[Android General] sidnoit22:
SOURCE : Kickedface :cool:

WARNING: This post contains rumors and speculation from Android Insiders. If you do not want to know about Android 4.2 then do not read this story and unplug from the Internets. You have been warned – the goods are after the jump. Thanks to androidandme for digging this up!

There is so much to cover in this rumor report that we are going to use a slightly different format. We will list each rumored feature individually and then break it down before moving on to the next.

NEW NEXUS PROGRAM

Rumor: As previously reported, any manufacturer can produce a Nexus device or a Nexus version of an existing device. They work closely with Google on the hardware and driver details (there is a more efficient solution for this in 5.0), but Google is responsible for the updates (don’t know how the carriers factor in). The phones don’t necessarily have to have “Nexus” as part of their name, it works more like a certificate like “HD Ready”.

The devices have to fulfill some basic requirements. The phone has to ship with a stock version of Android, it needs to have the hardware power to run all “Nexus Games”, and they have to support Google Wallet, aka have NFC.

There are two carrots on a stick that probably make the Nexus brand a huge selling point. Google Play gets expanded with a media streaming service component and there will be games that only work on Nexus devices. The streaming service uses the secure memory, making it harder to pirate the content. No word of the type or source of the media, but it seems to be a big deal.

Speculation: This info is all over the map, but it lines up with previous reports. It sounds like Google is going to encourage manufacturers to join their Nexus program, but it will be optional. If manufacturers meet a list of requirements, then they can become Nexus certified and gain access to new services and features.

It almost sounds like the list of requirements that Google currently places on OEMs in order for them to gain access to Google services like the Play store. This will now create a second tier certification program that manufactures have the choice of participating in. OEMs can offer a device that meets the basic requirements and gain access to the Google Play store, and if they include additional elements they get access to the Nexus certification

NEW CUSTOMIZATION CENTER

Rumor: There is a new Customization Center, where you can change ringtones, language packs, background, launchers, and so on. There is nothing too sophisticated (for now). The center is mainly a convenient way to enable the average customer to do some basic customizations. The range of options can be expanded via Google Play of course. However, there are two new features: templates that change the appearance of all (newly introduced) dynamic icons at once, and post filters that change the appearance of the whole UI – think of Instagram.

The manufacturers may provide their custom UI through the Customization Center, but they don’t have to. When Google upgrades Android and a manufacturer fails to provide a compatible version of their custom UI the device reverts simply to the stock UI (or the user waits with the upgrade until the manufacturer catches up).

Speculation: This sounds like a dream come true. Google may have finally provided a solution to the manufactures that allows consumers to update the base Android operating system, without having to wait on the OEMs to update their skins.

NEW PROJECT ROADRUNNER

Rumor: There is major effort to improve the battery life called Project Roadrunner.

Speculation: Details are pretty light on this one, but it sounds like Project Roadrunner will enhance battery life the same way that Project Butter enhanced the overall responsiveness in Android 4.1.

UPDATED GOOGLE PLAY

Rumor: Google Play is enhanced with new features like personalized search, optional promotional campaigns with notification center integration, more billing options, and easier in-app micro-transactions.

Speculation: We don’t have much to add, but we like anything that will help developers generate more revenue.

UPDATED GOOGLE NOW

Rumor: Google Now provides help for basic OS functions, aka “Where can I activate bluetooth?” or “How can I tone down the brightness?”, to make it easy for newbies to settle in.

Speculation: No surprise here. Google said they would be updating Google Now and we expected to be able to control system level functions.

UPDATED VIDEO PLAYER

Rumor: The stock video player app gets a major revamp and provides new APIs for other video services to tie in.

Speculation: Again there is not much to add, but androidandme believe this is part of a bigger media streaming service that Google will soon offer.

DRIVE-BY CONCLUSIONS

Please keep in mind that all of this should only be considered a rumor, but this source has been on the money with previous information. Some of the details are so specific that I have a hard time believing they are just making this up as they go along. The source also shared quite a bit of information about Android 5.0 that we left out so we could focus on the next release.

Hello users with Android 4.2.

By now we are certain that Google has handed out new Nexus devices to their employees who are currently testing Android 4.2. Androidandme have monitored quite a few visits to their site over the last month, but the number of hits from Android 4.2 really started to pick up this week.

I’m not sure if I believe every detail that is included with this report, but all the signs are pointing to some major changes to the Nexus program and the core Android OS. Some of these changes are so big that we wonder if they will even be included with Android 4.2 or be held for Android 5.0.

We previously speculated that a lot of the things in Android 4.2 would be geared towards laying the groundwork for Android 5.0. It is possible that a lot of these new features will only be visible on Nexus devices, while standard devices would be left without them.

The whole concept of a Nexus certification program sounds like Google is putting their foot down and taking more control of the Android experience. Even though the program might optional, hopefully the consumers will realize the benefits of a “Nexus ready” device versus something that is just Android-based.