Samsung Galaxy S5, S4, Note 3 Android 4.4.4 KitKat Guide, More Devices Receiving Update this October

Samsung Galaxy S5, S4, Note 3 and Grand 2users can update their devices to Android4.4.4 KitKat soon. According to the recent Samsung roadmap released, the company has finished phase 1 of its Android 4.4.4 rollout. Some devices may already have access to the program but others may have to wait according to their carrier and region. It appears the company wants to finish the update as the Android 5.0 Lollipop release looms around. 

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Android Circuit: Samsung's Continued Collapse, Android Loves Lollipops, Stunning Nexus Hardware

Taking a look back at the week in news across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit highlights a number of stories including all the details of the new Nexus devices, the low-down on Android 5.0 Lollipop and the rollout of 5.0, reviewing the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, Q3 numbers from the world of Android, and the upcoming update of Android Wear.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android over the last seven days.

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How to access the Android Lollipop Easter egg

If you're a Nexus 5 or Nexus 7 owner, then you'll be pleased to know that Google has just updated the Android 5.0 Lollipop preview along with the 5.0 SDK tools. Additionally, AndroidCentral noticed that this update also contains a special surprise from Google: the latest Easter egg.

Ready to check it out? Here's how:

Head to the Settings menu (the cog in the notification shade at the top) and choose About phone/tablet.

Tap repeatedly on the line that says Android version (with 5.0 underneath).

When the lollipop loads, you can tap it to change colors, or long-press it to reveal the Easter egg: a Flappy Bird clone game, made with a bugdroid and lollipops.

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Android 5.0 L Developer Preview and Android 5.0 SDK for Google Nexus 5 and 7 Now Live for Download

Google has released the official Android 5.0 SDK and the Android 5.0 Developer Preview final build. Check them if you’re a developer and you wish to start working on optimizing your applications for the full Android 5.0 Lollipop release that should take place early November.

With the Android 5.0 SDK released now all the developers can move on from the previous preview builds and start testing the real deal. The new API number for SDK 5.0 is 21 and it comes with a brand new Camera 2.0 API, better performance, support for DNG, improved JobScheduler, new Material Design capabilities. Check more info about the Android SDK 5.0 here.

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Samsung Galaxy S3 Gets Android 4.4.4 Update

While the world is abuzz with the release of Apple's iOS 8 and Google's impending release of the Android L (Android 5.0), the Android Kitkat 4.4.4 is still making its rounds across the Android compatible phones. Finally though, the Samsung Galaxy S3 along with the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2 will be getting the 4.4.4 Kitkat update.

In the recent weeks, the Android 4.4.4 Kitkat update was released alongside the 4.4.3 update. Both are essentially bug fixes to the much troubled 4.4.2 update and was rolled out on Android phones across the board. However, many phones received the updates later than most and it seems that the Galaxy S3 is one of the phones which will be getting the updates late.

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Affordable Android One Smartphones Launch in India

Google kick off its Android One program Monday in India, introducing a new line of affordable smartphones that will help it crack into emerging markets.

The Mountain View-based tech giant unveiled smartphones from manufacturers Micromax, Karbonn and Spice, highlighting the first efforts of the Android One program. Just as promised at Google's I/O conference earlier this year, the smartphones start at a reasonable $105, or 6,399 rupees. Google says it plans on launching more Android One smartphones in South Asia to countries like the Philippines and Indonesia over the coming months.

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Google's Android One Platform About More Than Just Phones

Google announced the launch of its Android One platform on Monday, September 15, targeting the low-end smartphone segment in emerging markets. While newly launched phones are currently available in India, the company plans to roll them out to other developing countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the coming months. The wide launch strategy signals that the competition in the smartphone industry in emerging countries is heating up, albeit at a lower price point. In this note, we explore this offering and Google’s strategy behind the launch.

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