Verizon Update To 4.4

[emicee]

Has anyone got the 4.4 KitKat update on the S4 on Verizon yet!?

 

[JaRN99]

Not here....I've been waiting patiently. Kinda surprised it's taking this long since they were rather quick with the jump to ICS.

 

[emicee]

Yeah me too, it's been WEEKS since the other carriers have got the update.. figured Verizon would of had it by now!

 

[SirEagle]

They're pretty slow with this one. There's already some if the international phones getting 4.4 bug fix updates.

On a side note:
fyrfyter612 - howdy neighbor, I'm not happy with choice of NFL teams.

 

[JaRN99]

They're pretty slow with this one. There's already some if the international phones getting 4.4 bug fix updates.

On a side note:
fyrfyter612 - howdy neighbor, I'm not happy with choose of NFL teams.

Hey now neighbor!!....I stand behind my hometown teams....LOL.

 

[ironass]

For once, neither Android or Samsung can be blamed for the delay as the KitKat firmware has been available to carriers to add their bloatware to since the beginning of the year and Verizon, unusually, is one of only 2 carriers I know of worldwide, (the other is AT&T), that do not return the completed firmware to Samsung to update customers firmware, preferring to do it themselves.

Perhaps then, it is no coincidence that it was both of these carriers that were forced to cancel their initial 4.3, Jelly Bean, release, mid roll-out, and re-issue the firmware after a brief period and it may be because of this that Verizon are thoroughly testing their firmware before rolling it out this time although, it has to be said, there have been no major problems, either worldwide or with other U.S. carriers, KitKat releases... notably, AT&T.

 

[hansangb]

Well, as it happens, I had to replace my S4 with a new one. Cleaned up lot of apps that I don't use, and I haven't installed APP2SD on purpose. I'll give that whirl *after* upgrading to KitKat. This way, I can avoid any apps that may disappear on me etc. We'll see what happens.

 

[ironass]

Further to my post #6, above, in light of the improvement updates for January and February KitKat releases, here, it could be that Verizon have decided to, "hang fire", and incorporate these improvements into their initial release of KitKat.

 

[Highwayman]

I hate to say it, but I am betting Verizon won't release the update till after the S5 has been release, hoping to get those people who are tired of waiting for KitKat.

 

[Podivin]

Given that the S5 release is in 3 days, and there isn't even a hint of the update coming to the S4, I'd say you're right that the S5 will be out first.
As to why it was delayed that long, only the high mucky-mucks as Samsung would know why. Personally I would never upgrade from an S4 to an S5 JUST to get the upgraded OS rather than wait a while longer, but I'm sure there are people that would.

 

[ironass]

As to why it was delayed that long, only the high mucky-mucks as Samsung would know why.

Looks like Samsung are going to be blamed, no matter what.

From post #6, above...

For once, neither Android or Samsung can be blamed for the delay as the KitKat firmware has been available to carriers to add their bloatware to since the beginning of the year and Verizon, unusually, is one of only 2 carriers I know of worldwide, (the other is AT&T), that do not return the completed firmware to Samsung to update customers firmware, preferring to do it themselves.

 

[GrouchoM]

I'm hoping that Verizon stalls KK onto the SGS4 forever.

 

[MYKEL61]

I'm hoping that Verizon stalls KK onto the SGS4 forever.

I agree, my phone is working A-OK... dont ruin it..

 

[ironass]

I'm hoping that Verizon stalls KK onto the SGS4 forever.

I agree, my phone is working A-OK... dont ruin it..

Oh, how times change!

Less than 6 months ago, the Android 4.3 release was the devil incarnate and there were 100's of posts on this forum from those desperate to revert to 4.2.2.

I am currently on the newest and latest KitKat release, 19th March build, NC9, for the non-carrier branded International version and I must say that IMHO, it is the, "mutts nuts", and wild horses would not drag me back to Android 4.3.

 

[BigRedGonzo]

..., it is the, "mutts nuts", and wild horses ...

I'm not sure which is more disgusting, the slang itself or the graphic detail that Urban Dictionary goes into to explain it.

Thanks Iron, its always nice to laugh during the day and that post made me laugh ( and not just because of the Mutt's Nuts!!)

 

[GrouchoM]

Oh, how times change!

Less than 6 months ago, the Android 4.3 release was the devil incarnate and there were 100's of posts on this forum from those desperate to revert to 4.2.2.

I am currently on the newest and latest KitKat release, 19th March build, NC9, for the non-carrier branded International version and I must say that IMHO, it is the, "mutts nuts", and wild horses would not drag me back to Android 4.3.

What are a few of the advantages of KitKat?

 

[ironass]

What are a few of the advantages of KitKat?

That really depends on how much, "bloatware", your carrier dumps on your phone and how many features they remove or amend.

On a stock Samsung International, non-carrier branded, model most of the advantages are, "under the hood". The white Notification bar icons on a translucent background are new. See, Android version history 4.4, 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 for the Google Android features introduced for KitKat. Most of which are in the Samsung stock firmware.

For me, it is a lot smoother and slicker than Jelly Bean and offers more available RAM with no lag or stutter and a better battery life. Bluetooth connections are quicker and easier and Wi-Fi is improved as is the camera. KitKat has been described as being like the improvements that Microsoft offered with Windows 7 over Vista.

 

[Adara]

Looks like Samsung are going to be blamed, no matter what.

If it makes you feel better, I generally blame VZW, no matter what.

They can take as long as they damn well please with the update, as far as I'm concerned. Phone is (mostly) stable now, and I dread having to do a FDR.

 

[emicee]

I've thought about downloading one of the KitKat Roms thats available, or just a nice custom rom, But i've never done anything like that (flashing a custom rom) so im a bit nervous/scared to screw up my phone ! lol

 

[(G)]

I agree, my phone is working A-OK... dont ruin it..

I couldn't agree more. There's nothing that KitKat can offer me that's better than a fully functional, 100% operational phone.

It ain't broke, Verizon! Don't fix it!

 

[Nightshade37]

I think Verizon is delaying the update to push sales of the S5. Go to there promo site for the S5 and you can see how they emphasize that the S5 is the only device with KitKat. Every other major carriar has push the update out. Verizon is always last to update, and don't believe that bullshite about how they are "optimizing" it for your phone. Verizon needs more time to stuff so much bloatware on your phone that you have about 7 GB free on a 16 GB S4. My contract is up in 3 months and I am so ready to ditch Verizon! I think my next phone will also be a Google Play Edition so it will have less crap on it.

 

[Goodspike]

I think my next phone will also be a Google Play Edition so it will have less crap on it.

I read someplace that the S5 has the most the Samsung bloatware as optional downloads now. They aren't even necessarily installed in the first place, but you can uninstall. That would remove much of the attractiveness of the GE versions, because you could still use the few Samsung features which are useful.

 

[ironass]

I read someplace that the S5 has the most the Samsung bloatware as optional downloads now. They aren't even necessarily installed in the first place, but you can uninstall. That would remove much of the attractiveness of the GE versions, because you could still use the few Samsung features which are useful.

In South Korea it now illegal to have unremovable bloatware on phones which can slow them down, eat battery life and cause problems, as seen on these forums...

South Korea Bans Smartphone Bloatware, Will the US Follow?

This bloatware issue seems to be a bigger problem on the U.S. handsets than it does on any of the lightly carrier branded, worldwide, International models. Some U.S. models bear little resemblance to the phones the rest of the world use and in a lot of cases, it is this carrier branding and firmware amendments that is causing issues that 95% of users, globally, do not experience. One only has to look on this forum to see the amount of problems posted by U.S. users whose 6 models only account for 5% of the total firmwares for the Galaxy S4. Personally, I would like to see the Apple iPhone, "one-for-all", policy on all phones so that they are not mucked about with by carriers. To a certain extent, this already applies to the International phones in that if I want, I can flash the latest stock Samsung firmware for my International phone, whether it be from Iceland or New Zealand, providing I do not mind, potentially, voiding my warranty and without having to root it. Unfortunately, the same cannot be done with the U.S. variants who are, in the main, limited to their own individual models firmware.