Samsung Galaxy S5 may not be the newest smart-phone on the market, but it is undoubtedly one of the most powerful Android flagships of the moment. As a matter of fact, it can easily hold its own against newer models on the Android market. The only problem right now is the fact that Samsung seems to be lagging behind other companies in terms of OS updates.
For example, older Nexus models have already received Android 5.0 Lollipop, while Samsung devices are still waiting for an update on KitKat 4.4. To offer you a better picture of the timeline, we should tell you that the Android 4.4.4 KitKat update for Samsung Galaxy S5 was announced at around the same time as the Android 5.0 Lollipop release. In other words, while other devices already had KitKat and were waiting for Lollipop, Samsung Galaxy S5 had yet to receive KitKat.
Android KitKat 4.4.4, the major bug fix update for the previous KitKat operating system, started rolling out in June for Google. In the meanwhile, Samsung is still rolling out 4.4.2 and 4.4.4 updates for select phones and tablets. There will probably be a long wait for Lollipop, considering that Samsung has, only recently, started to roll out the Android 4.4.4 KitKat update from carriers like Sprint.
Sprint is the second carrier in the United State to deliver Android 4.4.4 KitKat for its users. On November 19 and after several weeks of testing, the carrier announced that the new update is finally stable enough to be released to the public. In general, Sprint releases smaller Android OS updates in stages, but considering that 4.4.4 is an incremental upgrade, we are expecting it to be available a bit faster.
Verizon was the first carrier to offer the OS for Samsung Galaxy S5. Android regularly releases small updates for its operating system, in order to solve bugs and security issues. However, KitKat 4.4.4 was a huge update, which came with several interesting features. The new Android 4.4.4 KitKat will also offer international Wi-Fi calling features and an icon for HD voice. The build number for this update is G900PVPU1ANK4. Sprint customers should already be on the receiving end of Kitkat 4.4.4, through a notification. If you have yet to be notified about the update, you should check for it manually from your settings.
Assuming that you already have access to the update, we urge you to set aside approximately 15 minutes for the process. The Samsung Galaxy S5 update announcement follows in the footsteps of others. For example, AT&T also announced, earlier this month, that the Galaxy S4 will also be receiving the KitKat 4.4.4, which will fix bugs and add interesting new features for owners, including Samsung Knox 2.0. Another carrier worth mentioning, T-Mobile, also declared that Android 4.4.4 will be available for the Note 10.1 2014 edition, and it will come with IPv6 improvements as well as a new download booster.
Android Lollipop 5.0 to Arrive for Samsung Devices in December
These updates may seem less important, considering that Android Lollipop is already out, but they should be of interest for Samsung users. Although Samsung & carriers are still struggling to release Android 4.4.4 KitKat for Galaxy S5 devices, their focus has shifted to Lollipop 5.0. As a matter of fact, credible sources claim that the Lollipop update will be released not in March, not even in January, but in December. This could make for a great Christmas present for tech enthusiasts. Considering that other competitors are already pushing Android 5.0 Lollipop updates on their devices, we can assume that it is only a matter of time until the world’s largest Android smart-phone manufacturers also makes its move.
The company has yet to release any official statements about its plans for the future, but this doesn’t mean that it won’t be making a move by the end of the year. We can safely assume that Samsung is taking the ‘slow and steady’ road. The company started rolling out its Android 4.4 KitKat update way back in January 2014. We are at the end of November, and deployments for KitKat are still going strong. The first device to be updated was the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. We are confident that Samsung will quickly move past KitKat, and begin deployment of Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Select Nexus devices are already using the new Android update, which seem to bring major improvements. It will definitely be a major update for Samsung devices as well. One thing we know for certain, considering the plethora of rumors surfacing on the internet, is the fact that Lollipop will become a reality for Samsung users before the year has passed. Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting rumors and news for Samsung Galaxy Note 3, S5, S4 OS updates.
Please take these rumors with a grain of salt, because Samsung has yet to release any official statements regarding its future plans. These rumors come from specialists and analysts in the smart-phone industry. Even if Samsung is planning on releasing Lollipop 5.0 this year, the testing process can always encounter hiccups and be setback with several days or weeks. In other words, try not to get too excited, because nothing is set in stone.
Carriers have also refrained from making any official statements that would confirm the release of Android Lollipop 5.0 or other specific details. In general, carriers are the first to give information about future OS updates, but this doesn’t mean that Samsung isn’t advancing its plans for December.
One word of advice for all the Samsung users out there would be to update their phones from Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, to KitKat, in order to prepare for future releases.
Samsung Galaxy S5, S4 & Note 3 Will Skip KitKat 4.4.4
We have to admit that releases of KitKat 4.4.4 for devices such as Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4 and Note 3 have been very slow. However, credible sources claim that Samsung is not interested in providing this update, seeing as it will jump from 4.4.2 KitKat directly to 5.0 Lollipop. Considering that the new Android update is already up for various flagships, skipping directly to it seems like the sensible decision for Samsung.
The company has actually tweeted, on November 4, that it will make the jump directly (https://twitter.com/SamMobiles/status/529755067252232192)
Lollipop 5.0 is Already Up and Running for Several Samsung Devices
The latest Android OS update is already up and running on several Samsung devices (but it is not publicly available). Just do a quick YouTube search for hands-on reviews on the subject, and you will find plenty of examples. So why is Samsung always rolling out updates so slowly compared to other companies? Samsung represents the hallmark of all Android devices. That’s because it always takes a unique approach on Android releases. It will never offer the exact same experience of Android as other companies. The main reason why Lollipop 5.0 will take longer to release to the public, for Samsung devices, is because developers are still working with the UI and other features.
Many users have complained about the standard appearance of Lollipop 5.0 (some even comparing the UI to a ‘hideous circus), but as you can see from the video below, Samsung has managed to transform Lollipop into a sophisticated UI. Wireless features are still not available for Lollipop on Samsung and it might take a while until this is resolved. There are several other problems that need fixing. Hopefully, they will be resolved by the end of the year. It is a well-known fact that Android updates tend to wreak havoc on most Samsung devices, so clients must be patient until the company remedies them.
Samsung Galaxy S5 is Already Testing Lollipop 5.0
Last week, carrier Sprint announced that it is testing Android Lollipop on the Samsung Galaxy S5 device. A User Agent String on the carrier’s website makes it clear that the Lollipop 5.0 version was listed for the SM-G900P, the technical reference for Galaxy S5. In other words, the carrier is actively involved in optimizing new Android content for its flagship.
Some said that Lollipop will be released for Samsung devices by the end of November, but that didn’t happen. However, a release for December-January would make a lot of sense, given Samsung’s penchant for releasing Galaxy S and Note updates at around the same time.
SamMobile, a leading expert in the Samsung smart-phone industry, released several previews for the Lollipop. It clearly displayed the progress of the software through its development stages. The final leak reported that there is not yet enough progress to make the update public. According to the website, the change lies in “new icons in Toolbox, which allows quick access to a few functions from anywhere on the phone.”
Several other video leaks indicate the fact that Android Lollipop 5.0 offers smoother performance and more fluid movement on the screen. Nevertheless, this may also be an indication of the fact that they used new phones, with not to many apps and mileage on them.
If you really can’t wait for the update, and have a Samsung Galaxy S5, simply go to your Setting tab, and “About Phone” and you will find the latest update for your smart-phone. This is only available for Verizon and Sprint users. If you don’t see any update, it’s just a matter of days until it becomes available.
Roll Out Status of Android 4.4.4 KitKat
While we wait for the release of Lollipop 5.0, let’s take a look at the status of KitKat for carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint:
- Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 and S5: although some carriers are struggling to release KitKat for Samsung devices, they are not rolling out the latest version. At the moment, users have to stick to the 4.4.2 version, and it seems that Samsung prefers to wait for the release of 5.0 Lollipop for its major flagships.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and Note 3: The same situation is true for Note devices. Sure, this may result in a longer wait for clients, but the personalized operating system should perform better than the standard version made available for other smart-phones, such as Nexus. Note 3 and S4 users should receive the Lollipop update, automatically, in the first months of 2015.
If you are beyond excited to test out the new OS on Galaxy S5 variants (SM-G9001, Sm-0900F and SM-G900M with more to follow), head to the XDA Developers forum. From here you can test the latest working version of Lollipop that is currently under development. There are several bugs to consider, like the NFC and camera, but other features seem functional.
To sum up, Android KitKat 4.4.4 is currently rolling out for Sprint on Galaxy S5. The S5 has already leapfrogged the 4.4.2 version and went directly to 4.4.3. The update was announced on September 23, but several customers have yet to gain access to it. Also, OTA installation is on its way, which will make the installation process a lot easier. T-Mobile and AT&T will probably not even be bothering with the 4.4.4 Kitkat update, and jump directly to Lollipop. We will keep you posted.
Roxanne Briean
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