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Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4 KitKat Updates Detailed

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Samsung started rolling out Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates earlier this year but the company, and its carrier partners, were light on the details. Fortunately, Gotta Be Mobile has discovered Samsung’s own run down of Android 4.4.2 KitKat features, buried deep within its website.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates are both underway and last week, we saw the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update hit the United States for the first time with Sprint becoming the first American carrier to offer the update. And while that’s certainly good news, the companies have been light on the details.

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While Samsung publicized the features included with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, features that included Samsung KNOX and support for the Galaxy Gear, Android 4.4 KitKat update details have been hard to come by. Sprint laid out some of the features coming with its update last week but it did not detail everything.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update users will likely discover many of the changes on their own but for those that simply haven’t found the changes or are interested in the changes that will be coming on board future Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4 KitKat updates, here’s the low down.

Buried deep within Samsung’s website is a list of Android 4.4.2 KitKat features that came with the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. These are also the features that are on board the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update and will likely be the features on board the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat updates as well.

GalaxyS4-KK

Lock Screen

With Android 4.4 KitKat, Samsung has changed the look of the lock screen. The Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S4 and future Android 4.4 KitKat updates all will feature a shortcut to the camera and album art when music is being played.

Location Services

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In Android 4.4 KitKat, Samsung has included a new integrated Location services that can be accessed from a new menu inside the company’s new software. Features include:

– In Mode, you can select the options (GPS, Wi-Fi, mobile networks) to estimate your location.
– Via Recent location requests, you can know the battery usage of apps which recently requests location service.
Location services lets Google uses your recent location data and history. Set the item to On / Off.

Home Launcher

Galaxy smartphone users on Android 4.4.2 KitKat can now more easily select the home launcher. It provides those who utilize the software’s Easy Mode easier access to the feature from the home screen.

Emoji Support

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There is now emoji support on board the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4. This means that those who use the stock keyboard will have access to an assortment of new icons to use in conversation with family and friends.

Wireless Printing

Android 4.4 KitKat comes with wireless printing support. This is exactly what it sounds like. The feature allows Galaxy users to print any kind of document without the need for a wired connection.

GMS Apps

The update also brings upgrades for Google Mobile Services apps like Google Drive and Photos.

Messaging App

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Finally, the Android 4.4 KitKat update also brings the ability to select between the default messaging app and Google’s Hangouts. In the device settings, users can toggle Hangouts as the default messaging app which the company says will “prevent you from using some messaging features of Samsung applications.”

Again, Samsung lists these features for “4.4.2 based Samsung smartphones” which means that they should apply to devices beyond the Galaxy Note 3 and the Samsung Galaxy S4. We will also see carriers put their own spin on these updates. Carriers almost always tack on their own fixes and enhancements. Sprint, for instance, included compatibility for its MVNO carrier, Zact Mobile.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. Christopher Kandrat

    02/17/2014 at 6:06 pm

    Any new details on galaxy s3 release? After the blunder of 4.3 im looking foward to 4.4. Come on samsung!

  2. Al

    02/17/2014 at 7:07 pm

    I’m confused. I have the note 3 and I have emoji support already.

  3. bt

    02/17/2014 at 8:24 pm

    Yeah. I have emoji also on my note 3. 🍻😎

  4. Billy

    02/17/2014 at 8:46 pm

    We don’t have all the emoji there are some missing

  5. udi

    02/17/2014 at 10:20 pm

    Samsung dropped the 2 way call recording , so in the Note3 with kitkat , you can not use any application that records calls.
    I complain to Samsung , but no reply.

  6. Dogbert62

    02/18/2014 at 5:28 am

    Tap & Pay with wallet??

  7. Steven M. Baer

    02/18/2014 at 4:22 pm

    But will it fix the WIFI bug (network unstable) bug many are seeing in 4.3 on the Note 3? Samsung and Verizon have provided no real fix yet.

  8. Klee

    02/18/2014 at 4:53 pm

    I have the S4 and with sprint… No update yet. Oh also I was wondering if anyone else has had difficulty not having 4G coverage with with sprint? My husband has the S3 and doesn’t have an issue. I’ve had three replacement phones (refurbished) and one complete replacement (brand new in the box)… problem still still is persistent. Any thoughts?

  9. amber

    02/18/2014 at 5:39 pm

    In order to get the update to push you have to go into settings , more, application manager, Scroll over to all and then force stop Google services framework. Once you do that you can go into system update in your settings and update Samsung Software!

    • Klee

      02/18/2014 at 6:21 pm

      Did that that that and it didn’t work.

  10. Katlyn

    03/07/2014 at 3:53 pm

    I got the update on my s3. I like everything so far except for the fact that my text messages show up on my lock screen in an ugly yellow/white box. It’s not very private, either, since it displays the whole message. This is the only thing I dislike about the update but it is really bothering me and I can’t turn it off.

    • Klee

      03/08/2014 at 1:04 pm

      Katlyn…. I hated that feature on my s4 so I downloaded a different messaging app. GO SMS and I love it!!

  11. SL

    06/25/2014 at 7:10 am

    I got the updates but I don’t see the emojois. You article mentions stock keyboard. Which one is that? I have Samsung keyboard, Swype and google voice typing

  12. Patrick

    07/06/2014 at 3:57 pm

    I lost my gps icon in the notification bar after 4.4.2 update. It’s this still available? In the article, ‘mode’ was listed as an option to enable gps. What do you mean mode? How do I get there? S3 on Verizon.

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