The Android 5.0 Lollipop system does not run on every smartphone, but KitKat firmware is developed for almost any type of device. The version named above at one time established itself as the best. So why not upgrade your smartphone to this OS? In this article we will talk about version 4.4 from KitKat.
Quick installation of firmware on Android 4.4 KitKat: video
Preparation
The device being updated is a Samsung tablet. First you need to find the appropriate firmware version for this device. Everything you need can be found on the website. Once on this resource, you will need to select a manufacturer and model. Next, find the firmware you are interested in and download it. As a rule, it comes with separate instructions and basic installation tips. In this case, the standard Android version KitKat is supplemented on the page with drivers for the tablet.Basically, the version can be updated using an SD card, but for the selected tablet you will need to download the flash driver - a utility that helps update the system firmware.
Process instructions
Now the update is in progress:Currently Android time KitKat is the most popular version of Android, running on about 40 percent of all devices. But she has problems. We've encountered many Android KitKat problems more than anyone deserves it, but we've learned a thing or two. So, we have prepared a list of the most common KitKat problems and ways to solve them. Friends, join us on our exciting journey as we learn how to troubleshoot Android KitKat.
Battery drain with Android KitKat
Battery problems that appeared after the update software, occur quite often, so don’t despair. Rapid battery drain with KitKat is the first problem we encountered. Over time, it becomes less pronounced, but you can help this process speed up. Try our solution:
- Remove the battery for 30 seconds and reboot.
- Identify apps that are causing problems by checking your battery usage statistics in Settings (reinstall them in new software or uninstall them).
- Calibrate your battery with an app called Battery Calibration (you'll need root privileges for this).
- Clear the system cache. This can be done using Recovery Mode on your device.
- And finally, there is another option, the one that works best, is a factory reset. Don't reset your phone until you've done it backup important data.
Problems with Wi-Fi connection Android KitKat
Problems with WiFi connection m Android KitKat are also on the list. We even encountered connection problems when making calls and transferring data over 3G/4G. The simplest and quick way To solve these problems, try reconnecting your connections or turning Offline Mode on and off.
You can also go to KitKat Wi-Fi settings and click on the connection, then Forget and add it again. You can try switching frequency ranges. If all this does not work, then you can try turning on the latest radio file on your device.
Android KitKat "Sorry, the Gallery has stopped working"
Although this KitKat problem is most common on Galaxy S3, but many other people have faced the same thing, so we are often asked how to deal with it. On the Galaxy S3, you can simply lock the Paper Artist app. To do this, simply go to Settings > Application Manager, then Paper Artist. Click on Stop. It will now appear in the blocked apps table in your Application Manager (from here you can reactivate it).
On other KitKat devices the problem is solved just as easily. Just clear the cache in the Gallery app. Go to Settings > Applications > Gallery and clear the cache. If the problem persists, you can clear the application data, but before doing this, make sure that you have backups all your photos. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the app, or downloading another one if the problem persists.
Android KitKat random reboots
Random reboots are when your phone just stops working and starts rebooting on its own, this is the most annoying Android problem KitKat. Sometimes this happens due to specific actions or applications, but it is always unpleasant. There are a million reasons for random reboots, but the easiest way to stop them is to simply clean your device.
Copy all important files to your computer via USB cable and use a backup application or cloud service to save everything. You can also use a program like Helium on your computer, which doesn't even require root access to perform a full system backup.
Once you have completed the backup, simply go to the Backup & Reset settings section on your device and follow necessary steps. It's much easier to transfer your data to a new device than to spend weeks trying to solve the random reboot problem in Android KitKat. If you need help saving your data, then follow our guide: How to Backup Data on Android.
Lost access to SD card on Android KitKat
Missing SD card access on Android KitKat is unfortunately due to design (thanks Google), but there are ways to avoid this problem. You can read our guide on how to save data to an SD card in KitKat, or install one of the "save to SD card" apps from the Play Store. The only problem is that you need root access for this to happen. You can learn how to fix SD card reading issues. Luckily, Lollipop solved the SD card problems.
Problems waking up Android KitKat
There are several problems here. The solution to the first is simple - just go to your settings, then lock screen widgets and switch from private message to watch (or from watch to private message and back). You can also turn off the lock screen effect.
Many manufacturers have released updates just to address the Android KitKat wake issue, so go to Settings > About > Software Update and make sure your device has the latest version of KitKat. If this does not solve the problem, then ask your telecom operator how to deal with it.
Ghost notifications about Android KitKat downloads
This was originally a Jelly Bean issue, but has since appeared for some KitKat users as well. Luckily, it's very easy to solve: just open your apps list, find the Downloads app, and delete any existing downloads.
Of course, you'll want to back it up first if you need this data. You can also go to Settings > Applications > Downloads and clear your data. This should help get rid of ghost notifications on Android KitKat for good.
Problems with mobile data and LTE connection on Android KitKat
If there is a problem with mobile data, or the device does not automatically connect to Wi-Fi or loses Wi-Fi connection, then there are a couple of things you can do to solve the problem. First, simply enable Offline Mode to block all connections and failed attempts, then disable it. This often helps find connections. The next option is to try rebooting your phone. If it doesn't work, you can contact your carrier and ask for help setting up your connection.
Problems with GPS on Android KitKat
Problems with GPS are another common issue that occurs after the update. To resolve this KitKat issue, go to Settings > Geolocation and make sure this feature is enabled and set to High Accuracy mode. Switch between various settings may also solve the problem in some cases, but if that doesn't help, then you might want to download an app from the Play Store to diagnose the GPS problem on your Android KitKat. Try using GPS Status & Toolbox. It's worth a try if you think your GPS isn't working properly. We have a few more tips on how to improve your GPS signal.
Problems with Android KitKat system
Sometimes problems are so broad that trying to solve them all individually is simply unrealistic. In such a case, when everything around you just melts along with patience, the best option– return to factory settings. It may sound scary, but it's not difficult. Just make sure you back up your important data first.
Once you've secured yourself with a backup, go to Settings > Backup & Reset and follow the necessary steps. Once your phone restarts, you can restore your apps and data and continue working without any problems. Try to always back up before updating, reset to factory settings, and then restore everything to avoid a lot of problems.
Before downloading any new software, official or third party, always back up your photos, music, documents, apps and data. This means that all your important data will be backed up before anything bad happens. It's always a good idea to back up your data.
It would also be wise not to install the update right away. Just let the notification about the new update hang on your screen for a few days while you read on Galaxynoteall.ru or other sites about whether people who installed it have any problems. Knowing about problems in advance and preventing them will save you headaches.
And finally, you can use this method: backup your data, reset to factory settings, install a system update and restore all your applications and data again.
Are there any other Android KitKat issues you need help with? Have you fixed all these KitKat errors in any other ways?
Android 4.4 KitKat is the latest version of Google's OS, creating which the developer had the goal of making it accessible to all gadgets. Taking care of its users, Google has developed a special application that allows you to check how the new version will work on a specific device. This year's new models will have the latest version of the OS, while everyone else can upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat.
Traditionally, the new version will provide an increase in performance, but the most visible updates affected the interface. The developer also changed the color of the design, inviting users to make their own choice. Another change concerns the use of the display. Besides, in updated version several appeared additional profiles for Bluetooth. In addition, KitKat allows wireless printing of various documents, and also received a new graphics editor. Along with the release of the next update, qualitatively new ones appeared, presented in all existing genres.
How to update Android to 4.4 on a tablet or phone?
The easiest way is to download Android 4.4 from the developer’s website, and then follow the instructions to download and install the OS update.
You can also install files manually using a home PC with installed fastboot and adb and USB cable, to connect these devices to each other. Then you need to do the following:
1. Connect your tablet to your PC and boot it into bootloader mode.
2. On the command line, write fastboot flash recovery specifying the file name.
3. Reboot your device into a new recovery by entering the adb reboot recovery command.
4. Download the archive file with the latest version of SuperSU.
5. Flash the unpacked file via TWRP or Clockworkmod.
6. Reboot your device and use it.
If the tablet has an alternative recovery, you can download and install it directly Android update 4.4 KitKat on tablet.
1. Download it from the Google website.
2. Download the zip file to the tablet using the adb sideload command without unpacking it.
3. Reboot your device and use it.
When installing an update, do not forget that it does not always end well. In some cases, a new OS version may perform worse than the previous one.
When Google company next version of mobile operating system, there was no doubt that the serial number 4.4, instead of the supposed 5.0, speaks in favor of the fact that important changes should not be expected. Indeed, on the Google website you could find only a little more than a dozen items, some of which have long been present in proprietary shells of third-party developers. Does everything really work so well in Android OS that there is nothing to add? But this operating system now runs 81% of smartphones in the world. If the changes are not significant, why not leave the code name the same? Because even this small number of changes made makes you look at Android as a new OS, from design to smoothness and speed of operation.
Most of the features described below are available on devices natively running on the operating system. Android system 4.4. Devices updated to Android 4.4 do not have a built-in Google Experience launcher
First, let's look at the visual differences in Android 4.4, and they start with the lock screen. Widgets that appeared in are now hidden. Those who use them will have to enable them in the Security section. A camera icon has been added to the lower right corner. By clicking on the camera shortcut on the right side of the screen, a preview of the application appears. To go to it, you need to move the icon to the left. There is also the previous option - shifting the clock widget to the left. Apparently, the innovation should help beginners by showing that their device can also launch the camera without unlocking the screen. If you pull up the arrow at the bottom of the screen, it will launch Google Now.
Having unlocked the smartphone, the user is taken to the main desktop window. The top and bottom lines have become transparent. Visually this makes the screen larger. The status bar got rid of the blue icons. Now the main color for Android is white. Below the status line there is a field that cannot be deleted Google search. At the very bottom there are three control keys: “Back”, “Home” and “Running Application Manager”. Above them are four shortcuts separated by a list icon installed applications. Labels have become larger. Even higher are two circles, where the larger one indicates which desktop window you are currently on. As before, creating folders is done by dragging one shortcut onto another. The background of the folders is white translucent.
Holding down on a free space on the desktop takes the user to a menu for selecting wallpapers, widgets, and search settings. Here you can change the location of desktop windows. You will no longer be able to find widgets to the right of the list of installed applications; they are all located here. The bottom row of shortcuts consists of the dialer shortcut, the Hangouts app that replaced Messages, Chrome browser and cameras. Each of these applications has received a number of changes. The interface of the application responsible for working with calls looks different. The last incoming/outgoing call is displayed at the top, three large favorites icons are below it, the most frequently used contacts are below, and the call icon is at the very bottom numeric keypad and, on the left and right, icons for accessing call history and settings. Something useful cannot be ignored automatic search matching unknown information numbers in Google. For example, you dial the number 0 800 xxx xxx, press call and at the same second the smartphone changes the number to the name of the company, institution, service. Moreover, if they have a logo, it will automatically be inserted into the contact image field. The same principle of operation applies to incoming calls.
The application now allows communication not only between users Google accounts, but also through text and multimedia messages. There is no separate application for messages. Hangouts in its current form cannot be called a successful replacement for Messages; in particular, the implementation of grouping messages from the same users raises questions. On the other hand, the possibilities for working with messages are wider than before. As for the text keyboard, one cannot fail to note the huge range of emoticons.
With the exception of HDR+ mode, the camera interface has not undergone any changes. The principle of HDR+ is to stitch three images into one, taken at different exposures - allowing you to expand dynamic range compared to normal shooting. “Normal” HDR mode has long been present on almost all Android smartphones, but there it is additional features implemented by the device manufacturer, but here the function is initially built into the system.
The list of installed applications also remains the same, the only change is transparent background, instead of gloomy black.
There are slight differences in the Settings menu. The first ones touched on the operation of the Wi-Fi module; an option appeared that allows you to enable or disable the search for networks by some applications even if Wi-Fi is turned off.
The “Public Alert” menu, which is useless in our latitudes, includes the activation and configuration of notifications in the event of natural disasters.
The new "General" section is designed to help users select and remove installed launchers, if any.
“Tap & Pay” is the name of the menu where applications used for contactless payment using NFC will be displayed. For example, one such application could be Google Wallet.
There are also changes in setting up the operation of geolocation services - a more intelligible description of the modes for determining coordinates using GPS or Wi-Fi and mobile networks. High precision uses all available capabilities. Reducing energy consumption uses only mobile and Wi-Fi networks. Identification by device sensors includes GPS operation. Once you decide which mode is best for you, you can find out which of your installed apps or services requested your location, as well as how much of an impact it had on your battery.
The last of the new items is “Print”. By going into it you can find the network printer closest to you.
Among the less significant changes, we note the ability to run applications in full-screen mode, when the bottom line with the keys is hidden - this will allow you to use the entire usable screen area. In fact, many devices have already learned this feature, but only with Android 4.4 will it be supported at the hardware level, without the need to obtain Root rights.
The principle of multitasking has been redesigned: applications hanging in the background take up fewer resources, and the transition between them has become faster. Hardware support for IR transmitters has appeared, which can now be found in devices from at least four manufacturers: Samsung, LG, HTC, Sony. To improve autonomy when playing music, data processing will now be handled by the DSP processor. When playing music, an image of the current album and player control keys are displayed on the lock screen. Changes should also be noticeable for lovers of an active lifestyle - for this, Google has optimized the flow of data from all sensors available in the device.
Well, if you suddenly lose your smartphone or it is stolen from you, you can use remote control. To communicate with a smartphone, it is enough that it has access to the Internet and, importantly, your Account. The user can lock the smartphone, reset to factory settings, turn on the signal and find out the location of the device. Determination accuracy last parameter depends on which means of determining coordinates are used. Even if all of them are disabled, including the determination of coordinates by Google services, you can still get coordinates with an accuracy of 20 meters. This opportunity is both exciting and scary.
The download manager has changed somewhat, now it looks more like file manager. Updated mail client, although it was not possible to understand what the differences are between the conditionally new and the current version of the client. Car enthusiasts should like the fact that messages can be read not only from the smartphone screen, but also multimedia system car (added support Bluetooth profile Message Access Profile), without being distracted from control. The last thing I would like to say is Quickoffice - an application for working with office documents, both from internal memory devices and cloud services.
Opting out of using the Dalvik virtual machine
Let's start describing the remaining innovations with the most dramatic one - changing the application runtime environment (compiler) from virtual machine Dalvik on ART(Android RunTime). Without going into the weeds of programming, the main difference between the ART compiler is that applications are optimized for a specific device during the application installation process, and not at the time of its launch, as is the case now. When switching to ART, there are both advantages and small, but disadvantages. The latter includes a slightly larger size of the applications themselves and, as a result, a slightly longer installation time. Pros: reduced power consumption due to less load on the processor, more free time random access memory, more quick start applications and improve the smoothness of operation. Because for writing Android review 4.4 we used a smartphone, we cannot say how smoother the device’s operation becomes when switching to ART. If you trust the reviews of users of other Nexus devices that received the Android update to version 4.4, then, according to them, the smoothness and speed of launching applications has noticeably increased. On our own behalf, we would like to add that the use of ART significantly affects the autonomy of the device, which is clearly seen in the LG Nexus 5, where we compared the operating time of the smartphone when using the Dalvik virtual machine and ART. The question remains open of how quickly “regular” devices that will use Android 4.4 will receive such significant changes and, in fact, whether they will receive them at all. Another important change in Android 4.4 is the ability to work on devices with 512 MB of RAM. So owners of not entirely new smartphones, for which there are custom firmware from Cyanogen and AOSP, may well give their device a second wind.
Ok Google
To access Google Now, you need to go to the far left of the desktop window or swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen, even if the screen is locked. Since Google is trying to update its services on all devices, and not just the Nexus line, you can learn about the new features of Google Now on any Android smartphone you have at hand. Concerning voice search, then for people using not English language interface, there are no changes yet.
Results
Android 4.4 KitKat is not just another operating system update; it shows where the developer is heading. The focus is on improving autonomy and smoothness, interacting with other devices through wireless communications, giving the shell a lighter look and adding features that have long been present on most Android smartphones. If with the advent of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, users received practically no significant changes, then an update to Android 4.4 KitKat is worth waiting for, at least for the sake of improved smoothness and battery life. In addition, as already mentioned, it is easy to install and use new version The OS will be available not only on smartphones with 1 GB of RAM and above, but also on smartphones with 512 MB of RAM. This means that next year the segment of low-cost devices will become even larger, which will entail a reduction in the lower price level and will increase the already huge share of Android smartphones.
Two weeks ago, on Halloween, Google promised that factory firmware and binaries Android 4.4 KitKat for Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will be published immediately after these devices receive over-the-air updates.
And despite the fact that not all tablet models have received automatic update up to Android 4.4 KitKat, factory firmware with this version of the system ( Android build 4.4 KRT16O) have already been published on Google server. You can download them and install them on your tablet or smartphone yourself. How to do this, read on.
This news will also please those who would like to return to stock Android after installing custom firmware such as Cyanogenmod, Paranoid Android, etc.
Note: Please be aware that if your bootloader Nexus 7 blocked, during the firmware update there will be a complete loss of all your personal data on the tablet. You can unlock the bootloader using the fastboot program, which will also clear the data. On Nexus 4 and Nexus 10 You can unlock the bootloader without losing data using BootUnlocker.
Note 2: If the bootloader is unlocked, you can install new firmware without data loss, however, in some cases, after this the tablet or phone will not boot, so be prepared for the fact that you will have to flash your device with data loss and take care of backing it up.
Requirements:
First of all, for flashing, you will need a computer with Android SDK installed on it, or rather - adb programs and fastboot coming with it. How to install the Android SDK, read this material.
Also, you will need MicroUSB cable to connect the tablet to the computer. It is better to use the cable that came with the tablet.
How to unlock bootloader on Nexus 7 using fastboot:
1. Connect your tablet to your computer and boot it into bootloader mode ( adb command reboot bootloader or by turning it off and on by simultaneously pressing the power and volume down buttons).
2. Enter in the window command line(terminal) computer command:
fastboot oem unlock
Confirm unlocking (volume up, then power buttons).
Instructions for flashing Nexus tablets and phones
1. Download the factory image with firmware for your tablet model to your computer (for example, Nexus 7 Wi-Fi 2013 is called razor, and Nexus 7 Wi-Fi 2012 is called nakasi) from this page of the Google website. This image contains the system itself, bootloader, factory recovery, kernel (boot.img) and radio module (not included for Wi-Fi models). Therefore, if you installed, for example, an alternative recovery, after the firmware it will be replaced with the stock one.
2. Unpack the downloaded tgz (tar/gz) archive into a separate folder. I use Total Commander for these purposes, but you can use a separate archiver, for example, 7-Zip.
3. This step is needed if you want to avoid data loss during flashing:
With the help of anyone text editor open (Caution! Open and do not run!) the file flash-all.bat (if you have Windows) or flash-all.sh (Mac, Linux) and remove the two -w characters in the line with the fastboot update command. For example, if the line says: fastboot -w update image-razor-jss15j.zip, after editing it should look like fastboot update image-razor-jss15j.zip. Save the file. (It is the –w option that causes the data to be cleared.)
4. Reboot the tablet into bootloader mode, make sure it is connected to the computer and run the flash-all.bat script (or flash-all.sh on Mac, Linux).
Congratulations, you did it!
For security reasons (so that no one can remove your device's screen unlock key or gain access to your data if your tablet or smartphone is lost or stolen), it is recommended to keep the bootloader locked. To do this, there is the fastboot oem lock command (for Nexus 7) or the BootUnlocker application mentioned above for Nexus 10 and Nexus 4.
Root on a tablet or smartphoneNexus after firmwareAndroid 4.4KitKat
Rooting your Nexus is very easy. To do this, you will need an unlocked bootloader and a modified recovery. I would recommend you to use TWRP. Download latest version TWRP recovery you can from here. To do this, click on the "Get TWRP for your device" button and type the name of the tablet in the window that opens (for example, Nexus 10).
1. Connect the tablet to the computer and boot it into bootloader mode (read above for how to do this)
2. Enter the command in the command line window (terminal):
fastboot flash recoveryFileNameRecovery.img
3. Now you can reboot your tablet into a new recovery using the command:
adb reboot recovery
In addition, tablets and Nexus smartphones You can reboot by turning it off completely and turning it on by pressing and holding the volume up and power buttons at the same time.
4. Download zip file with the new version of SuperSU.
5. Flash the downloaded zip file (without unpacking!) using TWRP
6. Reboot your device, launch Play Store and update SuperSU.
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