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Android 4.4 KitKat release date, features, news and rumours

Michael Sawh By Michael Sawh
Contributor
Android 4.4 KitKat release date, features, news and rumour round-up. It’s the Google OS update formerly known as Key Lime Pie.

After Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, Google is amending its usual dessert-themed OS trend by introducing Android 4.4 KitKat. Known internally at Google HQ as Key Lime Pie, the Android 4.4 KitKat release date is tipped for launch on October 14, possibly alongside the much-rumoured Google Nexus 5.

Alleged details and images of KitKat have been melting through the internet wrapper giving us an idea of what Android 4.4 Kitkat features we can expect to see and what they might look like.

If the rumours and screenshots are legit, it looks like the Android 4.4 won’t get an iOS 7-style design overhaul, but could introduce some new and interesting elements along with tweaking current features.

Android 4.4 KitKat UI

A series of alleged leaked UI images suggest the KitKat UI will not shy too far away from Android Jelly Bean. A new lighter colour scheme could replace the usual black status bar with a grey alternative one of the cosmetic changes suggested. App icons are also expected to be displayed in a lighter shade.

Possibly taking inspiration from the iOS 7 app dock, the status bar appears to change colour depending on the app users are currently running.

Moving inside to the Android phone app, dialler buttons have a new blue colour scheme and more circular design, again very reminiscent of the dialler and unlock screens in iOS 7.

The messaging app also looks set to get the makeover treatment introducing a cutesy bell with a smiling face when the user does not have any messages. Messaging controls have also been relocated to the top right-hand corner of the app, rather than along the button as with previous iterations of the Android OS. 

Android 4.4 KitKat Features

Courtesy of more leaked screenshots of a KitKat 4.4 build, so early it still bears the Android Key Lime Pie codename, we can get an idea of some of the new KitKat 4.4 features and the adjustments being made.

Android 4.4 KitKat –  Camera

In Android 4.3, Google introduced a new, arch-based camera UI making it easier to jump through settings. The below image suggests Android 4.4 KitKat will now add Instagram-style filters to photos and preview how they look before deciding to permanently make your snaps all filtertastic.

Android 4.4 KitKat –  Gallery 

Another area Google tries to add greater functionality to, the new Gallery is tipped to let users to save images as a PDF file making it ideal for business reports and expenses for work. In a move to rival Apple’s AirPrint feature in iOS, printing integration has been added to settings letting you adjust settings for paper size, colours, numbers of copies and orientation. 

Android 4.4 KitKat –  NFC

While Apple ignores NFC for the time being, Android continues to push on with NFC or Android Beam as it is better known on Android smartphones. KitKat 4.4 could be set to add the ability to make wireless payments via NFC straight from the phone. So there’s no need to boot up a third party app to pay for your goods.

Android 4.4 KitKat – Google Babel

Rumoured to be Android’s alternative to Whatsapp, Google Babel could make its debut in Android 4.4 KitKat. Prior to Hugo Barra’s departure from the company, the former Google VP revealed in an interview with the Times that the service which can translate phone conversations in real-time was still very much alive. It has since been spotted in a log file and a screenshot running on an Android device purported to be the Nexus 5 running KitKat 4.4.

Android 4.4 KitKat video

Thanks to a 9to5google.com who found a supposed Nexus 5 handset in a bar, the video below gives us the briefest of glimpses at the new Nexus and the Android 4.4 KitKat OS running on it. The eagle-eyed person attempts to dig deeper into the phone but only manages to see the boot animation before being met with the Android pattern lock.

Android 4.4 KitKat phones

Along with the Nexus 5, it seems older phones like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will also get the Android 4.4 Kitkat treatment. The details come courtesy of a post on the XDA-Developers forum.

The user known as dxxh, quizzed a Samsung UK rep about the European version of the new S Pen-toting handset not accepting SIM cards from other regions. When they asked the rep whether their Samsung Galaxy S3 would be subject to the same regional SIM lock issues the user posted the following:

“The rollout of Kitkat is to extend the regional lock to existing SGS3s and Note 2s – I asked if my existing unlocked SGS3 bought unlocked over a year ago is to be subject to the same regional lock if I upgrade. Yes according to rep. So I would not be able to use a SIM from outside the European region in it when travelling? Yes according to the rep.”

Android 4.4 Kitkat tablets

It’s not just an OS for phones of course and there is plenty of talk that a new Nexus 10 could be the first Android tablet to get the Android 4.4 KitKat treatment. Google is tipped to swap Samsung for Asus for the latest 10-inch Nexus slate, and @eveleaks posted a picture of an alleged internal document mentioning the Asus Nexus 10. Of course, if Google does announce a new Nexus 10, you can pretty much guarantee it will be rocking Android 4.4 Kitkat when it launches.

Asus Nexus 10

Android 4.4 KitKat release date

Current speculation suggest an Android 4.4 KitKat reveal is set for October 14th, the same day we expect to see the Google Nexus 5. In terms of an actual release date, Nestle Germany let some information slip on its Facebook page confirming an Android 4.4 KitKat October release date. Responding to a user who asked when they could expect the latest update, the translated reply stated, “Android 4.4 KitKat is available from October”.

The confectionary company who lent the name of its chocolate bar to Google, did not however mention a specific day or reveal any details about features.

AndroidSAS claims it knows the exact Android 4.4 Kitkat release date and believes we can expect to buy it on the Nexus 5 on October 30th.The Nexus 4 was announced on October 29th and available to buy on November 13th.

As history shows us the Nexus 4 was announced as the first Android 4.2 Jelly Bean smartphone and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus before that was the first Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich-running phone. It is highly likely that Google will use its forthcoming Nexus phone to showcase the latest Android OS update.

Next, read our Android 4.3 Jelly Bean review

Excited about Android 4.4 KitKat? Let us know your thoughts and what features you hope Google will introduce to improve the current Android OS.

Michael Sawh
By Michael Sawh
Contributor

Michael Sawh is a Freelance Journalist specialising in wearable and fitness tech. Previously Editor of Wareable, he’s also spent time manning the features section at Trusted Reviews and T3. His words …

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Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

author icon

Professional conduct

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.

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