Android 4.4.3 KitKat fixes pesky camera drain issue

The biggest fix sorts out a pesky battery drain that could happen when an app would use the device's camera. It was damn annoying (especially if you have a pretty lacklustre battery to begin with) so we're glad it's now a thing of the past.

There's also a snazzy new dialer app, which is the one that leaked out a few months back.

On top of that, there are a few other bug fixes and various tweaks in there too but nothing groundbreaking.

Only a matter of time

We checked our in-office Nexus 5 and there was no sign of the update just yet.

It looks like, on a visual layer at least, there isn't a great deal of change on Android 4.4.3, with a refreshed Phone app the only difference currently reported - although you can expect various behind the scenes improvements.

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Samsung testing Android 4.4.3 on Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S4, outlines 4.4.2 update timeline for other devices

It looks like Samsung is already testing Android 4.4.3 on its current flagship, the Galaxy S5, and last year's Galaxy S4. Documents obtained by SamMobile reveal that the South Korean manufacturer is testing the as-yet unannounced Android update (which has a build number KTU70) on both the Snapdragon as well as the Exynos-powered variants of the Galaxy S5 in addition to the LTE-A variant of the Galaxy S4(GT-I9506A).

Along with the Android 4.4.3 update, the document reveals the timeline for when Android 4.4.2 KitKat will be available on other devices. The update is listed as being in the final stages of testing and is scheduled to roll out to the Galaxy Grand 2 and Galaxy Mega in the month of June. Android 4.4.2 has begun rolling out for the Galaxy S3 LTE (GT-I9305) earlier this month, while the document suggests that the Galaxy Note 3 Neo will receive the update later this month.

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What is Android?

Android is a mobile operating system that is based on a modified version of Linux. It was originally
developed by a start up of the same name, Android, Inc. In 2005, as part of its strategy to enter
the mobile space, Google purchased Android and took over its development work (as well as its
development team).
Google wanted Android to be open and free; hence, most of the Android code was released under
the open source Apache License, which means that anyone who wants to use Android can do so by
downloading the full Android source code. Moreover, vendors (typically hardware manufacturers)
can add their own proprietary extensions to Android and customize Android to differentiate their
products from others. This simple development model makes Android very attractive and has thus
piqued the interest of many vendors. This has been especially true for companies affected by the
phenomenon of Apple’s iPhone, a hugely successful product that revolutionized the smartphone
industry. Such companies include Motorola and Sony Ericsson, which for many years have been
developing their own mobile operating systems. When the iPhone was launched, many of these
manufacturers had to scramble to find new ways of revitalizing their products. These manufacturers
see Android as a solution — they will continue to design their own hardware and use Android as the
operating system that powers it.
The main advantage of adopting Android is that it offers a unified approach to application
development. Developers need only develop for Android, and their applications should be able
to run on numerous different devices, as long as the devices are powered using Android. In the
world of smartphones, applications are the most important part of the success chain. Device
manufacturers therefore see Android as their best hope to challenge the onslaught of the iPhone,
which already commands a large base of applications.

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