors that Android 5.0 would be released alone with the Nexus Handset sometime in October of 2012. These rumors were replaced with speculation that 5.0 would be released with the Motorola X last January of 2013. With fans waiting since October of last year, they’ve come to expect a number of new features with 5.0.

Expected Features of Android 5.0 (Key Lime Pie)

• Smart Profiles for users that can be chosen from a smart strip. A profile, for instance, might be for gaming, but another profile could be used for business acquaintances, and another for family.
• Updated support of line drawing keyboard app.
• Video chat
• A new cross-device sms sync feature will make a backup of text messages in your Gmail account and access them from there. This will allow users to access their messages from new devices.
• Multiple contact sections.

Current Features of iOS7

• Control center gives instant access to apps/controls you need in front of you like, flight mode, WiFi, Flashlight, etc.
• Notification center was revamped. It now has three sections – Today, All, and Missed. Today was tweaked with user-friendly notifications like brief weather forecasts and more. It’s also now possible to customize which apps can access which notifications.
• Smarter Multitasking features are available, like scheduling updates and some smart shortcuts.
• The Camera has new shooting formats and filters that can let you do more with your images.
• Sharing photos is easier by using iCloud.
• AirDrop allows you to easily share files with people sitting near you without using email or sms.
• Mailbox, Safari, iTunes Radio, and Siri are smarter.
• iOS7 is designed to work with your car and can integrate with compatible in-car systems for hands-free calling, music and navigation.

In conclusion we can expect a lot of exciting new features with these new releases. Although everything we know about Android 5.0 is speculative, it’s certain to compete with iOS7 for the attention of mobile users. While, iOS7 is currently ahead in this race with the introduction of smarter features, less bug issues, and advanced security, it remains to be seen how it compares with Android 5.0.

Call us at 484-892-5713 or Contact Us today to know more about Android 5.0 or iOS 7 which seems more promising.