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Summary: Some Sony Xperia and HTC's One smartphones look set to be the first non-Nexus Androids to get Android
KitKit.
By Liam Tung |November 8, 2013 -- 11:53 GMT (03:53 PST)
Sony appears to be ahead of the pack on rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat to its Android handsets, earmarking five Xperia devices that will get the OS. However, so far HTC is the only vendor to lay out a timeline for when its users can expect to see KitKat reach their smartphones.
Sony has just announced that it will be rolling out KitKat to its Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra, and Xperia Z1 devices. It hasn't given exact dates on when owners of the handsets will see the release, and notes that the phased rollout may vary by market and carrier. It's advised Xperia owners to keep an eye out on its @SonyMobileNews Twitter account for the specific timing of the updates.
However, most of those devices will get Jelly Bean first: Sony said it will also begin rolling out Android 4.3 over the next month to the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia SP, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1. Again, that may vary by market or carrier.
HTC has just begun rolling out Android 4.3 with Sense 5.5 to HTC One handsets in the UK, and is eyeing an early 2014 timeline for bringing KitKat.
"Across EMEA, HTC will work with local carriers to begin the roll-out of Android 4.4 with Sense 5.5 for the HTC One from end of January. The Google Play edition will start to receive the update earlier, starting from the end of November," a spokesperson told ZDNet.
HTC didn't have any details yet about the timing and version of Android for the HTC One max and the HTC One mini, but details will follow.
Samsung is staying tightlipped about its KitKat schedule for the Galaxy S4 and Note 3. However, Google has already confirmed that the Galaxy S4 with 4.4 should be coming soon. "Samsung UK will announce rollout plans for Android 4.4 in due course," a spokesperson told ZDNet.
While LG is behind Google's fast-moving Nexus 5, the Korean company hasnt released a schedule for its own Android devices, such as the G2 smartphone and G Pad tablet, as well as its Optimus range.
Motorola is also pushing KitKat out to its Moto X devices for AT&T and T-Mobile customers in the US, while Verizon will deliver KitKat to the Moto X, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, Droid Mini, though hasn't given a timeframe for what it will arrive.
Meanwhile, Dell has of yet provided no details about whether KitKat or Jelly Bean will reach its Android Venue 7 and Venue 8 slates, which both run Android 4.2.
"Dell continually assesses its product portfolio in each country where it does business and not all products are available in all countries. At present Dell doesn't have a timeline on whether the Android-based tablets will be made available in Western Europe, but continues to assess the opportunity in that region," a spokesperson told ZDNet.
Acer has no official timeline for the release of KitKat, a spokesman for the company said.
KitKit.
By Liam Tung |November 8, 2013 -- 11:53 GMT (03:53 PST)Sony appears to be ahead of the pack on rolling out Android 4.4 KitKat to its Android handsets, earmarking five Xperia devices that will get the OS. However, so far HTC is the only vendor to lay out a timeline for when its users can expect to see KitKat reach their smartphones.
Sony has just announced that it will be rolling out KitKat to its Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra, and Xperia Z1 devices. It hasn't given exact dates on when owners of the handsets will see the release, and notes that the phased rollout may vary by market and carrier. It's advised Xperia owners to keep an eye out on its @SonyMobileNews Twitter account for the specific timing of the updates.
However, most of those devices will get Jelly Bean first: Sony said it will also begin rolling out Android 4.3 over the next month to the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia ZR, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia SP, Xperia Z Ultra and Xperia Z1. Again, that may vary by market or carrier.
HTC has just begun rolling out Android 4.3 with Sense 5.5 to HTC One handsets in the UK, and is eyeing an early 2014 timeline for bringing KitKat.
"Across EMEA, HTC will work with local carriers to begin the roll-out of Android 4.4 with Sense 5.5 for the HTC One from end of January. The Google Play edition will start to receive the update earlier, starting from the end of November," a spokesperson told ZDNet.
HTC didn't have any details yet about the timing and version of Android for the HTC One max and the HTC One mini, but details will follow.
Samsung is staying tightlipped about its KitKat schedule for the Galaxy S4 and Note 3. However, Google has already confirmed that the Galaxy S4 with 4.4 should be coming soon. "Samsung UK will announce rollout plans for Android 4.4 in due course," a spokesperson told ZDNet.
While LG is behind Google's fast-moving Nexus 5, the Korean company hasnt released a schedule for its own Android devices, such as the G2 smartphone and G Pad tablet, as well as its Optimus range.
Motorola is also pushing KitKat out to its Moto X devices for AT&T and T-Mobile customers in the US, while Verizon will deliver KitKat to the Moto X, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, Droid Mini, though hasn't given a timeframe for what it will arrive.
Meanwhile, Dell has of yet provided no details about whether KitKat or Jelly Bean will reach its Android Venue 7 and Venue 8 slates, which both run Android 4.2.
"Dell continually assesses its product portfolio in each country where it does business and not all products are available in all countries. At present Dell doesn't have a timeline on whether the Android-based tablets will be made available in Western Europe, but continues to assess the opportunity in that region," a spokesperson told ZDNet.
Acer has no official timeline for the release of KitKat, a spokesman for the company said.
