This weekend a couple details and reports have surfaced regarding “breaking new features of Android 4.3” that were leaked by the folks over at HTC. In fact, there’s been way more than a few reports of these “leaked features.” Those being Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) and OpenGL ES 3.0 both by HTC. We’re going to learn more about both from HTC in a public developer meet-up in San Francisco during Google I/O, but they aren’t Android 4.3 features.
Many reports were stating these are brand new features that were actually leaked by HTC, but in fact, they aren’t even all that new. For one, Bluetooth low-energy APIs are already open and a widely know thing coming soon. Samsung’s been working on BLE, and HTC’s new developer edition HTC One even offers open APIs for Bluetooth low-energy.
HTC has similar APIs to use the Bluetooth in the HTC One, DNA and more for various things once developers get to work, and the same open APIs are available for the Infrared blaster in the device used as a remote control. The BLE information is nothing new, and HTC’s even had a dev sign-up page for quite a while. They even posted details on their blog back on March 7th about BLE. Again, nothing new.
Then the next part of this rumor that struck multiple Android sites all weekend, is that HTC also tipped OpenGL ES 3.0 for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. As AndroidPolice reports, the ES 3.0 spec has been finalized since August of 2012, and as we all know, Qualcomm confirmed their OpenGL ES 3.0 certification with the announcement of the new Snapdragon 600 and 800 processors. Which are in the HTC One, GALAXY S 4, and more coming soon. Obviously HTC wouldn’t just leak unannounced features so carelessly, and here’s their comment on these “leaks”
“To clarify, we’ll have some surprises for the meeting but we’re not claiming unannounced new features here – we’ll be demoing features and APIs already available on HTC devices.” – Dario Laverde
As HTC stated above, they’ll have a few surprises, but nothing “breaking” or unannounced. He also confirms that these features and APIs are already available on devices, like the HTC One. So while we can expect some pretty neat new things with Bluetooth low-energy, this is nothing that will be specific to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. We do however expect some interesting new features with the latest version of Android, and will be live at Google I/O to bring you all the details.
[via SlashGear]
