Screenshots of the new Android 4.4 KitKat OS have leaked online; revealing some of the new features it will offer users.
An early build of the next Google mobile OS has been captured in some screengrabs, still bearing the Android Key Lime Pie moniker, prior to the KitKat name announcement.
There are some subtle colour scheme changes evident within the screenshots, with white becoming more dominant. Reports also suggest the animations in Android 4.4 KitKat are smoother than its predecessors.
The really obvious changes are those made to the camera UI. Google has introduced Instagram-style filters and allows users to preview them before applying them permanently.
Google now also offers the option to save images as a PDF file, or send them directly to a local printer with options for paper size, colours, numbers of copies and orientation.
Printing integration has also been added to the Settings menu, as has a new Payments system, which allows wireless NFC payments from the main Android architecture rather than having to rely on third-party apps.
Android 4.4 KitKat will also apparently pre-load additional apps like Google Drive and Google Keep. Google Drive is an online cloud storage service for documents and other content, while Google Keep is a note-taking service.
Unlike Apple’s iOS 7, Android 4.4 KitKat isn’t expected to be a radical redesign, but rather a gradual introduction of new features that aim “to make an amazing Android experience available for everybody.”
Android 4.4 KitKat was officially announced at the beginning of September, with Google opting for a chocolate-themed name for its next mobile OS rather than the dessert everyone expected.
Expected to launch alongside the Nexus 5 on October 14, Google has kept tight lipped about any Android 4.4 KitKat features.
“Android is the operating system that powers over 1 billion smartphones and tablets. Since these devices make our lives so sweet, each Android version is named after a dessert: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean,” reads the official site. “As everybody finds it difficult to stay away from chocolate we decided to name the next version of Android after one of our favorite chocolate treats, KitKat!”
Read more: Android 4.4 KitKat – Features we want
