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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat Release: 5 Key Details

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update roll out continues to roll on in the United States and elsewhere. With details swirling, we want to take a look at the five most important things Galaxy Note 3 owners need to know right now about the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

Back in January and without warning, Samsung started pushing out the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. The update came as a bit of a surprise because not only did it start rolling out without an announcement, it also beat the Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update to the punch. Galaxy S Android updates have historically rolled out before Galaxy Note Android updates.

Since that day in January, we’ve seen the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update flourish alongside the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat as it has landed for a number of devices inside the United States and elsewhere. In fact, the update has been pushing out so fast that casual Galaxy Note 3 owners are having trouble weeding out the most important details.

Here, we get rid of that noise and offer up the five most important things that Samsung Galaxy Note 3 owners need to know right now about the Android 4.4 KitKat update itself and its release.

AT&T Galaxy Note 3 GPS Problem

Finally. That word sums up the feeling that many AT&T Galaxy Note 3 owners got yesterday when AT&T finally pushed out its version of the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Some were happy because they finally got Android 4.4 KitKat features, others were elated because AT&T finally fixed a problem that has been lingering since last year.

For months, AT&T Galaxy Note 3 owners complained about problems with GPS. The issue is well documented so we won’t go into much detail but know that owners had to deal with broken GPS for around four months. That’s brutal for a smartphone that is designed to be used while users are on-the-go.

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AT&T said that it was working on a fix but it did not say when the fix would arrive. We expected the fix to arrive with its Android 4.4 KitKat update and thankfully, we were right.

AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3 owners who are dealing with GPS issues now have access to a fix through Android 4.4 KitKat. The update, which is available through the device’s Settings menu, also comes with a bunch of Android 4.4 KitKat features but the improvements to GPS are its bread and butter.

It was certainly a long road but the wait is finally over.

Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat Update MIA

The arrival of AT&T’s Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update means that there is just one Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update left in the United States. Unsurprisingly, Verizon is bringing up the rear, something that should come as no surprise to anyone. Verizon is almost always last to major Android updates.

Verizon isn’t transparent about its Android updates which means that Galaxy Note 3 owners continue to wait in the dark. The one thing that we can say is that we’ve heard that the Galaxy S4 Android 4.4 KitKat update is in internal testing. We can’t confirm whether the Galaxy Note 3 is in testing or not but we have to imagine that it is at this point.

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The carrier’s updates typically roll out weeks after the rest of the pack and we have a pretty good feeling that we’ll see the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat release occur in April. Anything beyond that would be shocking.

At this point though, it’s looking like Google will roll out Android 4.4.3 Kitkat before Verizon rolls out its Samsung Galaxy Android 4.4.2 KitKat updates.

More Android 4.4 Updates on the Way

Verizon isn’t talking about the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update but there are some carriers that are extremely transparent with their customers. Australian carriers, for whatever reason, love to keep their customers informed.

Optus and Vodafone Australia recently announced Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat updates. Optus says that it plans to roll the update out in April while Vodafone says that it has scheduled testing but doesn’t know when it will be rolling the update out. Testing usually takes a few weeks or more so it’s probably going to be a few weeks at least before that update pushes out.

Long Waits

Vodafone’s update depends on the testing process. And from what we’ve seen from the carrier, once the testing process begins, it should only be a few weeks or so before the update roll outs. In other words, users on that carrier should not expect an extremely long wait for the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update’s arrival.

Not all carriers are created equal though. Telstra, another Australian carrier that loves to update its users on its progress with Android updates, still hasn’t confirmed the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update for arrival. In fact, Telstra is perfectly aware of the situation. It says that:

We haven’t actually got the software from Samsung as yet, so it’s going to be a few weeks at the very least.

Telstra probably isn’t the only one in this position. Most carriers aren’t transparent about updates so it’s hard to track down who might be lagging behind. However, we know that Samsung Galaxy Android update releases typically span across several months so some users could certainly be waiting until May for this update to arrive.

The best thing to do is remain patient. All versions of the Galaxy Note 3 will get Android 4.4. That much is clear.

Remember, You Might Want to Avoid the Update

Remember, there is still a very good reason to avoid installing Android 4.4 KitKat for the Galaxy Note 3. While we haven’t heard about widespread Android 4.4 KitKat issues in the United States or elsewhere, there is an issue that affects all Galaxy Note 3 owners who install the Android 4.4 KitKat update.

After installing Android 4.4, some applications will no longer be able create, modify, or remove files and folders on the external SD card. Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 owners have been complaining about the issue for weeks and it’s a mess that is probably not going to get fixed any time soon.

Fortunately, there are workarounds but they are either extremely tedious or require rooting the Galaxy Note 3, something that many owners don’t want to do.

Galaxy Note 3 vs iPad mini 2-5

Obviously, this isn’t going to be a huge deal to those that don’t use the microSD card slot for expanded storage but it is going to be a major problem for those that rely on it for extra space. Those who rely on the microSD card will certainly want to think about avoiding the Galaxy Note 3 Android 4.4 KitKat update.

This is going to leave AT&T Galaxy Note 3 owners in a bit of a predicament given the GPS fixes on board. For AT&T Galaxy Note 3 users, it’s going to be a personal decision based on use.

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. Dileja

    03/28/2014 at 2:51 pm

    My friend is working part time and averaging $25000 a month. I’m doing this for 5 days and just got my first paycheck for $6546! I still can’t believe it. I tried it out cause I was curious and now I couldn’t be happier. See this site Jobs29(.com)

  2. Gisepi

    03/28/2014 at 4:33 pm

    ^^^^^Luz ^^^^^

  3. Gisepi

    03/28/2014 at 4:36 pm

    On a serious note….no pun intended….my phone keeps forcing the upgrade on my phone. For now I turned off wifi. It only forces the upgrade if you’re connected to wifi. Tomorrow morning I’m going g to an att tech service store and ask them if there’s a way i can prevent the phone from upgrading.

  4. Tony P

    03/29/2014 at 12:02 pm

    I’m still avoiding the first update that was available on my VZW Note 3 last fall. I always compare what I have with what an “update” provides. I wait at least two weeks and sure enough, many reported that the latest update created slightly more problems that it solved. I’m not crazy about my inconsistent GPS functionality but even if the update fixes that, the price is too high. I can get my GPS to work if it’s having problems but from what I hear, the update issues have no workaround.

  5. iZzombies

    03/29/2014 at 10:23 pm

    Why is Samsung so stupid
    Why don’t they give the option to stay with 4.3 OR AT THE VERY LEAST TEST THEIR VERSIONS FROM THE CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE AND USE?
    The fact that they don’t leads me to believe one of two things: Either 1. they are morons and disregard that the consumer
    Wants to use the SD card ,like me-I loaded the card from previous phone. AND that the consumer should be able to sync the email…A HUGE PROBLEM IN MY NOTE 3 FROM SPRINT.
    OR 2. The US government made them place some Backdoor operation in the new 4.4 that allows them full REMOTE operation of your phone including microphone and camera functions without alert and without the clicks.
    Am I disappointed at Samsung?
    YEAH! THAT’S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

    I am still paying for this NOTE-3 but my next phone will be LG or HTC.

  6. iZzombies

    03/29/2014 at 10:31 pm

    I I have so much to say…the cursor on my note 3 keeps jumping.
    The MASTER SYNC on this note 3 is disabled. It will not sync my email accounts and that is left ultimately to me to do so manually, several times a day.
    I had the galaxy S 3 before this note POS, And the synch worked fine on that until my phone screen cracked from my dog jumping on the bed and causing it to bounce off.

  7. Michael

    03/29/2014 at 10:42 pm

    iZzombies: You are an IDIOT. #tinhat much?

    The SD card “issue” is not even an issue. It is a security feature. Lets say you have the Bank of America application, that you use to monitor your bank account on the go… and then you install some third party software or game that decides it wants to install a file to said BoA application folders / files to monitor what the application has typed into it (namely your password and username), or what it gets back (your account number and balance and transaction history). If the application stops working because of the 4.4 update, re-install the application and let it create its own folder on the SD card so it can use it… or the app is doing something shady and is not working because its hacks are not getting the authorization to your information it wants.

    Samsung pushed the update because it increases stability, speed, and security. All of what are focus points for Samsung. The SD card security works GREAT with their image and ideal of Knox security on these devices. It helps the capability of enterprise security.

    So with 2 main points of security that you had disregarded and done nothing but complain with, followed by the fact that you get paranoid about the US Government listening to what you are going to tell whoever… whatever around you… you have given us enough evidence to realize you are a dolt and do not understand anything about these devices. Why would the US Government need a back door into the phone when they can just tell the carrier to record anything it can capture from the device? It is a system that is already in place and does not require any upkeep with software or hardware developments and can not be circumvented by nothing more then a root accessed device blocking processes or services on the device.

    I personally am very very happy with my Samsung device and its performance, matched with its battery life and feature set. I love everything to do with my device and it will remain at my side and I will continue to buy Samsung devices till somebody can manage to make a better device.

    EG: HTC One (M8), Lied about the benchmark capability, still running a 4MP camera, Running a lesser Processor in the US, and the radio is slower then that in the One (M7). They glued it together in such a way to stop people being able to maintain or repair their devices and to force them to buy a new phone every time the battery goes bad.

    LG: Runs classed down and slower EVERYTHING, Their phones are third rate to say the best. Slower memory speeds, and glitchy software to say the best of it.

    Motorola: Higher build quality but is behind on the hardware what leaves it lacking in the performance department. But the repairability and modification ability of the Motorola devices makes them my 2nd choice to Samsung, what also surpasses Motorola in repairability and modification, AND stability, and performance.

    Why don’t you just go buy yourself an iPhone so you can paint even more of a retard image of yourself in everybody’s mind. Get something with the hardware from 2 years ago paired with a locked down version of the software from last year, with horrible battery capability and radio performance, a questionable camera, the worst GPS software in the world, and no ability to make any modifications to it whatsoever. Enjoy iTunes with (Cr)apple.

  8. cirrob (@cirrob)

    04/11/2014 at 9:25 am

    Michael youre wrong. The update prevents apps from writing to folders on the SD card that they do not own. It does not prevent them from reading data in those folders though. So this BS about a security plug is just that: BS.

    First, a banking app would not allow you to store its information on the SD card before or after the update. So this is a non starter. But lets just say that BofA did allow that. Before kitkat, a malware app could read the content of BofA’s data stored on the SD card. After KitKat, it can still read it, it just cannot modify it.

    The plug does nothing to protect your information; it simply restricts what apps can modify your information; which, was NEVER a problem…. ever. Point to one story where this has happened.

  9. Farrukh Jamal Raja

    07/21/2015 at 7:59 pm

    My Samsung galaxy note 3 ….the cursor keeps jumping many a times…while typing….restarting phone sometimes help ..but sometimes not…very annoying. ..is there a solution

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