Android 4.4 Factory Images Now Available for Nexus 4, 7 (2012 and 2013), and 10
by Brian Klug on November 14, 2013 4:59 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Mobile
- Tablets
- Nexus 7
- Nexus 4
- Nexus 10
- Android 4.4
- KitKat
- Nexus 5
Although Google started its official rollout of Android 4.4 KitKat over the air updates to Nexus devices a few days ago, it always takes days or weeks before the updates hit most phones. For those of us who are impatient and don't care about wiping a device to get the latest version, there's another source, the factory images for Nexus devices page, home to stock images built for respective devices. Just a short while ago, Google updated the factory images page with links to KitKat images for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013, WiFi and Cellular), and Nexus 10.
Those three devices run build KRT16O, just slightly newer than the KRT16M running on the newly-released Nexus 5. One thing to note is that as expected, the Google Experience Launcher remains exclusive to the Nexus 5, so don't be disappointed when you load up a fresh version of KitKat on your other devices.
Nexus 4 running KitKat
If you absolutely need KitKat right away and don't mind that you'll be wiping your device back to a clean slate, this is the easy way to get it.
Source: Google
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danbob999 - Sunday, November 17, 2013 - link
Therefore there would be less fragmentation (it would be easier for developers to reach all devices) if all vendors (Apple included) switched to Android.MonkeyPaw - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link
From what I've read elsewhere, the Galaxy Nexus (which has a OMAP SOC) isn't supported because Texas Instruments is no longer in that area of business anymore.Drumsticks - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link
Holy cow somebody is angry. First of all, G Nexus came out in November 2011. Second of all, there's no official Android 4.4 because of the TI OMAP SoC which isn't being supported by TI. There are unofficial versions of it that you can get from around the internets if you're so inclined, so I hear.dragosmp - Friday, November 15, 2013 - link
Yes there are, and you can. CM is getting very easy to install, so it shouldn't be a problem.Eddytion - Friday, November 15, 2013 - link
I'm taking about nexus 4 man, where is the Google experience launcher? Where are the transparent bars and softkeys? Google fucked this up.Impulses - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
I'm not sure why two transparent UI elements is so crucial... Heck, even the GEL isn't exactly a revelation, not much difference in swiping left vs swiping up from home. Lots of people don't even like being forced into having a left-most home screen. Not forcing that change might be why they left it out, I mean, what should they do? Re-order your home screens? Delete some?You can just sideload the GEL if it's that crucial to you anyway, tho I have a gut feeling they'll put it in the Play store eventually, like a lot of their recent changes to stock elements of the OS.
Eddytion - Friday, November 15, 2013 - link
I'm not talking about galaxy nexus, I'm taking about nexus 4. What kind of updates did they do to 4.4 in nexus 4? Nothing imo. Little stuff that doesn't really matter that much to me. I was excited about the Google experience launcher, bigger icons and transparent bars. The ability to hide the soft buttons whenever you want. This is something what i was afraid of happening to google one dayImpulses - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
The ability to hide soft buttons is there, has nothing to do with launcher, it's app dependent.famewolf - Saturday, November 16, 2013 - link
If you absolutely have to have that launcher then run the Nexus 5 port on XDA-developer.com and quit complaining.tipoo - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link
I'd rather they not do the Apple method of slowing down old hardware with new OSs.