The Download: Moto G Gets Android 4.4.2, KitKat, in Record Time! And more.

[Ubercharrge]

OFFICIAL MOTOROLA BLOG:

The Official Motorola Blog: The Download: Moto G Gets Android 4.4.2, KitKat, in Record Time! And more.

We don’t know about you, but over the past few weeks we’ve had visions of KitKats dancing in our heads. We’re excited to tell you we’re starting to roll out Android 4.4.2, KitKat—the very latest version—TODAY on Moto G!

What better way to kick off The Download—a regular feature that gives you the scoop on the many software updates we are rapidly cranking out. In addition to the roll out of KitKat on Moto G, our software team has been busy as elves in a workshop shipping new features for you.

Here’s the latest Download, issue 1:

Android KitKat Comes to Moto G - Our KitKat family is expanding! When we launched Moto G last month, we committed to delivering Android, KitKat, to devices by early 2014. We are thrilled to start delivering on that promise early. Starting today, we are rolling out Android 4.4.2 to Moto G phones bought on Motorola.com or Amazon.com in the U.S. KitKat will come to other Moto G carriers and regions soon as well. This latest version of Android brings some cool new features, including printing emails and photos from your phone. Read our release notes for detailed information.

This update continues our effort to get our users the latest Android software as fast as humanly possible. We began by pushing KitKat out to Moto X users on Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, just weeks after Google announced the new OS—and our most recent expansion over the past few weeks includes Moto X on US Cellular and Sprint and DROID ULTRA, DROID MAXX, and DROID MINI. We also started to roll out the software in Brazil for retail devices. More carriers and regions will follow very soon.

For more information on KitKat and deployment on Motorola devices, check out our software upgrades page.

RELEASE NOTES
https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_answer_detail/a_id/97632/action/auth

 

[alexdloia]

I went to settings and checked for an update, but it says there's no update needed. Anybody help? Thanks

 

[MacFett]

I went to settings and checked for an update, but it says there's no update needed. Anybody help? Thanks

Wait for it to be rolled out to your device. Not everyone will get the update at the exact same time.

 

[breadnatty08]

I went to settings and checked for an update, but it says there's no update needed. Anybody help? Thanks

Same here.
Also, welcome to the forums!

 

[mattsd]

Exciting news!! I'm enjoying my Moto G so far and can't wait to get Kit Kat going! Guess we'll be notified when there's new software available individually.

 

[breadnatty08]

Has anyone seen the update yet?
Only seen a handful on XDA (whether truthfully or not) so I think it's a pretty slow rollout. (Im)patiently waiting on mine.

 

[mattsd]

Has anyone seen the update yet?
Only seen a handful on XDA (whether truthfully or not) so I think it's a pretty slow rollout. (Im)patiently waiting on mine.

No update for me yet...:questionmark:

 

[MacFett]

The update is downloading right now.

 

[saptech]

I just checked and downloading also. Some changes, better camera focus and a new dialpad, to name a few. The size is about 191mb.

https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_answer_detail/a_id/97632/action/auth

 

[breadnatty08]

Hell yeah, downloading now! That's a nice pre-Xmas present.

Edit: Updated!
Folks, feel free to post any things you find as enhancements. As you may know, this is essentially a media device for me so it's not a daily driver.
FYI, looks like ART is an option. Tread carefully if you want to try it.

 

[lanceg]

I went to settings and checked for an update, but it says there's no update needed. Anybody help? Thanks

My phone is not active yet (waiting on my sim card) but my phone similarly would not see the update. I then unlocked my bootloader in prep for rooting the phone, and upon reboot post unlock it saw the update, downloaded it, and installed it.

I wouldn't get too excited, based on what I see the differences are minimal. The only thing I noticed so far is the transparent status bar. Everything else looks exactly the same. Maybe they changed more stuff under the hood, I dunno.

 

[Ubercharrge]

Hell yeah, downloading now! That's a nice pre-Xmas present.

Edit: Updated!
Folks, feel free to post any things you find as enhancements. As you may know, this is essentially a media device for me so it's not a daily driver.
FYI, looks like ART is an option. Tread carefully if you want to try it.

Tried ART, makes the device very fluid Removes the choppiness when opening/switching through apps and feels very fluid in comparison to dalvik

 

[breadnatty08]

Tried ART, makes the device very fluid Removes the choppiness when opening/switching through apps and feels very fluid in comparison to dalvik

Think I'll give it a go, thanks!

 

[mattsd]

My phone is not active yet (waiting on my sim card) but my phone similarly would not see the update. I then unlocked my bootloader in prep for rooting the phone, and upon reboot post unlock it saw the update, downloaded it, and installed it.

I wouldn't get too excited, based on what I see the differences are minimal. The only thing I noticed so far is the transparent status bar. Everything else looks exactly the same. Maybe they changed more stuff under the hood, I dunno.

Yeah, they've kept it very familiar visually but there are some nice little touches. To my understanding this is mostly an 'under the hood' update and a very good one at that. I updated a few days ago while playing pool at a bar over 3G. If I'd tried to do that with my old phone I'm fairly sure the world would have actually ended. Anyway..

 

[mattsd]

Could somebody explain the ART vs Dalvik thing to me? Sorry, I must have missed out somewhere along the line. Are these essentially different ways (language-wise) of running the same OS?

 

[alfick3]

Could somebody explain the ART vs Dalvik thing to me? Sorry, I must have missed out somewhere along the line. Are these essentially different ways (language-wise) of running the same OS?

I was trying to find a thread I could point you to, but to no avail. So, here's what I remember from what I've read: ART replaces dalvik caching. From everything that I've read, the phones run speedier and smoother after changing over to ART from Dalvik.

 

[Thom]

Check out ... http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/792223-introducing-new-android-runtime-art.html ... in Android Lounge.

... Thom

 

[mattsd]

I was trying to find a thread I could point you to, but to no avail. So, here's what I remember from what I've read: ART replaces dalvik caching. From everything that I've read, the phones run speedier and smoother after changing over to ART from Dalvik.

Thank you very much for your help! That's got me on the right path.

Check out ... http://androidforums.com/android-lounge/792223-introducing-new-android-runtime-art.html ... in Android Lounge.

... Thom

Thanks Thom! That is very helpful. Sounds like it might be worth messing around with at some point.

 

[breadnatty08]

Switched over to ART but not noticing a huge difference. Hey, it still works just fine unlike borking my Gnex when I did it there.
If anyone does do it, keep in mind it'll reboot your phone and reset the cache for ALL your apps. If you have many installed it'll take several minutes, just let it do its thing. You won't lose anything so no worries. And, you can always change back to Dalvik if you like.

 

[Rxpert83]

I'd recommend sticking to dalvik.

ART is most likely the future but its just not there yet

 

[nx1977]

Is there a firmer date for the update in the UK than Jan/Feb?