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Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 Updates: What Not to Expect Now

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update roll outs continue in the United States though there are still some users who have yet to receive the update. Here, we take a close look at how we expect the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update process to play out in the United States.

Back in January, Samsung quietly started pushing out the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. The roll out, which came several weeks after the update leaked for AT&T Galaxy Note 3 users, did not start in the United States. Rather, it started in Russia and in Poland where Galaxy Note 3 owners were treated to Android 4.4 features and an accessory bug.

Weeks after that initial roll out, we not only saw an Android 4.4 bug fixer deployed for users in Russia and Poland but we saw several more Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates roll out including updates in the United States.

In the midst of the Galaxy Note 3 roll out, we saw Samsung deploy the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Like the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 update, the Galaxy S4 has rolled out to some users in the international community but it’s also firmly rooted inside the United States.

Most recently, the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update touched down for users on T-Mobile. This is something that we predicted earlier this week when we took a look at what we expect from the rest of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update deployment in the United States.

Today, it’s time to reverse gears as we take a look at what we do not expect from the remaining Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates in the United States.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung-Galaxy-S4-Micro-SD-Card-Worthless

Verizon to Be Dead Last

There are still two major Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat updates that remain missing in the United States. T-Mobile and Verizon still haven’t rolled the update out nor have they confirmed when their updates will be arriving for users. We expect these updates to touch down sometime this month but we have a very good feeling that it won’t be the Verizon Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update that rolls out next.

Instead, users should expect the T-Mobile Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 update to be the next in line. We were extremely confident earlier this week and  we’re even more confident now that T-Mobile has pushed the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update out to its users. It also helps that the device is still listed as having the update on Samsung’s website.

If Verizon manages to beat T-Mobile to the punch, we’ll be extremely surprised. Don’t bet on it happening.

However, don’t expect Verizon to be dead last to Android 4.4. It’s going to be one of the smaller pre-paid carriers that takes that honor. Verizon might be slow but it’s not going to be slower than every single carrier in the United States.

Carriers to Miss Out

When Samsung announced the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update for the United States, we just assumed that it would be rolling out to all carriers. After all, the Galaxy S4 is less than a year old.

Our feelings haven’t changed. The deployment has reinforced our belief that this update will land for all U.S. carriers, large and small, in the future. Those who may have been worried can settle down.

Weekend Releases

Do not expect the remaining carriers, major and minor, to release their updates on the weekend. It’s very, very rare that we see major Android updates deploy on Saturday or Sunday and we’re not expecting it here. These carriers like the attention that these updates bring to their devices and by releasing them on the weekend, they don’t get that type of coverage.

To Get Answers on Social Media

Do not expect to get any answers from the social media managers that run the Facebook’s and Twitter’s for the T-Mobile’s and Verizon’s of the world. We’ve already seen a ton of people bombard them with questions about the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update and every single time, the questions are either met with silence or generic vague answers.

These people probably don’t have the inside track on these updates and if they do, they’re not going to share the information ahead of time. Carriers might be getting a little better about communicating updates with their users but we don’t expect any big changes in the build up to these Android 4.4 updates.

Stop expecting to get answers from these people.

Smooth Sailing

Finally, do not expect these updates to be perfect. We’ve already heard from some AT&T Galaxy S4 owners who have complained about issues, mostly pertaining to battery life, and it looks like the microSD card issues that we brought up a few days ago have struck some users on Android 4.4 KitKat as well. It’s not going to impact everyone but it’s still worth reading about before the update.

Galaxy S4 owners on T-Mobile, Verizon and other carriers have two options. Avoid Android 4.4 until the smoke settles and users present feedback or dive right in and deal with the consequences.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Galaxy Note 3 vs iPad mini 2-2

AT&T Next in Line

We’re down to two Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates remaining in the United States. AT&T and Verizon are the two carriers left without Android 4.4 and if you couldn’t already guess how we see this playing out, well, we don’t see Verizon’s update emerging before AT&T’s.

AT&T’s update is listed on Samsung’s website, the carrier has pushed out the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update already, and it has a track record of beating Verizon to major Galaxy Android updates. It’s that simple.

Verizon’s Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 update has yet to appear, or leak, and we just get the feeling that history is going to repeat itself here. Don’t expect AT&T to be last to this update.

Fair Warning

Do not expect a fair warning from AT&T or Verizon. Sprint paved the way for the future earlier this week when it announced Android 4.4 updates for the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 well ahead of time. And while we could see other carriers follow suit in the future, don’t expect AT&T and Verizon to start with the Galaxy Note 3 update.

At best, AT&T will confirm the update on its consumer blog on the day of the roll out. Same goes for Verizon, a carrier that historically has confirmed updates on the day of the roll out. If it confirms them at all. It’s a little sporadic these days.

So Galaxy Note 3 owners should assume that they’ll be heading into this update completely blind.

Smooth Sailing

The microSD card issue that we detailed also applies to the Galaxy Note 3. It has already impacted Galaxy Note 3 users on Android 4.4 KitKat in the United States and we don’t expect AT&T and Verizon users to be immune from the issue because it’s a Samsung problem not a problem related to carriers.

17 Comments

17 Comments

  1. Marc Lee Winnig

    03/06/2014 at 11:29 am

    So yet another NON-UPDATE UPDATE???

    Do you have any concept of ” N E W S ? ? ? “

  2. Michael Hall

    03/06/2014 at 11:58 am

    As far as I’m aware from other posts on Android sites, it affects all Galaxy S4 and Note 3 products (unless individual carriers have fixed the issue).

    My phone isn’t rooted but for those that are, there is a simple fix which requires one short line of code adding. I cannot remember the site but a search should find it.

    Many may not realise they have the problem unless they are using an app that requires routine sd card access to their own named files. Those creating their own sd card files or renaming files on stock 4.4 and stock Galaxy UI will apparently discover the issues.

    Given how simple the fix appears to be, I’m surprised that Samsung hasn’t fixed it in subsequent KitKat update versions (or if they have it doesn’t appear to have been reported).

    Maybe the recent deal between Samsung and Google is the reason. The issue is reportedly embedded in KitKat code and restricts how apps can interact with the sd card, causing headaches for app developers and users alike.

    It would be great to learn if Samsung has any intention to fix this. I know Isyncr doesn’t work on Galaxy’s with KitKat and reportedly ColorNote doesn’t either (not the sd card backup anyway).

  3. Christina

    03/06/2014 at 3:35 pm

    FYI. AT&T released the Note 3 update early this morning. Both my husband and I are having issues getting it downloaded and will be going into Best Buy later to have them manually update it. Best Buy was recommended by Samsung and just as well as AT&T was no help.

  4. Andre

    03/06/2014 at 5:36 pm

    I have the T – Mobile Note 3 and received the update yesterday. So far I’ve found one issue and that’s the auto rotation keeps getting stuck which can drive you crazy when trying to read an email or website. Other than that it seems to be a smooth KitKat. :-)

  5. Boyan Friz

    03/06/2014 at 6:23 pm

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  6. Robert Reilly

    03/06/2014 at 6:33 pm

    I talked with Samsung and saved the transcript that said there will be no sd card access issues for the s4 Verizon version when kit kat is released.

  7. Abhishek

    03/07/2014 at 12:33 am

    From India I have updated my s4 and after that I facing battery problems like drain faster than before and phone start freezing

  8. Bob Childress

    03/07/2014 at 2:51 am

    Andre, I’m on t – mobile Note 3 also and I still have home key prompt me for which launcher to use after update. Do you see this issue at all?

  9. director59sview

    03/07/2014 at 3:22 am

    You didn’t mention the S3 in any of your updates. Samsung has said that the S3 will get Kit Kat in March or April. Do you have different info?

  10. Jonathan

    03/07/2014 at 4:46 am

    I updated my Note 3 about a week ago. I have had nothing but problems with the update. The phone will now freeze, kills the battery faster (like having an iPhone), and I am having to reset the phone every 2 days or sooooooo…DONT UPDATE TO THE 4.4.2 KITKAT until they work out their bugs….the old saying if it aint broke dont fix it and my phone was phenomenal before this update, wish I could un-update!!!!!

  11. iwantmymoneyback

    03/07/2014 at 6:06 am

    I have had constant issues with people not being able to hear me says that it sounds like a chipmunk on my line.

  12. Martin Cohen

    03/07/2014 at 6:38 am

    I updated my note 3 and now every time I make a call I get a rash.

    Not really but with the sd card screw up I’m not going to update my verizon note 3 until the thing is fixed.

  13. Yani

    03/07/2014 at 11:46 am

    I updated this morning and the only issue I am having is some of my apps keeping disappearing so I have to reinstall them. Thankfully I remember which one they are. I did notice my battery drained faster than usual this morning.

  14. sharee

    03/07/2014 at 7:18 pm

    all I can say is I did the update and I wish I never did. Now it doesn’t allow me to run two applications for instance the text messaging that I already came with the phone and handcent that was downloaded.it forces me to choose one and if I don’t use it automatically enabled it. I have a samsung galaxy s4

  15. david

    03/09/2014 at 5:56 am

    Was it an over the air update? Are you with T-Mobile Sharee?

  16. david

    03/10/2014 at 12:19 am

    Just got update notice on my T-Mobile S4..downloading now

  17. david

    03/10/2014 at 2:09 am

    Just got it..running smooth..now have a 5th signal bar..much snappier

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