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| Android 4.4 Kikat |
Google announced Android 4.4 KitKat in late 2013, and while we know it made its debut on the Nexus 5, its arrival on other smartphones is as always, up in the air. Information has been coming through from various sources since its release, so we’ve combined all the official announcements, along with any less formal news we’ve heard, to make sure you know when Android 4.4 KitKat is headed to your device.
Samsung’s KitKat updates are coming
Initially, Samsung kept quiet about its plans for 4.4 KitKat, having announced update schedules in the past, then been burned by missing self-imposed deadlines. Following early international tests of the new OS – specifically Galaxy Note 3 owners in Poland during January, and Korean Galaxy S4 phones in February – Samsung soon started sending out its Android 4.4 KitKat updates in America. |
| T Mobile |
On February 13 2014, Sprint officially confirmed the arrival of an Android 4.4 update for the Galaxy S4, posting on its support webpage the new software was being released in stages, and a system prompt would appear once it was ready to download. It warned this may not show up for several days.
A week later, Samsung sent out a press release confirming 4.4 KitKat will soon be available for the following devices across all U.S. networks. These are the Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Note 2, the Galaxy S4, S4 Mini, S4 Active and S4 Zoom, plus the Galaxy S3 and S3 Mini. The Galaxy Mega and Galaxy Light are also listed. Moving on to tablets, the Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Tab 3, Galaxy Note 10.1, and finally, the Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition will all be updated to version 4.4. Samsung says all carrier variants will get the update. The rollout begins on February 18 and will continue for several months.
AT&T has now confirmed Galaxy Note 3 devices connected to its networks will be receiving Android 4.4 KitKat from March 27. In a short blog post, the network provides an overview of the new features. KitKat will add the new-look user interface, the option to use Hangouts as the SMS app, wireless printing, better GPS performance, and enhanced audio controls. Additionally, the update will add music controls to the lock screen, and a quick access camera button too.
As for the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition, a post on the official Android Google+ page confirmed the new version was sent out on November 26 2013.
LG tests G Flex update in Korea
As LG is responsible for the Nexus 5, we’d been expecting to hear something official about Android 4.4 KitKat for the LG G2 quite quickly. Instead, there were a few vague rumors from a French network about it coming in early 2014, which were redacted soon after publication, before Canadian site MobileSyrup.com said it had been informed by LG that Android 4.4 wouldn’t be coming to the G2 until March 2014 at the earliest.On December 15 2013 we got our first piece of official news. LG published a short press release on its blog, saying the Android 4.4 KitKat update for the G2 was, “In progress,” in Korea.
T-Mobile USA became the first network to offer an update to Android 4.4 KitKat for the LG G2, confirming on its official update page the rollout would begin on March 3. Owners should expect to find all the KitKat improvements, along with an auto-brightness option, and general user experience improvements.
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| LG - G Flex |
LG has made another official announcement in Korea, this time for the G Flex. An update to Android 4.4 is already on its way in LG’s home country, and with it comes the new Knock Code feature seen on the G Pro 2, plus a split window option to run two apps at the same time. There was a two-and-a-half month gap between the Korean G2 software update and the T-Mobile USA update, which we hope won’t be the same for the G Flex, but fear that it will. If so, look out for it in mid-June.
Rumors have also emerged LG is working on Android 4.4 for the Optimus G, its 2012 flagship Android phone. The news comes from the same French network where the mostly accurate reports of the first LG software updates originated.
Sony to update modern Xperia hardware
Sony talked about its plans for Android 4.4 in November last year, and while it was all good news, the wait for any further information has been a long one. Finally, on March 19 2014, Sony published a blog post saying the update for the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z Ultra, and the Xperia Z1 Compact is ready to go. Sony will add Android 4.4 KitKat to these phones, along with a few new features of its own. These include a new Status Bar and Quick Settings menu, a PS4-style UI with new live wallpaper, plus a wide selection of improvements spread across Sony’s stock apps.No exact timeline is given, and the usual warning that these things vary by country and carrier is clearly stated, but it should be on its way soon. Once its done with the phones above, Sony will turn its attention to the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, and the Xperia Tablet Z. The update is planed for sometime around May. Finally, the Xperia T2 Ultra, Xperia E1, and the Xperia M2 have all been added to Sony’s list for a future Android 4.4 update too.
Motorola Moto X and Moto G top of its list
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| Motorola Moto X |
Motorola confirmed the Moto X would be getting Android 4.4 via its website dedicated to software updates. The first Moto X’s to get a taste were those connected to Verizon, and Motorola started a staggered rollout on November 19 2013.
On February 19 2014, Motorola added Moto X smartphones connected to US Cellular to the list. According to the official update page, Android 4.4.2, along with some bug fixes, has been approved for release and should be with owners soon.
Motorola has confirmed Moto X phones connected to AT&T should expect a 4.4.2 KitKat update very soon. The new software promises to fix a few software bugs, including those which may have affected battery life, and one which could have caused problems with international roaming. The main new feature is support for photo printing via Google Cloud Print and HP ePrinters.
Verizon’s Droid phones aren’t being left out. In December 2013, via a tweet, the network announced it had started updating the Droid Ultra, Droid Mini, and Droid Maxx to Android 4.4 KitKat. It said the new version would be delivered in stages. You can find a few details on the update here.
Motorola confirmed in a blog post that U.S. versions of the Moto G would receive Android 4.4 updates from December 19 2013, and not early 2014 as originally promised. It said phones purchased through Amazon and Motorola would be first, while Moto G phones bought from networks will follow soon. In the UK, a post on Motorola’s customer support page listed the improvements Android 4.4 KitKat would bring to the Moto G, and confirmed the update was being sent out.
Google, its Nexus hardware, and Glass
Android 4.4 KitKat slightly deviated from the tradition of previous versions, which all debuted on Nexus hardware, by deciding to also hit the Verizon Moto X at around the same time. Google confirmed Android 4.4 KitKat would come to the Nexus 4 smartphone, plus the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablet. The Google Editions of the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One also received some chocolatey Android goodness.As of November 12 2013, the Nexus 7 (both 2012 and 2013 models) and the Nexus 10 started getting the update, and although no official word came through, reports spread on November 20 that it starting to arrive on Nexus 4 smartphones too. Eagle-eyed Nexus fans will notice the Galaxy Nexus isn’t included in the list, and sure enough, the two-year old phone won’t be getting any more Google love.
Google has always said Android 4.4 KitKat was suitable for a wide variety of different devices, and a post on the private Google Glass forum has indicated Google’s smart eyewear is being upgraded from Android 4.0.3 to Android 4.4 very soon.
HTC One updates soon
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| HTC |
HTC talked about getting Android 4.4 on its devices almost immediately after it was announced.
A tweet sent though the HTC USA Twitter account on November 13 2013 confirmed the update for the Google Play edition of the HTC One was with Google, and that it was responsible for pushing the update. A Google+ post from the official Android account ten days later confirmed the update was being sent out.
Subsequently, HTC also said Android 4.4 would be out for the Developer Edition and SIM-free HTC One before the end of November. It was right on the money too, as on November 29 it sent out another message saying Android 4.4 KitKat was out for unlocked One phones and the HTC One Developer Edition.
The official HTC USA Twitter account has informed us that HTC One smartphones connected to Sprint will be the first to receive an update to Android 4.4 KitKat. The new version began finding its way to Sprint devices on February 1 2014. Additionally, HTC confirmed Android 4.4 had reached the final “certification” stage with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
On February 6, HTC announced the Verizon update was ready to go, and added Sense 5.5 would also be included. Verizon followed this up with documentation detailing all the alterations. Android 4.4.2 and Sense 5.5 will add a new lock screen process, a redesigned music and gallery app, revised and more detailed location services, plus a Do Not Disturb mode. At the moment, the update is only for the HTC One, but the HTC One Max is set to follow soon. Also, Verizon is investigating an Android 4.4 update for the Droid DNA along with the Virgin Mobile Desire 601.
In November 2013, HTC UK announced plans to have Android 4.4 and HTC Sense 5.5 for the One smartphone ready for the end of January 2014. In mid-January, it reiterated the point, saying it was working with local networks to make this happen. However, a short time after the update began, HTC halted the rollout on March 3, after some users complained of rapid battery drain following installation of the new software. On March 18, reports gathered that HTC had restarted the update process. A tweaked version of Android 4.4.2 was being sent out to UK and European HTC One phones, with a fix for an unspecified Wi-Fi issue.
Huawei to update flagship Ascend P6
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| Huawei |
Huawei has confirmed on the Sina Weibo social network it would be skipping Android 4.3, and instead working on having Android 4.4 KitKat ready for the Ascend P6 smartphone. It’s hoped the software will be ready by January 2014, but it’s not clear when it’ll be distributed internationally.
It’s important to remember the dates provided by manufacturers are rarely set in stone, and can change. Along with any issues which may turn up as the software is worked on, we shouldn’t forget that updates must also pass through the networks for approval, a process which can take several weeks. Even when it gets the green light, distribution is usually staggered to help identify any previously unseen problems, meaning it could take a while to get to your phone
Above Informations belongs to corresponding Sources..
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