KitKat release

[StrangerGuy]

So who is the next CEO inline to get a free fat termination package?

 

[gmaster456]

I can't recall a single android phone with 512MB RAM that also has a dual-core, though Samsung might a few of them out of their bazillion low end models.

EDIT: Okay, I'll take my word back on the awfulness of Jelly Bean on the single-core era phones. The same Optimus Black now runs amazingly fast on stock 4.2.2 with custom kernel and code optimizations. Goes on to show how much performance of Android is held back by it's own code.

Blu and Samsung have a few. So does HTC iirc

 

[RedRooster]

Not sure where to ask this, but has 4.4 added any scheduled do not disturb mode yet?
I'm eager to switch back to stock Android from my CM'd S4, but the only thing I'd miss is the built in ability to switch the sound off at scheduled times.
If it doesn't have it built in, what is the best app to do that? I used one on my GNex that worked fine, but forget what it was called.

 

[zerogear]

Not sure where to ask this, but has 4.4 added any scheduled do not disturb mode yet?
I'm eager to switch back to stock Android from my CM'd S4, but the only thing I'd miss is the built in ability to switch the sound off at scheduled times.
If it doesn't have it built in, what is the best app to do that? I used one on my GNex that worked fine, but forget what it was called.

Nope -- though you can easily do this through Tasker - which is what I do -- and I schedule tasker to automatically go into vibration mode during Meeting that are marked as 'Busy'

 

[Viper GTS]

Minor feature I noticed this morning - Dismiss alarms before they happen.

Previously if I woke up before my alarm I would either have to shut it off or reset it to a time before the current time. Now you can dismiss the impending alarm before it happens while still leaving the recurring active.

Minor change but a nice addition that makes perfect sense.

Viper GTS

 

[Jodell88]

Has any Nexus 4 owners received the update as yet?

 

[dguy6789]

Has not been pushed to the Nexus 4 yet

 

[Jodell88]

Has not been pushed to the Nexus 4 yet

 

[Spoooon]

Just put it on my Galaxy Nexus. So far, seems fine. Not enough time for anything more in depth.

 

[destrekor]

Just put it on my Galaxy Nexus. So far, seems fine. Not enough time for anything more in depth.

Let me know your thoughts, specifically on performance on the Galaxy Nexus, as well as how you feel about the stock experience.

I haven't had stock since basically the GN's release, and have been sticking to CyanogenMod for a good while now (since 10.0 stable was released, I think).

I don't think I really care to wait until CM gets around to having a stable 4.4-based release - it'll be ages, especially for the Galaxy Nexus.
I've enjoyed so many CM features, however, I'm also afraid of going back to a stock experience. But Google has been slowly adding features that were once only found in CM or other community builds.

 

[Spoooon]

Let me know your thoughts, specifically on performance on the Galaxy Nexus, as well as how you feel about the stock experience.

I haven't had stock since basically the GN's release, and have been sticking to CyanogenMod for a good while now (since 10.0 stable was released, I think).

I don't think I really care to wait until CM gets around to having a stable 4.4-based release - it'll be ages, especially for the Galaxy Nexus.
I've enjoyed so many CM features, however, I'm also afraid of going back to a stock experience. But Google has been slowly adding features that were once only found in CM or other community builds.

Ha, it's already hard. Just so used to Nova Launcher. That part is easy to take care of though.

If you use Google Now, I think you'll like some of the changes. On the homescreen, swiping right will bring up the Google Now app (like how search used to come up in iOS). I don't know if this is new as I haven't been stock in a long time.

It seems significantly smoother compared to 4.3. I use it all the time, so I'm down with that change.

Basically, it seems equal to or better than 4.3 on the Galaxy Nexus so far. My phone reset twice, so the ROM might be half baked. Going to commit to it as a daily driver for the next few days to see how it holds up.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Until Dolphin is updated for KitKat(not able to zoom), Chrome doesn't display all images like Dolphin, Firefox and Opera. Any ideas or is this a limitation with Chrome?

For example - www.nextbus.com the map of bus routes doesn't display

 

[Spoooon]

I can't tell if ART really makes a difference. Some stuff "seems" snappier. Hard to tell for sure.

 

[lothar]

Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 have now been updated to KitKat.

 

[Roland00Address]

Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 are now being updated to KitKat in a stage update, where the devices are selected by google and pushed to the user.

Corrected

 

[Shackanaw]

The (almost) always on voice recognition might only be practical on Snapdragon 800 or other SoCs with voice recognition hardware, but I would be perfectly satisfied with the left swipe Google Now, and only having it begin listening for the hotwords when I am on that screen. It would be quicker than swiping up and launching Google Now (particularly because Google Now would be integrated into the homescreen, rather than actually being launched separately), and it would only be listening while actually using Google Now, as it already does.

Limiting these features (and the other new homescreen stuff like drag and drop reordering of homescreens) to the Nexus 5 just makes me less willing to purchase other devices, like the 2013 Nexus 7 which is new enough to deserve such love and attention. This kinda sours me towards the Nexus devices, but then again, the alternatives are pretty terrible or overpriced.

 

[Shackanaw]

Corrected

I flashed my Nexus 4 to KitKat myself. It's fairly straightforward, though I will admit that it took me a few hours to figure out how to get my device to communicate with the Android SDK on Windows 8. I had to disable driver signature verification and install a USB driver included in the SDK software.

Once I figured that out, the tutorials online were pretty simple.

Okay, so maybe I shouldn't call my experience straightforward or simple, but it was worth it for the Kitkat goodness, and your mileage may well vary.

I can't tell if ART really makes a difference. Some stuff "seems" snappier. Hard to tell for sure.

That's pretty much what I am feeling, too. Firefox seems snappier to launch, perhaps...

 

[Boondox]

Just updated my Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337) to KitKat and it's working pretty good so far. I'll have to keep tabs on the battery to see how fast it drains.

 

[lopri]

This change is getting on my nerve. Not only that you need to expand the notification bar to see whether Google Services are connecting (color change to orange), but to see if any active up/down connection is occurring. You cannot tell either from the notification bar any more. I cannot in good conscience think of how this helps users.

Prior to 4.4 (note tiny triangle/arrow facing downward)

On 4.4 (same information cannot be seen on notification bar - it must be expanded)

 

[Ravynmagi]

This change is getting on my nerve. Not only that you need to expand the notification bar to see whether Google Services are connecting (color change to orange), but to see if any active up/down connection is occurring. You cannot tell either from the notification bar any more. I cannot in good conscience think of how this helps users.

Prior to 4.4 (note tiny triangle/arrow facing downward)

On 4.4 (same information cannot be seen on notification bar - it must be expanded)

Oh cool. I didn't even know about that or notice it (I don't usually flip over to the other settings page). I was thinking there was no where to see that. At least it's somewhere. But yeah, I miss not seeing it at a glance on top.

 

[lopri]

It's two extra actions - one to pull down the shade, another to change the screen to settings options - while previously there was no touch necessary. Why? Can anyone come up with a fair reason?

 

[sweenish]

It's two extra actions - one to pull down the shade, another to change the screen to settings options - while previously there was no touch necessary. Why? Can anyone come up with a fair reason?

A Google engineer gave an explanation. Whether you think it's good or not is up to you.

 

[lopri]

A Google engineer gave an explanation. Whether you think it's good or not is up to you.

Could you link to that explanation? I would appreciate it.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Could you link to that explanation? I would appreciate it.

If it's the one I'm thinking of... Google wanted to make the menu bar color neutral so what it doesn't clash with the colors in apps.

 

[s44]

This change is getting on my nerve. Not only that you need to expand the notification bar to see whether Google Services are connecting (color change to orange), but to see if any active up/down connection is occurring. You cannot tell either from the notification bar any more.

Yep, this is terrible. What's worse is how the usual news sites are covering Google's ass on this.

As I've said, Android UI has been going sideways -- at best! -- since 4.1.