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Android 4.4 KitKat Update Predictions

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Shortly after Apple announced its iPhone 5S launch date, Google announced something big of its own, confirming Android 4.4 KitKat for arrival sometime in the future. The update, which will replace Android 4.3 Jelly Bean as the most current version of Android, is still a bit of a mystery. However, in the buildup to its release, it’s time to make some bold predictions about Google’s new Android 4.4 KitKat update.

In late July, after skipping an announcement at Google I/O, Google announced Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, its latest version of Jelly Bean that rolled out to Nexus devices and will be hitting big name devices in the coming weeks, a list that includes the HTC One, the Samsung Galaxy S4, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Galaxy Note 2.

The update, unlike Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, wasn’t a massive update and followed in the footsteps of Android 4.2 by building upon the foundation that Android 4.1 laid when it arrived back in July of last year.

Read: Android 4.4 KitKat Announced.

Android 4.4 KitKat is the new version of Android from Google.

Android 4.4 KitKat is the new version of Android from Google.

Rumors for months suggested that the next version of Android, to follow Android Jelly Bean, would be Google’s ‘K’ update, also thought to be called Key Lime Pie or Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. It’s a name that had been around for awhile and that’s why it was so surprising to see Google announce something completely different just a few short days ago.

Companies have a habit of trying to one up the other when one tries to steal the spotlight. Several weeks ago, Samsung sent out invites for a September 4th event. A day before that event, which turned out to be for the Galaxy Note 3, Apple sent out an invite for its September 10th iPhone 5S event in Cupertino. And not to be outdone, Google announced something big of its own, Android 4.4 KitKat.

Instead of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, Google went in a totally different direction and partnered up with Nestle, the maker of KitKat, to deliver a bizarre name for its next update.

The company hasn’t said much about Android 4.4 KitKat, other than confirming it for release. We also haven’t seen any major leaks emerge for the software, making it hard to predict. But not impossible.

Here, we make some early, bold Android 4.4 KitKat predictions including some guesses about its release date and its features.

Android 4.4 KitKat Release Date

This is probably the easiest piece of the Android 4.4 KitKat puzzle to predict because there is a history. In the past, we’ve seen Google release new Android updates with brand new pieces of Nexus hardware. We saw it with Android 4.1 and the Nexus 7, with Android 4.2 and the Nexus 4 and with Android 4.3 and the Nexus 7 2.

Google also, in the past two years, has released the Nexus smartphone in the fourth quarter. The Galaxy Nexus landed in December while the Nexus 4 arrived in November after an October launch. Unsurprisingly, Nexus 5 rumors point to a launch in October with Android 4.4 KitKat on board and at this point, this is exactly how we see this playing out.

The Nexus 5 is rumored for October.

The Nexus 5 is rumored for October.

Look for Google to take the stage, somewhere, maybe in New York City, and announce a trio of new products. Android 4.4 KitKat, the Nexus 5 or Nexus 5’s, and a new Nexus 10 tablet that could be made by Asus. Look for Google to announce specific release dates for these new products.

Google typically rolls out its Android updates for older Nexus devices either immediately after announcing the software or near the release date of its new Nexus products. With that in mind, we imagine that Android 4.4 KitKat will be released somewhere in between late October and mid November for owners of older Nexus devices.

Android 4.4 KitKat Updates

Of course, not all devices will get Android 4.4 KitKat right off the bat. Nexus devices always get the software first which means that the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will all likely get Android 4.4 KitKat right off the bat. Here’s a bold prediction, we think that the Galaxy Nexus will get Android 4.4 though we think it will be its last update.

If it does get an update, that will be two years of support for the device, and considering that Google says that it’s its “goal with Android KitKat to make an amazing Android experience available for everybody” we suspect that the Galaxy Nexus won’t be the only older device that gets the upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat.

The Galaxy Note 3 design could feature thinner bezels like the Galaxy S4 to stay with a similar size.

The Galaxy S4 should be one of the first, if not the first non-Nexus to Android 4.4 KitKat.

We suspect that it will take several months for Android 4.4 KitKat updates to start hitting devices, given how close we are to Android 4.3 for some devices. We think that Android 4.4 KitKat will likely start rolling out for devices in the second quarter of next year with flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S5 coming with it pre-loaded out of the box.

As far as the first non-Nexus smartphone to get Android 4.4 KitKat, that will likely be the Samsung Galaxy S4 as Samsung typically does a great job of updating its big name devices to major Android updates. After that, it’s impossible to say.

Android 4.4 KitKat Features

There is very little to go on in terms of Android 4.4 KitKat features as we haven’t seen much of anything leak out yet. Early rumors suggested that it could be a piece of software that is focused on getting Android onto a host of different types of technology including wearable tech and game consoles, and, Google’s tagline about Android 4.4 supports this.

We fully expect Android 4.4 to be optimized to run on devices that aren’t souped up with big time processors and specs. The thing to hone in on is the fact that Google says it wants to make Android 4.4 KitKat available to everybody. That means three things in our eyes:

  • People that use devices other than phones: gaming systems, watches, refrigerators, etc.
  • People that don’t want or need the top-of-the-line smartphones but want a great software experience. (Think iOS 7 on the iPhone 5C.)
  • Google wants everyone, or most everyone, on the same version of Android.

By lowering the spec requirements, Google can put Android 4.4 KitKat inside a ton of different form factors including smartphones and tablets. It will also lower the costs that companies endure and it will ensure fluid experiences across all devices.

With this in mind, we have to think that Android KitKat will be focused on optimizing what’s already there. Google has shown a willingness to produce smaller updates that build upon what it has already. Updates like Android 4.2 and Android 4.3 which didn’t drastically alter the Android experience but added some beneficial features while upgrading others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zD3Q4kJhD5w

In our mind, Android KitKat will deliver new features, but we don’t think it’s going to be a massive overhaul like iOS 7 is going to be for iOS. Instead, we think Google is going to focus heavily on battery life and UI fluidity while also adding some new features and tweaking some things already on board the operating system.

The new name and software version are definitely signs that this will be more than what Android 4.3 and Android 4.2 were, but we don’t think it will be on the same level as the jump from Android 4.0 to Android 4.1.

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Sanjay Kumar Negi

    09/07/2013 at 4:07 am

    I am waiting for this update on my Nexus 7.

    https://www.techgreet.com/

  2. Bruno

    09/07/2013 at 4:02 pm

    i can never get enough of these updates! Bring it on to my galaxy nexus !

  3. itehcaleart

    09/07/2013 at 11:44 pm

    I am waiting for this phone and new version of android 5.0
    https://www.itechaleart.com/

  4. salman

    09/08/2013 at 11:50 am

    will samsung s2 get 4.4 :)

  5. Afthaf Roshan

    09/08/2013 at 1:45 pm

    Any chnce the low grade mobiles like ace get the update??

  6. Varad

    09/09/2013 at 11:39 am

    I want to see it on my Galaxy Nexus, no matter it will be last update for it. After satisfying, I’ll buy another phone…

  7. Ian Schroeder (@Babeseveryday)

    09/10/2013 at 10:53 am

    Please answer this. 1. Will the Galaxy s3 get the 4.4 update? and 2. Can the motorola XOOM also get this, reason im asking is, because they are both android 4.1.2 devices. even tho they are kinda old now, i still love both tho. please repost this is you want the XOOM tabley upgraded too!

    • accurate115

      09/11/2013 at 6:20 am

      google have given a hint saying to taste every body! that they are going to introducing k 3.8 version for supporting low memory devices hope best from google for android users

    • Mortussia

      10/21/2013 at 1:08 am

      I’m in the same situation as Ian. I have both the S3 and the XOOM, as well. Do the updates come from the manufacturer (Samsung and Motorola) or from the carrier (Sprint and Motorola, as I have the XOOM wi-fi, not the Verizon one)?

  8. Steve Bergman

    09/12/2013 at 6:20 am

    …”as Samsung typically does a great job of updating its big name devices to major Android updates…”
    They do? The Galaxy Note 2 was released a year ago with 4.1.1. And only update it’s received is 4.1.2. In the meantime, Android has gone from 4.1 to 4.2 to 4.3, with 4.4 on the horizon. And all the GN2 owners have gotten is broken promise after broken promise from Samsung. The latest lie from them is that they’re skipping 4.2 and going right for 4.3. I’ll believe it when I see it.
    Fortunately for me, I run Cyanogenmod.

  9. Seby iuga

    09/27/2013 at 6:36 pm

    i wonder.. will the nexus s get update? is sure hope so. it is old though…

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