Over the weekend, the intrepid software tinkerers over at Android Police picked apart last week's Android 4.3 leak. The screenshots were initially published on SamMobile without much context, but Android Police has managed to identify some of the expected new features.
Android 4.3 is only a minor update, but it may make a big difference for end users. As we picked out from the leaked screenshots last week, Google has included a new Wi-Fi power setting that leaves the Wi-Fi on all the time. As Android Police explains:
…at least partially on, all the time. Now I know you might immediately scream "MY BATTERY LIFES!!" but this will probably save battery. Google wants you to leave Wi-Fi on so that apps can get your location, but consider that the other option for location is firing up the GPS chip, which is a battery's worst enemy.
The important thing to keep in mind if you hate this, you can turn it off. The option is just buried under an "advanced" menu. Turning off "Scanning always available" will make "off" for Wi-Fi really be "off."
There is also plenty of evidence pointing to a newly revamped Camera application, which has shipped with the most recent Google Play Editions of the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and HTC One. Bluetooth LE will be a part of the update as well, and this should help make the technology less of a battery sucker. Overall, the leaks associated with Android 4.3 demonstrate a theme—a desire to make the OS a bit more energy-efficient.
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from Ars Technica http://arstechnica.com
