News - Android 4.4 KitKat launch date outed by Nestle Facebook update

[HEXUS]

New corporate buddy lets slip the October release plans.

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[sykobee]

I hope that Samsung and EE don't make me wait a year for an OS update for my SGS4 to get this.

OTOH I'm glad that this could be a step towards fixing fragmentation. I hope Google are going to help OEMs get lots of updates out for their devices.

[Everyone - don't forget to get an extra 10GB of Google Drive storage space for free by downloading and linking your Google account with the free Google Quickbooks.]

[voxstream]

Damn it, I'm allergic to chocolate.

[OilSheikh]

I hope for once custom debloated firmware can update to a new Android via OTA, rather than having using Odin and PITT files and formatting your phone!

[Hicks12]

Hope the Nexus 5 comes out at the same price and has a similar batterylife to the LG Optimus G2 as that battery life is phenomenal.

Maybe KitKat will be where Google has rewritten Android so it is not constantly hindered by a slightly flawed foundation? Can only hope as battery life I notice now is pretty bad!

[shaithis]

I hope someone releases a kitkat phone that looks like a kitkat

[simonpreston]

I hope for once custom debloated firmware can update to a new Android via OTA, rather than having using Odin and PITT files and formatting your phone!

Unfortunately, if you think this will lead to the demise of TouchWiz and the like, I highly doubt it. I also highly doubt that Samsung will put things like the SGS1 or 2 on to KitKat out of the goodness of their hearts. Even SGS3 users might miss out all so Samsung can carry on selling new phones. I can't help but think that the only reason the SGS3 is getting 4.3 is so that they can flog those users their watch nonsense. Rather poor from Samsung where a phone that is 16 months old old (and was a premium model) gets left by the wayside.

Cyanogenmod will see to that, of course.

[crossy]

I hope for once custom debloated firmware can update to a new Android via OTA, rather than having using Odin and PITT files and formatting your phone!

Now what would be really revolutionary would be if there was a way for the older gear (the stuff causing the vexatious fragmentation that annoys Google so much) to take advantage of Kit Kat. To be brutally honest it's ridiculous in this day and age that there's kit out there that CAN take the latest OS release, but hasn't got it because the manufacturer can't be donkeyed and wants to force you to "upgrade" to "this year's model".

And yes, I want to see this OS release on my Galaxy S3 and Note 10.1, and if they can drop a version for the original Asus Transform then I'd be very grateful (and bl**dy amazed to boot!)

Not too keen on the "increased integration with Google Drive", but faster, smoother and less battery use will all get thumbs up from me.

Unfortunately, if you think this will lead to the demise of TouchWiz and the like, I highly doubt it. I also highly doubt that Samsung will put things like the SGS1 or 2 on to KitKat out of the goodness of their hearts. Even SGS3 users might miss out all so Samsung can carry on selling new phones. I can't help but think that the only reason the SGS3 is getting 4.3 is so that they can flog those users their watch nonsense. Rather poor from Samsung where a phone that is 16 months old old (and was a premium model) gets left by the wayside.

And especially bad given the differences between 2012's Galaxy (S3) and this year's (S4) are so small. Definitely NOT the way to encourage customer loyalty (as people like Sony discovered).

[hero1]

Now where is the Nexus 5? I think that will be my next phone. Goodbye iPhone, well once Nexus 5 comes out. It's tough to decide between the HTC One and Galaxy Note 3 but I think the Nexus 5 is better option.

[scaryjim]

Still think Key Lime Pie was a better name, tbh. A couple of days after the "Kitkat" news broke the family were wandering round supermarkets, pointing and shouting every time we found a product that was key lime pie flavoured. There were a surprisingly large amount...

tbh, I'm getting a little bored of "new" versions of Android. The vast majority of phones won't get updated to it, the vast majority of consumers won't know the difference, and a tiny number of enthusiasts will spend hours debating how much better than the previous version it is. I can't see it suddenly converting people in their droves from iOS or forcing consumers away to other platforms, so ultimately it's all a bit of a non-event (apart from Google's - IMNSHO shocking - decision to tie themselves to a partner with such a questionable reputation).

[Hicks12]

They havent really aligned themselves with Nestle and it isnt Doom and gloom, I can think of worse companies and the majority of the criticism made has been about words taken out of context!

Google have doodles they have a laugh most of the time, clearly the devs fancied doing something spontaneous and thats why it only took 48 hours for this deal to be agreed without money changing hands!

What phone do you have scaryjim? Might be reading it wrongly( probably am) but your post sounds bitter , I think really its like blaming your boss for keeping your PC on windows 98 when Microsoft continue releasing new versions, it is much better but its not their fault someones stopped you . Also CyanogenMod support a lot of devices ditched by the OEMs now so you normally can get the latest Android release!.

Android 4.1 - 4.3 were all minor revisions but this time it should be a very big jump and it will certainly add more to the list of reasons to go to Android. Personally I think we all have different preferences, the three major operating systems have pros and cons but for me personally as a Developer and a tinkerer I like Android .


edit: I remember now jim... didnt you have the Optimus 2X? I understand your bitterness if it was, amazing device but LG left it in the grave thankfully Cyanogemod team took it up and it was really good and the only small downside was the lack of ram so eventually I ended up replacing it with a Nexus 4.... great decision as LG quality but google flawless Software support.

[Noli]

Hope the Nexus 5 comes out at the same price and has a similar batterylife to the LG Optimus G2 as that battery life is phenomenal... Can only hope as battery life I notice now is pretty bad!

True this. The only thing my Nexus 4 needs now (apart from more storage) is more battery.

[lahn]

I hope someone releases a kitkat phone that looks like a kitkat

Surely some (Chinese?) vendor will make covers with KitKats on the back! I can see the novelty of it, for a while anyway...

[Biscuit]

Sony recently announced 4.3 for my phone (Xperia SP) but that could take a while, wonder if they will scrap that and just go straight to 4.4... here's hoping!

[aidanjt]

Also all Google coders are fuelled by KitKats.

I think you're confusing confectioneries with many mugs of coffee.

[bobharvey]

I am disturbed by the Nestle link. I just don't like those guys.