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Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 Release Moves On, Verizon Still MIA

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The Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat release continues in the United States and elsewhere though the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update remains elusive.

Back in February, Samsung started deploying the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. The update followed the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update and brought incremental features to Galaxy S4 owners in the United States and around the world. Android 4.4 replaces Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, a much larger update that landed for the Galaxy S4 back at the end of 2013.

Since February, the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update has landed for devices all over the world, including four of the five major Galaxy S4 handsets in the United States. Weeks ago, Sprint and U.S. Cellular kicked things off and they were followed by AT&T and T-Mobile, both of which rolled out their updates shortly after the initial push.

The AT&T Galaxy S4 Active Android 4.4 KitKat update is rolling out now.

The AT&T Galaxy S4 Active Android 4.4 KitKat update is rolling out now.

Today, another Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is rolling out though it’s not the missing Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Instead, it’s the AT&T Samsung Galaxy S4 Active Android 4.4 KitKat update that is pushing out to customers today. Indeed, AT&T’s rugged Galaxy S4 model has beaten the Verizon Galaxy S4 to the punch.

The carrier detailed the roll out for its Galaxy S4 Active customers and from the look of things, Android 4.4 KitKat is pretty much the same update that landed for the company’s regular Galaxy S4 long ago.

  • Improved user interface with Android 4.4 KitKat: The latest version of Android includes enhancements such as re-styled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen-immersive mode, color emoji support, improved closed captioning support, stronger security and smarter power use.
  • Enhanced music access: Full screen album art and media controls are available from the lock screen when listening to music.
  • Camera access: The camera can also be accessed directly from the lock screen.
  • Location menu: An integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS and share location details.
  • Wireless printing: Integrated support for wireless printing available in enhanced settings.
  • New sound controls: Set sound for specific Samsung applications in enhanced settings.

Those who own the Galaxy S4 Active will need to pull the Android 4.4 KitKat update down when connected to Wi-Fi and the carrier recommends having at least 50% battery on board to ensure a smooth installation process. Once installed, the software will replace the device’s Android 4.3 software that rolled out just three months ago, a quick turn around for the likes of AT&T.

The AT&T Galaxy S4 Active Android 4.4 KitKat update isn’t the only Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update that landed today. French carrier SFR announced that its Android 4.4 KitKat update for the Galaxy S4 has been approved and that it will start rolling out on April 18th, just a couple of days from now.

The carrier says that the roll out Over-the-Air will be a gradual push but that the update will be available over Samsung Kies starting on April 18th. Those that do not want to wait for the software to arrive will simply want to install the update once it arrives on Friday. Samsung Kies requires users to install the software manually using a PC.

Samsung Galaxy S4 - Best Cheap Smartphones

Samsung still has a ways to go before its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update roll out is complete. The most glaring omission, at least in the United States, is the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update that remains missing weeks after its rivals completed their push. Verizon still hasn’t filled its users in on the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 release or the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 update release.

Verizon isn’t the only U.S. carrier that remains silent about its Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update status. Smaller carriers like MetroPCS, Cricket Wireless and C Spire Wireless still haven’t announced any release details for their version of the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 update. They usually cluster around the final major release so it’s possible that we could see them get released in and around the same time that Verizon releases its version of the update.

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates will be followed by a number of other Android 4.4 KitKat updates including updates for the aging Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. Samsung still hasn’t confirmed official dates for either of those devices but carriers have begun chiming in with detailed information.

GalaxyS4-KK

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update will likely be next in line and could roll out as soon as this week or next.  A recent rumor suggested that the update could start rolling out in the middle of this month. The Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update is more of a mystery. U.S. carrier Sprint is the only carrier that has confirmed its arrival though the update remains without a release date.

After those two updates, we should see devices like the Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Mega, and more get updated to Google’s latest version of Android software.

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Todd Pierpoint

    04/16/2014 at 12:05 pm

    I am really starting to get very unhappy with Verizon in more ways than one.

  2. Amy Gurley

    04/16/2014 at 12:17 pm

    This really pisses me off about Verizon. Why? WHY? If Sprint can do it, why can’t Verizon? They were late in getting the S4 too. Technically I could have switched carriers because I wasn’t under contract – sitting there WAITING for their version of the S4. But I didn’t because where I’m living currently, Verizon is the only one with even minor reception. It’s bullshit.

    • nachokingp

      04/16/2014 at 3:52 pm

      Because Verizon fills their phones with so much buggy bloatware that they can’t release new versions of the OS until they fix all their s***ty software.

  3. Manny Subia (MannyLegacy)

    04/16/2014 at 12:48 pm

    Verizon can SUCK it!…….I still have my SGN from them and as soon as I decide what phone to upgrade to, I’m jumpin ship!……Might even sign up with Ting

  4. Tab McDonough

    04/16/2014 at 1:04 pm

    Yep. Goodbye Verizon

  5. M Malone

    04/16/2014 at 1:40 pm

    Verizon is letting customers get unhappy so they can push them towards their edge program and get them to upgrade their phone and pay full price over 2 years. It works for them to not make S3 users miserable.

  6. you dont need it the third

    04/16/2014 at 1:45 pm

    Rediculous. No reason kitkat should not be available on note 3. EVERY OTHER VENDOR HAS HAD IT OUT FOR APPROACHING A MONTH. What are you doing verizon, trying to add the maximum amount of bloatware possible?

  7. David

    04/16/2014 at 5:48 pm

    Apparently you haven’t done your research cricket announced on there page the roll out of the 4.4 update for galaxy s4 started since yesterday

  8. Sean

    04/16/2014 at 10:05 pm

    Verizon is crap and I wish that I had never gotten a contract with them. I’m afraid that I’m going to have to pay an early termination fee so that I can go to a company that treats their customers with a modicum of decency and respect.

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