New Android 4.2 features unveiled: gallery changes, multi-user accounts and parental controls
We already (think we) know that Google will unveil the
LG Nexus 4
running Android 4.2 on October 29 and launch the new products in the
weeks thereafter, but until Google takes the stage at its upcoming media
event we’ll keep looking at current rumors and reports detailing these
products.
In earlier posts we looked at various Android 4.2 features, such as
the new notification settings,
the Gmail 4.2 app that was later
pulled by Google and
a variety of security features that could be found in Google’s upcoming Android version.
Now we have more Android 4.2 features uncovered coming via the same source,
Android Police,
that continued to dig for more details in the Android 4.2 version it
got to play with. In its latest report, the publication details new
gallery changes, multi-user accounts and parental controls.
Like
with the previous set of features, it’s not yet clear whether these
features will be indeed found in the final version of Android 4.2, but
it’s still worth taking a look at them.
The
gallery and camera apps are apparently getting new icons, although the
graphics found in this Android 4.2 build are not final. More
importantly, the gallery app is getting a makeover, although when it
comes to functionality, things appear to be exactly the same as in Jelly
Bean:
The Gallery is getting a reskin! It’s still
a rough work in progress, but we can at least see what direction
they’re going in. Albums have a polaroid-style bottom white label (which
matches the new icon!) and the background is a light-gray color [see
left screenshot in the image above]. Everything else about the Gallery
is exactly the same. And when I say exactly the same I mean exactly the
same. You can’t delete Picasa/G+ photos, there are no new editing
options, you still can’t rotate with a gesture, and Instant Upload
Albums are still capped at 500. In its defense, it isn’t anywhere near
finished – in fact, they haven’t even incremented the version number.
1.1.40000 is the same as the Jelly Bean version. It’s promising that
they’re looking at it.
In case taking pictures
on your Android device isn’t that important, especially if it’s a
tablet, then you’ll be happy to hear that Google is apparently working
on multi-user accounts, which is definitely good news for tablet owners.
According to
Android Police, there’s evidence in the Android
4.2 version it tested that Android 4.2 will support multiple users.
Various apps have permissions that reveal the multiple users features
including the Phone, Setting and SystemUI.
Even the Google Play Store will keep track of what apps are installed for each user, showing the relevant ones for each one.
One
of the perks of a system that has multi-user support is that it can
offer parental controls. Apparently Android 4.2 will also offer this
feature, which will allow parents to control the activity of their
children on Android devices, especially when it comes to getting new
content from the store – purchasing can be blocked with a PIN and
downloads censored depending on their rating.
We’ll be back with
more Android 4.2 details once we have them. Meanwhile, let us know what
you’d like to see Google announce in just over a week from now.
