Designed as update to OS X Yosemite, El Capitan (which is
named after a rock formation in Yosemite National Park) will provide
performance improvements over its predecessor.
Some of the new features of El Capitan include improvements
in Spotlight search with support for natural language queries, multitasking
with split-screen views and gesture capabilities in certain apps.
The operating system update will also bring the company’s
Metal graphics rendering engine to the Mac. Originally created for iOS, this
feature should allow developers to have near-direct access to a device’s
graphics hardware, delivering improved performance and a richer graphical
experience.
Moreover, Metal will allow OS X to combine the processing
power of both the GPU and CPU to improve the performance of apps, which is why
software makers such as Adobe will also make use of the API to improve its own
products.
Mac OS X El Capitan is now available to developers and there
will be a public beta by July, so even ordinary users can try out the OS
before its official launch sometime in Q3 2015.
Google’s annual developer conference showcased a lot of
improvements in Android and its software for virtual reality and the internet
of things – two of the most highly anticipated pieces of technology that are now
slowly becoming main stream. However, the search giant is also showcasing some
new tech during the event.
For starters, there’s Project Jacqaurd which is spearheaded
by Google’s ATAP (Advanced Technologies and Projects) team. If you’re thinking
you’ve heard of this name before, you’re right – because they were the same
people who gave us the 3D mapping Tango
tablet. Basically, the technology utilizes sensors that are woven directly
into fabric.
This should allow users to control their devices using
clothes or furniture that have their touch-sensing textile. This means, clothes
and furniture can act as a remote control for devices and commands and
functions are achieved by simply touching the fabric.
The sensors are attached to companion electronics that will
communicate to devices using low-power WiFi link. Google has partnered with
Levi’s together with designer Paul Dilliger in bringing the technology to the
jeans company’s product line maybe in the future.
Then there’s Project Vault, a secure computer stored in a
microSD card-sized device. Again, this is a creation of Google ATAP team. The
device is in itself an ARM processor running a secure operating system called
RTOS (Real Time Operating System), which provides focus on privacy and data
security.
It also comes with an NFC chip, its own antenna (for
authorization processes) and a suite of security services such as hashing,
signing, batch encryption and a hardware random number generator. It works
across different platforms including Android, Windows, OS X and Linux.
In a practical sense, it works just like an ordinary storage
device but in a more secured manner without the use of passwords. Instead, the
device can authenticate users by looking at a “Trust score” which is based on
their habits.
Lastly, there’s Project Soli – a radar chip that tracks user
gestures to translate it into actions on a smart device. The chip is really
small it can fit into small form factor devices such as a smartwatch.
The
technology should allow for a more refined and detailed control mechanism for
future devices, and when combined with Project Jacquard, it can provide a level
of control to devices that’s previously the stuff of science fiction films.
Just like other projects from the ATAP team, the three
projects are still in development and there are no specific ETA on when these
technologies will see retail.
ANDROID M
Slated as the next version of the company’s highly
successful mobile operating system, Android M seems to be an update that
focuses on functionality and features over looks and aesthetics.
In terms of design, Android M is mostly a few notch ahead of
the current version of Android – Lollipop. The most noticeable change would be
in the launcher, specifically in the arrangement of the app drawer. Instead of
the usual horizontal carousel, apps are now arranged in a vertical list with
the most used apps sitting at the top. Moreover, app widgets are now grouped
into sections which can be horizontally scrolled in cases where the widget has
different sizes.
Google is also giving users the option to either have a dark
or light theme. However, this setting only applies to certain context menus and
we’re not sure if Google plans to apply it as a universal feature.
Now on to the juicy bits. One of the most talked about new
feature in Android M is its ability to grant or restrict app permissions. That
means users can now select which apps can have access to their personal
information thus improving security. Google has also built a memory management
feature within the operating system so users won’t need to download third party
apps to keep their apps’ memory usage in check.
Lastly, Android M now features the ability to customize the
quick settings panel in the notifications area. It’s not a major update but
users can now at the very least select which toggles to put on the quick
settings panel of their phones.
ANDROID PAY
Apple already has Apple Pay so naturally, Google has to come
up with its own payment platform for Android. That’s why we now have Android
Pay. It’s pretty much the same as Google Wallet and uses NFC to make payments
to merchants.
Google has made a new app with a simpler interface that
should allow users to either pay for items using their credits stored in their
account whenever they tap their phone into an NFC-enabled POS (point-of-sale)
terminal. Online retailers can also take advantage of the feature by incorporating
it into their apps for easy in-app purchases.
The system stores user information including shipping
details and if the merchant offers a loyalty card, details about current points
on the loyalty card are also automatically updated after the purchase has been
made.
GOOGLE NOW on TAP
Finally, there’s Google Now on Tap. It’s an update to the
company’s AI, extending its functionality to other apps. The feature should
allow Google to identify possible informational needs the user may have, well
before they even know they need it by collecting data about their habits and
usage and searching the web for related information.
Google Now on Tap will allow Android to identify cast
members inside movies users watch on YouTube or Google Movies, defining words
tapped on Google Chrome or checking Artist names and song titles from Spotify.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)