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5 New HTC Android 4.4 KitKat Update Details Emerge

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In the past few days, we’ve seen a number of new HTC Android 4.4 KitKat update details emerge, teasing users with everything from Android 4.4.2 KitKat update releases to release windows for carriers. Here, we take a look at five of the latest details surrounding HTC’s Android 4.4 KitKat update plans for users around the world.

All year, HTC has done a standup job relaying information about its key Android software updates. This new policy is and was a complete reversal from HTC’s previous stance which saw the company remain silent and vague about updates for its key devices. So, it came as no surprise that HTC was on the front lines of the Android 4.4 KitKat update and its release.

Shortly after Google made Android 4.4 KitKat official, again, HTC announced an ambitious plan to upgrade several of its devices within a short amount of time. For HTC One Google Edition users, it was within 15 days. For HTC One Developer Edition and unlocked HTC One users, it was a 30 day window for Android 4.4 KitKat. For regular old HTC One users in the United States, HTC promised an update by the end of January. So far, the company has been able to stick to its word.

Of course, the HTC One wasn’t the only device that saw an Android 4.4 KitKat confirmation. We’ve also seen HTC announce updates for the HTC One Max, HTC One mini and the Droid DNA. The company says that the Droid DNA Android 4.4 KitKat update should come in the first quarter of the year, meaning January, February or March, but other time frames haven’t been announced.

Over the last few days, we’ve unearthed some new Android 4.4 KitKat details, both good and bad, for owners of these other non-HTC One devices. And it’s these new details should help to paint a better picture of HTC’s Android 4.4 KitKat update plans.

HTC One Google Play Edition

Originally, it looked like the HTC One Google Play Edition was set to get Android 4.4.1 KitKat in the short term. However, yesterday, a noted HTC leakster blew those plans apart.

LlabTooFeR, who is generally familiar with software information inside HTC, claims that the HTC One GE will not be getting Android 4.4.1 KitKat but it will be getting Android 4.4.2 KitKat instead, the same update that started rolling out to Nexus 7, Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 users yesterday.

HTC hasn’t confirmed this yet but given that Android 4.4.2 is now live, there is a very good chance that we’ll see Google and HTC skip over Android 4.4.1 KitKat for the latest version.

HTC One Google Play Edition users will likely encounter bug fixes and quite possibly some enhancements but nothing as major as say an Android 4.4 KitKat or Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update.

HTC One

The regular old HTC One with Sense still hasn’t been upgraded to Android 4.4 KitKat, rumors suggested it could see the update before Christmas and we’ve seen HTC confirm the software for arrival in the United States by the end of January. According to LlabTooFeR, it will be getting Android 4.4 in the future but it’s likely going to be Android 4.4.2 KitKat.

He claims that like the HTC One Google Play Edition, the regular old HTC One will be upgraded to Android 4.4.2 KitKat as well. He doesn’t outline any time frame for the update or whether the change has pushed back the timing of the software but it does look like the HTC One will be getting the latest version of Google’s brand new software.

HTC One mini

When HTC announced the HTC One Android 4.4 KitKat update, it also announced updates for the HTC One Max and HTC One mini, updates that it said would roll out after the company pushed out the HTC One update. Unfortunately, the company did not provide any kind of timing for these users. Well, it appears that HTC One mini owners, at the very least, now have a vague window to look at.

Screen Shot 2013-12-10 at 9.47.53 AM

Thanks to Canadian carrier Rogers, we now know that at least one carrier plans to push the HTC One mini Android 4.4 KitKat update out in late February. No specific date is given. It’s not clear where on the curve Canada will lie when it comes to the HTC One mini update but we imagine that unlocked and international variants will get the software first which means before late February.

HTC Butterfly S

When HTC announced that the Droid DNA would be getting the Android 4.4 KitKat update, we assumed that the company would be upgrading its Butterfly lineup with the latest software. The Droid DNA is based on the HTC Butterfly, a device that was recently joined by another model called the HTC Butterfly S, the HTC Butterfly’s true successor.

Screen Shot 2013-12-10 at 9.46.29 AM

That seems to have been confirmed by documentation sent in by a reader (Thanks, Zack!) from Singapore. An official response from HTC points to a “high chance” of an HTC Butterfly S Android 4.4 KitKat update. We don’t see anything about the original HTC Butterfly here but we imagine that both devices will be getting the update at some point.

HTC One X

We’ve reported on the chances of the HTC One X Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and or Android 4.4 KitKat updates numerous times and unfortunately, the news hasn’t been good. That hasn’t changed today as HTC’s Executive Director of Product Management Mo Versi has essentially killed the chances of an HTC One X Android 4.4 KitKat update.

We’ve heard rumors but Versi says, officially, that the company has no plans to upgrade the HTC One X to Android 4.4. This all but confirms that the HTC One X will remain on Android 4.2 and Sense 5.

11 Comments

11 Comments

  1. Henry

    12/10/2013 at 11:09 am

    My One was upgraded to 4.4 but I don’t see changes that are advertised. For example, I am supposed to have printer setting in the Settings tab which is missing. There is also locate your phone type of functionality which I don’t see. Basically, very small changes. I am disappointed and surprised at why 400mb was downloaded for such a useless update. I see Nexus got few nice things but not One. :(

  2. Trishen

    12/11/2013 at 12:29 am

    Can anyone please confirm that HTC Desire 500 will get the update as well? And what does it mean ‘Regular user in United States’? so Outside of USA won’t be getting the update?

    • Romano Gregorio (@romdude)

      12/11/2013 at 2:05 am

      Actually, outside USA users have been getting updates sooner for some reason.

      • Trishen

        12/11/2013 at 2:11 am

        Thanks for the info! Would HTC Desire 500 be getting it tho? I just bought it yesterday and cannot update it for some reason, its 4.1.2 now. Would be a huge bummer if it isn’t available

  3. Amrender

    12/11/2013 at 8:48 pm

    Now download paid android apps for free on
    https://android2cloud.in/

  4. JD

    12/15/2013 at 10:39 am

    The update to my HTC DNA is TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!!

  5. Andy Kir

    01/01/2014 at 12:30 am

    Any news on the HTC OneX+

  6. mecuryeyez

    02/26/2014 at 4:49 pm

    Pls any update for HTC desire 500?

  7. Padmanabhan P

    03/12/2014 at 10:35 pm

    please let me know if there is any update for HTC desire 500…Its currently on 4.1.2

  8. stefano

    03/31/2014 at 12:40 am

    htc desire 500 remain on 4.1.2 i asked moversi and htc on twitter but no answer to me…

  9. htc

    03/31/2014 at 7:44 am

    my HTC desire 500 waits update to!!!! Any info?

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