KitKat release

[lothar]

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

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/1...nd-only-shows-connectivity-in-quick-settings/

 

[lopri]

Thank you, lothar. That is exactly what I wanted to know. Regardless of the persuasiveness (which I think kind of lacking), at least those reasons do make sense.

But - Even if it's true that traffic indicator takes up CPU cycles to the detriment of battery life, I can't help but observe the irony (or worse, hypocrisy) because the battery consumption of 4.4 GEL on the N5 is anything but modest. I have seen many battery stats screenshots from those who run stock launcher on the N5, and in many of them Kitkat launcher and Google Services are prominently displayed among the top battery eaters. Makes you wonder how much battery Google saved by removing traffic indicator from the notification bar. (then waste it on the search/launcher?)

 

[Ksyder]

I'm disappointed the arrows went away. I was watching a youtube video on the mobile data and when you get the notorious youtube video stall, naturally you look to see if the data indicators are flashing but now you can't tell.

I find that at least you can do the 2 finger swipe down to the settings screen to quickly look rather than the 2 press normal method but most people won't know that.

 

[poofyhairguy]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/1...nd-only-shows-connectivity-in-quick-settings/

Yet another design decision I will wait for Xposed to fix.

 

[podspi]

CM11 still seems to have the network indicators, at least on all the current builds for the SGS3.

 

[Graze]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/1...nd-only-shows-connectivity-in-quick-settings/

WTF Google? People didn't know what it mean? Are people so bloody stupid and did you have to cater to them?

 

[sweenish]

I didn't realize this was such a tender topic for so many of you.

I'm just about always connected. Bar strength tells me plenty. If I can get a decent signal, I'm very likely connected. Only sometimes at public wi-fi spots do I have good reception but no connection. The hassle, time-wise, would be about the same whether it's glance-able or not.

The send/receive, I'm a little more conflicted on. It was nice to see, but if it was as CPU/GPU intensive as they say, I'll take the battery savings. Hopefully they can figure out a better way to re-implement it down the line.

 

[Anubis]

AWESOME. kitkat just bricked my N7 (2012)


gave an error when installing, now it just says "no command" and bootloops over and over

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

WTF Google? People didn't know what it mean? Are people so bloody stupid and did you have to cater to them?

even the supposed enthusiasts complain saying

"I flashed last night's nightly and now I have gray bars"

https://www.google.com/#q=site:xda-developers.com+gray+bars

I guess it makes sense Google develops for the lowest common denominator. I personally think gray vs. blue isn't very important, but the data indicator is far more important. Come to think about it, I never miss it on my iPhone though, so maybe we're all just making a fuss about nothing.

 

[NYhank79]

Is S4 upgradeable to Kit kat?

 

[s44]

Is S4 upgradeable to Kit kat?

If you own a GPE, yes.

If not, you can flash a CM11 nightly or a port of the GPE ROM (the latter is in progress).

If you don't have a GPE and don't flash, wait a few months (rumor is January).

 

[s44]

So for those of you running KitKat ROMs on Qualcomm-based devices, you can apparently flash Qualcomm's proprietary dalvik binary as an alternative to ART...

Apparently works on the Qualcomm S4 models.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2557129

 

[poofyhairguy]

Awesome Thanks! Both my Nexus 7 and S4 will get that upgrade!!!

Yet another awesome thing ripped off the Moto X.

Edit: Wow this really boosted my Nexus 7!!! You can tell on crappy benchmarks.

Before:

After

 

[destrekor]

I've got a Moto X on the way.
I just read up that is actually does NOT have GEL (Google Experience Launcher). I thought it was a 4.4 thing, I guess it's an exclusive to Nexus 5 thing.

That said, I know other Nexus owners are taking an apk from the N5 and using that, but I've got two questions:
is that the only way, using code from the N5?
can that be made to work in a stable manner on the Moto X?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Sure it works great. I use the GEL on my GPe S4 easily.

 

[StrangerGuy]

even the supposed enthusiasts complain saying

"I flashed last night's nightly and now I have gray bars"

https://www.google.com/#q=site:xda-developers.com+gray+bars

I guess it makes sense Google develops for the lowest common denominator. I personally think gray vs. blue isn't very important, but the data indicator is far more important. Come to think about it, I never miss it on my iPhone though, so maybe we're all just making a fuss about nothing.

I just got a Nexus 4 coming from a cheapo Chinese phone with 4.2.1, its a great phone for the price, but stock 4.4 is too minimalist for its own good. Small things like Wifi data indicators, battery charge % and headphone plugged in notification are important to many people, and leaving them out without any option to put them back in simply inexcusable. The worst offender is the lack of notification lights for gmail, that's just well, stupid.

 

[gorcorps]

even the supposed enthusiasts complain saying

"I flashed last night's nightly and now I have gray bars"

https://www.google.com/#q=site:xda-developers.com+gray+bars

I guess it makes sense Google develops for the lowest common denominator. I personally think gray vs. blue isn't very important, but the data indicator is far more important. Come to think about it, I never miss it on my iPhone though, so maybe we're all just making a fuss about nothing.

I agree

I didn't know what the colors meant, mainly because I guess I never have been disconnected with signal so it doesn't come up. Not being able to see my in/out seemed bad at first, but thinking about it I don't really look for it now. They seem like good changes after thinking about it.

 

[lopri]

Well it is a hassle for me because most of the time I do not want to be connected to Google services. It was a useful indicator that got hidden with 4.4 for reasons that are not good enough.

IMO of course.

 

[baydude]

Just tried the patch on my s4 with cm11 running 4.4.1 and my score became 600 lower.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Just tried the patch on my s4 with cm11 running 4.4.1 and my score became 600 lower.

Many ROMs now have it built in and optimized to that ROM.

 

[alangrift]

AWESOME. kitkat just bricked my N7 (2012)


gave an error when installing, now it just says "no command" and bootloops over and over

You might need to install things again using ADB if you can access the flashboot or recovery.

 

[Jodell88]

I just got 4.4.2. I haven't gotten 4.4.1 as yet. lol

Transparency on the lock screen! Whoohoo!

 

[squarecut1]

S4 on Verizon...

No sign of Kitakat anywhere yet...