Android 4.4.4 KitKat Update Roll Out Sets Furious Pace

The Android 4.4.4 KitKat update that replaced Google’s Android 4.4.3 KitKat update at the tail end of last month is set to arrive for a number of different devices in the near future as Google and its partners work to get devices upgraded to Android 4.4.4 KitKat with its fixes for Android 4.4 KitKat problems.

In early June, Google pushed out its Android 4.4.3 KitKat update, an update designed to alleviate many of the Android 4.4.2 KitKat problems that plagued Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 owners since the update’s arrival last November. The update, which had been rumored for some time, also rolled out to a number of other devices as well including the Moto E, Moto G, Moto X, and others.

Android 4.4.3 KitKat certainly made strides but just a few days after its release, Google released another Android 4.4 KitKat update in the form of Android 4.4.4 KitKat. The Android 4.4.4 KitKat update for Nexus users and for other Android 4.4.3 users represents a small security update with a patch for an OpenSSL vulnerability. For those that did not get Android 4.4.3 KitKat though, it’s much more important, because it brings the fixes from Android 4.4.3 KitKat along with it.

In recent days, we’ve seen the Android 4.4.4 KitKat upgrade land for a handful of devices, most recently for the Moto G, Moto E and Moto X in India. Android 4.4.4 KitKat won’t be stopping there and the update is now poised to land for four more devices in the coming days as new details reveal new plans for the bug fixer.

Yesterday, we heard that the Motorola Droid MAXX Android 4.4.4 KitKat update, Motorola Droid Ultra Android 4.4.4 KitKat update and Motorola Droid Mini Android 4.4.4 KitKat update would be hitting soak testers in the near future. The updates, which were promised to arrive within three to five weeks ago three weeks ago, are now confirmed to be rolling out to those that are a part of the Motorola Feedback Network.

A change log obtained by Android Central shows that this trio of updates will deliver fixes from Android 4.4.4 KitKat but also camera enhancements, improved visual voicemail and ISIS mobile payments. They are massive updates, checking in at over 200MB in size. Unfortunately, they aren’t available to the general public just yet and it’s not clear when they will arrive.

Soak tests typically start a day or two ahead of the public release as Motorola checks for any catastrophic problems with the updates. If they perform admirably, they’ll come in waves to the public. We’ve seen soak tests take weeks in the past but given that Motorola was prepared to deliver Android 4.4.3 KitKat and delayed to push out Android 4.4.4, we get the feeling that we’ll see these updates soon.

From the look of things, there is still progress to be made. Android 4.4.4 KitKat is confirmed for several other devices including the HTC One M8 and HTC One M7. HTC hasn’t confirmed specific roll out dates but it’s clear that the updates will be pushing out in July or August ahead of the Android L release sometime later this year.

Rumors pointed to Android 4.4.3 KitKat updates for the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4 LTE-A but Samsung has yet to confirm its plans for Android 4.4.3 or Android 4.4.4 KitKat.