Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat Update

While most of the attention right now is being lavished on the still unreleased Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update, there are likely to be some owners who are looking ahead, further into the future, about a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update. Here, we offer some early expectations for those that are looking beyond Android 4.3 at Android 4.4.

All the way back in August of last year, Samsung announced the Galaxy Note 2, its second-generation phablet and a device that was considered one of the best smartphones on the market until the Galaxy Note 3 replaced it in September. At the time it released, the Galaxy Note 2 was using Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, meaning it was one of the first devices to utilize the update out of the box.

December could bring the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update release in some regions, with Galaxy Note 3 features.

Many owners believed that they would then be getting the upgrade to Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, an update that was announced just a few weeks after the Galaxy Note 2 arrived on shelves in the United States. Rumors suggested that it would be Android 4.2 Jelly Bean that would be coming in the summer. Unfortunately, the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean update never came and Galaxy Note 2 owners are still waiting for their first major Android upgrade.

Last month, Samsung revealed that it indeed skipped Android 4.2 and headed straight to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update, it said, would be rolling out with a host of new features including Galaxy Gear support, Samsung KNOX, and more. Leaks suggest that it will be coming with some Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 software features as well.

Galaxy Note 2 users still have not seen a roll out though signs point to one touching down in the next few weeks. The software is expected to deploy to owners before the end of the year and thus, most Galaxy Note 2 owners are keeping an eye out for their brand new update.

Others though are likely looking deeper into the future thanks to the Android 4.4 KitKat update that Google announced back in October and released just a few days later on the Nexus 5. A Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update hasn’t been announced just yet but we wanted to take a close, early look at what we expect from the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update and its release date.

A GALAXY NOTE 2 ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT UPDATE
At this point, we haven’t seen Samsung confirm any Android 4.4 KitKat updates and we don’t expect it to any time soon. Why? Well, for one, it’s in the middle of its Android 4.3 Jelly Bean deployment. We haven’t seen the updates for the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 finish and so we don’t expect it to turn its attention, at least publicly, to Android 4.4 until after those updates are completed.

Samsung also isn’t known to announce its upgrade plans well advance. The Android 4.3 update was an exception due to it being a massive upgrade for all three devices. The Galaxy Gear is an integral part of Samsung’s lineup right now and it wanted to make sure that users knew that support was coming ahead of the holidays.

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So, we’re in the dark. However, we have seen one rumor suggest that the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update is coming. That’s a good sign. It’s also a good sign that the Android 4.3 update represents the first major update for the Galaxy Note 2. We sincerely doubt that Samsung will only offer one big update for a device as widely adopted as the Galaxy Note 2. That wouldn’t sit well with customers and in a market as competitive as the smartphone market, that’s never a good thing.

At this point, we expect there to be a Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update but we don’t think that it’s going to be touching down any time soon.

GALAXY NOTE 2 ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT UPDATE IN 2014
If the update does roll out, we expect it to debut sometime next year. For one, we’re getting close to the end of the year and we still haven’t seen the Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update roll out. So unless Samsung is planning on releasing the software back-to-back, something that is highly unlikely, we should see the update pushed to 2014.

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We’ve also seen the issues that Samsung is having with the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update. That update and the Galaxy S3′s are fairly similar, save for a few features, so it could be that the Galaxy Note 2 update has been delayed a bit so that Samsung can work on fixes. That’s not confirmed and purely speculative at this point.

Point here is this. Not only are there signs pointing to 2014 but Galaxy Note updates in general are slow so unless Samsung skips Android 4.3, we likely won’t see Android 4.4 until next year.

ROLL OUT AFTER GALAXY S5 RELEASE
Those who need more evidence need only look at Samsung’s release patterns. Typically, the carrier will introduce a new flagship with a new piece of software on board. For example, we saw the Galaxy S4 arrive with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean before any other device. We also saw the Galaxy Note 3 come with Android 4.3 before any other Samsung smartphone.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is rumored for February.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 release date is rumored for February.

Whether it’s for marketing purposes or otherwise, this is a growing trend at Samsung. And at this point, there is little doubt that the Galaxy S5 will be coming with anything other than Google’s brand new Android 4.4 KitKat update.

With that in mind, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Samsung hold off on updates for its older phones until after the Galaxy S5 is released next year. Rumors suggest that that could take place in February so if true, it may be that owners of older devices don’t have to wait long.

ROLL OUT AFTER GALAXY S3 RELEASE
We’ll go even further. We expect there to be a Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update. And if that’s the case, we expect the Galaxy Note 2 to get its update after the Galaxy S3. Why? Well, Samsung’s focus is typically on its more widely adopted devices and the Galaxy S3 is reportedly the most widely adopted smartphone in its arsenal. Even bigger than the Galaxy S4.

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So, while the Galaxy S4 is newer, and should get Android 4.4 KitKat first, we fully expect the Galaxy S3 Android 4.4 KitKat update to arrive before the Galaxy Note 2′s update. Keep in mind, this exact thing just happened with the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 update roll out.

BIGGER GAP BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL AND U.S.
Surprisingly, the U.S. has been and will be, much faster to the Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.3 updates. Typically, we see the U.S. lag behind by a few weeks, sometimes even a few months. In the case of Android 4.3, it has been right up there with the other regions of the world. And while it could be that these carriers, and Samsung, have made strides, we think there are ulterior motives at work here.

GalaxyGear_002-575x383

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean brings support for the $299 Galaxy Gear smartwatch. This is a device that all five major U.S. carriers sell and it’s a device that figures to be promoted as a holiday gift during Black Friday and beyond. Without Android 4.3, Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 owners have no use for the accessory. So in our mind, that’s certainly a reason why we’re seeing these updates roll out.

That said, we doubt that Android 4.4 KitKat will offer the same kind of incentive to Samsung and its carriers. So, we expect U.S. carriers to revert to their old ways and release the Android 4.4 KitKat update much further away from the international roll outs. We do, however, have our fingers crossed.

FIVE MAJOR U.S. CARRIERS ON BOARD WITH ANDROID 4.4
If the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Android 4.4 KitKat update does roll out, there is no chance that it will skip one of the major carriers in the United States. AT&T, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, T-Mobile and Verizon will either all roll it out or all skip it as they won’t want to offer their rivals any kind of advantage.

Expect an improved camera with supporting software.

Of course, users should expect staggered roll outs with some of these carriers releasing their software quick and others lagging behind. Sprint is typically the fastest to software updates so we expect it to lead the charge.

ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT UPDATE PROBLEMS
Finally, Galaxy Note 2 users should expect there to be Android 4.4 KitKat update issues. As we’ve pointed out many times over, software updates are never perfect and Galaxy Note 2 owners should not expect the KitKat update to be flawless.

Instead, we should see some issues on board and it will be up to users to find a good place for feedback and up to Samsung to release bug fix updates to fix any issues it overlooked. Hopefully, the situation isn’t as bad as the Galaxy S3 Android 4.3 roll out, a roll out that has been marred by issues ever since the update arrived earlier this month.

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Could the iPhone 6 have a screen made of SAPPHIRE?

Apple announces deal to open facility that develops super strong displays

Rumours are already hinting at the fact Apple’s next handset, dubbed iPhone 6, will have a full HD Retina Display and now new reports suggest this display could be made of sapphire glass.

These claims have been made because Apple recently announced plans to open a mineral plant in Arizona with sapphire glass experts GT Advanced Technologies.

The facility is expected to employ around 700 people to manufacture sapphire crystal and sapphire glass, and this technology could make its way onto the screens of the next iPhone.

Apple has announced plans to open a mineral plant in Arizona and with sapphire glass experts GT Advanced Technologies. The facility is expected to manufacture sapphire crystal and sapphire glass, and this technology could make its way onto the screens of the next iPhone, artists impression of the iPhone 6 pictured

Apple already uses sapphire crystal in the Touch ID fingerprint scanner of its latest iPhone 5S. Apple additionally protects the camera on the iPhone with a small piece of this super-strong material. 

The technology is traditionally used in watch displays because it is thin, hard-wearing and scratch resistant. 

As a result, sapphire glass could potentially replace Gorilla Glass currently used in most high-end smartphones.

Synthetic sapphire is a hard, transparent material made of crystallising aluminium oxide, produced at high temperatures.

As the material is heated, it forms disks that can be sliced using diamond-coated saws.These round disks are ground into shape, and polished, to become glass.

Reports Apple was experimenting with sapphire displays began last year, yet sources claimed at the time Apple found the technology ‘infeasible.

This was because sapphire glass is more expensive to produce than normal screens.

The plans to build the plant could equally be less about creating sapphire screens, and more about mass producing the firm's Touch ID technology.

It’s likely any future models of the iPhone and iPad will feature the biometric technology introduced on the iPhone 5S and Apple will need a plant to be able to produce a lot of the material, quickly.

In a statement about the announcement, GT Advanced Technologies said: ‘Although the agreement does not guarantee volumes, it does require GT to maintain a minimum level of capacity.’

While an Apple spokesman added: We are proud to expand our domestic manufacturing initiative with a new facility in Arizona, creating more than 2,000 jobs in engineering, manufacturing and construction.

‘This new plant will make com

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iPhone 6 May Bring Faster, Samsung Style Releases

The iPhone 6 release could come faster and Apple could offer multiple iPhone launches in a single calendar year according to a note to investors shared after a meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer.

Apple released two iPhones in 2013, but did so on the same day with a clear distinction between the two. The iPhone 5s is Apple’s flagship iPhone while the iPhone 5c is a cheaper, mid-range option that offers last year’s tech in a new design.

According this new report from Katy Huberty, an analyst with Morgan Stanley, this set the stage for faster updates to the iPhone line, similar to the fast iPad 3 to iPad 4 release in 2012. Unlike most analyst notes which focus on the supply chain and other sources, Apple Insider reports that Huberty came to this conclusion after a meeting with Cook and Oppenheimer.

Huberty’s note states that Apple is ready for, “multiple refreshes per year,” of the iPhone line, but doesn’t quote either Apple leader on record with a specific plan for a fast iPhone 6 release or even faster iPhone 7.

According to a new report Apple may adopt a faster iPhone release cycle which could bring two iPhone 6 models or an iPhone 6 and a new iPhone to users in the same year.
According to a new report Apple may adopt a faster iPhone release cycle which could bring two iPhone 6 models or an iPhone 6 and a new iPhone to users in the same year.

Apple committed over half a billion dollars to a U.S. based company recently to develop Sapphire glass technology which could be a part of a new iPhone, possibly the iPhone 6 according to conjecture.

If Apple shifts to a multiple iPhone per year strategy the company would need to execute the releases in a manner that doesn’t leave consumers constantly waiting for the next iPhone or angry that Apple held a feature back for a newer device. This was a major issue for Android smartphones in the 2011, with Motorola as the worst offender. Motorola announced the Droid Bionic at CES in January 2011 and delayed it until September 2011 when many consumers quickly purchased the device. Less than two months later Motorola launched the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX, with better designs, features and support, leaving many customers angry at the fast release.

The dual release strategy is working for Samsung, thanks to a very focused approach which Apple may be planning to copy. Samsung launches the Galaxy S series in the first half of the year and the Note series in the later half. The to devices are different enough that consumers do not need to choose between the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S4 in the same way that harmed fast releases from Samsung in earlier years.

Analysts agree that Apple is working on a larger display for the iPhone 6, and a recent NPD DisplaySearch report points to two iPhone models in 2014. While it’s not clear if both of these are an iPhone 6, the report claims we will see a 4.7-inch iPhone with a 720P display and a larger 5.7-inch iPhone with a 1080P display.

Anecdotal reports from Gotta Be Mobile readers and conversations with consumers show demand for an iNote or Galaxy Note 3 sized iPhone 6. By offering multiple iPhone models with distinct sizes and target users Apple could pull off a multiple iPhone 6 release cycle and avoid a lawsuit like the one filed after the fast iPad 4 release.

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iOS 7.1 Update Predictions (iPhone & iPad)

Whilst most of the fresh characteristics of which The search engines highlighted using Android 5. 5 KitKat tend to be under-the-hood advancements many may not comprehend will probably result in massive improvements, The search engines has brought the time for you to high light how a fresh dialer iphone app provides much more information as compared to the idea ever possesses previously.

This Android 5. 5 KitKat dialer features a fresh Unknown caller IDENTITY function of which taps in to Google+ files. This dialer joins using The search engines Sites item listings so that it is able to see business numbers and tell people as soon as getting a good newly arriving phone, looked after joins for you to The search engines Programs domains to show as soon as an individual from function cell phone calls.

By far the most intriguing part of the particular KitKat dialer can be it will become displaying page information for individuals future season. Starting in "early 2014, inches Google+ photos using page information will be as soon as receiving a call at a amount of a The search engines bank account. Android already sustains exhibiting page photos from buddies about Google+, but this specific function works even if a good newly arriving phone seriously isn't from an individual in the owner's Google+ sectors. And so in case a family alternate business charge cards about Saturday and do not turn into on the web buddies, the particular harasser IDENTITY will probably still display his / her identify and picture. Google+ people will probably have the option involving devoid of their information found.

The search engines has already applied the particular changes apart from the personal Google+ harasser IDENTITY function. In addition, it added a fresh look for function that creates obtaining numbers much easier. Consumers can look for involving business or maybe a corporation's index when the telephone can be associated with a The search engines Programs bank account. This dialer can be obtained at this point regarding Android 5. 5 KitKat units, which often thus far is restricted for the Nexus 5.

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Android 4.4 KitKat dialer will add Google+ Caller ID and enhanced search options

While many of the new features that Google highlighted with Android 4.4 KitKat are under-the-hood enhancements that many may not realize will lead to big improvements, Google has taken the time to highlight how the new dialer app will provide more information than it ever has in the past.

The Android 4.4 KitKat dialer features a new Caller ID function that taps into Google+ data. The dialer connects with Google Places listings so it can see business numbers and notify users when receiving an incoming call, and it also connects to Google Apps domains to show when someone from work calls.

The most interesting aspect of the KitKat dialer is that it will start showing profile information for people next year. Beginning in "early 2014," Google+ photos with profile information will appear when receiving a phone call from a number associated with a Google account. Android already supports showcasing profile photos from friends on Google+, but this feature will work even if an incoming call is not from someone in a user's Google+ circles. So if two people exchange business cards on Wednesday and don't become online friends, the caller ID will still show his or her name and photo. Google+ users will have the option of not having their information shown.

Google has already implemented the changes other than the personal Google+ caller ID function. It also added a new search feature that makes finding numbers easier. Users can search of business or a company's directory if the phone is linked to a Google Apps account. The dialer is available now for Android 4.4 KitKat devices, which so far is limited to the Nexus 5.

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