Samsung outlines Android 4.4 KitKat update plans for U.S. smartphones and tablets

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Samsung today announced its Android 4.4 KitKat update plans for U.S. devices. It may have taken Samsung a bit more time to get around to confirming this information but it does include a rather long list of devices.

Not surprisingly, the devices will be upgraded directly to Android 4.4.2, bypassing the slightly older 4.4 and 4.4.1 releases. Samsung lists a number of new features “that enhance the user experience, including a more intuitive user interface, enhanced messaging capabilities and updated applications:”

  • Location Menu: An integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously checking the battery usage of apps running location service capabilities.
  • Enhanced Messaging: Enables users to choose between Messages or Hangouts as their preferred default messaging application, and select from a larger assortment of updated Emoji icons.
  • Upgraded Google Mobile Service™ (GMS) apps: Users can automatically back up photos and video and can open, view, rename and share Google Docs and files.

The devices in line to get upgraded to Android 4.4.2 KitKat are:

  • Galaxy Note 3
  • Galaxy Note II
  • Galaxy S4
  • Galaxy S4 mini
  • Galaxy S4 Active
  • Galaxy S4 zoom
  • Galaxy S III
  • Galaxy S III mini
  • Galaxy Mega
  • Galaxy Light
  • Galaxy Note 8.0
  • Galaxy Tab 3
  • Galaxy Note 10.1
  • Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition

Updates are set to start rolling out today but Samsung warns that “Availability varies by carrier and product, with updates beginning today and continuing throughout the coming months.”

We will presumably see a similar update strategy in Canada but Samsung Canada has yet to confirm its own Android 4.4 update plans.

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Samsung Confirms KitKat for U.S. Smartphones and Tablets

DALLAS, February 18, 2014 – Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today that a number of Samsung Galaxy® devices will receive the Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) software update, enriching the Galaxy experience.

The upgrade provides a number of innovative, easy-to-use features that enhance the user experience, including a more intuitive user interface, enhanced messaging capabilities and updated applications:

  • Location Menu: An integrated location menu enables users to easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously checking the battery usage of apps running location service capabilities.
  • Enhanced Messaging: Enables users to choose between Messages or Hangouts as their preferred default messaging application, and select from a larger assortment of updated Emoji icons.
  • Upgraded Google Mobile Service™ (GMS) apps: Users can automatically back up photos and video and can open, view, rename and share Google Docs and files.

Samsung Galaxy U.S. devices currently scheduled to receive the KitKat update include select carrier variants of the Galaxy Note® 3, Galaxy Note® II, Galaxy S® 4, Galaxy S® 4 mini™, Galaxy S® 4 Active™, Galaxy S® 4 zoom™, Galaxy S® III, Galaxy S® III mini™, Galaxy Mega®, Galaxy Light, Galaxy Note® 8.0, Galaxy Tab® 3, Galaxy Note® 10.1, Galaxy Note® 10.1 2014 Edition.

Availability varies by carrier and product, with updates beginning today and continuing throughout the coming months.

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Source : SamMobile