Editing Android OS (section)

=== Android 4.4 KitKat ===
{{Main|Android KitKat}}
{{anchor|KitKat|Android 4.4|Android KitKat|Key Lime Pie|4.4}}

Google announced Android 4.4 [[Kit Kat|KitKat]] on September 3, 2013. Although initially under the "Key Lime Pie" ("KLP") codename, the name was changed because "very few people actually know the taste of a [[key lime pie]]."<ref name=KitkatBBC>{{cite news |last=Kelion |first=Leo |title=Android KitKat announced |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23926938 |access-date=September 3, 2013 |work=BBC News |date=September 3, 2013 |archive-date=September 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904070600/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23926938 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some technology bloggers also expected the "Key Lime Pie" release to be Android 5.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=TechRadar |url=https://www.techradar.com/us/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/android-5-0-key-lime-pie-release-date-news-and-rumours-1091500 |title=Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie release date, news and rumors |date=July 2, 2013 |access-date=July 22, 2013 |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114142313/https://www.techradar.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> KitKat debuted on Google's [[Nexus 5]] on October 31, 2013, and was optimized to run on a greater range of devices than earlier Android versions, having 512&nbsp;MB of RAM as a recommended minimum; those improvements were known as "Project Svelte" internally at Google.<ref name="Nexus 5 review">{{cite news |last=Molen |first=Brad |title=Engadget review the Nexus 5 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/11/05/nexus-5-review/ |publisher=Engadget |date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109020218/http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/05/nexus-5-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The required minimum amount of RAM available to Android is 340&nbsp;MB, and all devices with less than 512&nbsp;MB of RAM must report themselves as "low RAM" devices.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|+ Android 4.4 KitKat (API 19)
|-
! style="width:2%;" | Version
! style="width:11%;" | Release date
! style="width:87%;" | Features
|-
| 4.4
| October 31, 2013<ref name="Android 4.4 KitKat">[http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/android-for-all-and-new-nexus-5.html "Android for all and the new Nexus 5 "] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031201143/http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/10/android-for-all-and-new-nexus-5.html |date=October 31, 2013 }}. Google Official Blog. October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.</ref><ref name="androiddev-44">{{cite web |title=Android KitKat |url=http://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html |work=Android Developers Portal |access-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-date=October 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031184317/https://developer.android.com/about/versions/kitkat.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
* Refreshed interface with white elements instead of blue.
* Clock no longer shows bold hours; all digits are thin. The H, M, and S markings for the stopwatch and timer have been removed, leaving just the numbers.
* Ability for applications to trigger translucency in the navigation and status bars.<ref name="verge-n5handson">{{cite news |title=Google's Nexus 5 with KitKat available today, starting at $349: hands-on impressions |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/31/5049068/googles-nexus-5-with-android-kit-kat-available-today-starting-349 |work=The Verge |author=Bonn, Dieter |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114142414/https://www.theverge.com/2013/10/31/5049068/googles-nexus-5-with-android-kit-kat-available-today-starting-349 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Ability for applications to use "immersive mode" to keep the navigation and status bars hidden while maintaining user interaction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/10/31/kitkat-feature-spotlight-apps-can-now-go-truly-full-screen-hide-the-navigation-bar/ |title=KitKat Feature Spotlight: Apps Can Now Go Truly Full-Screen, Hide The Navigation Bar |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=November 3, 2013 |author=David Ruddock |publisher=androidpolice.com |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103011505/http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/10/31/kitkat-feature-spotlight-apps-can-now-go-truly-full-screen-hide-the-navigation-bar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Action overflow menu buttons are always visible, even on devices with a "Menu" key, which was officially deprecated by Android 4.0.<ref name="phonearena-overflowgone">{{cite web |title=Android menu button now on by default on all device with KitKat |url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-menu-button-now-on-by-default-on-all-device-with-KitKat_id50179 |publisher=PhoneArena.com |date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213081334/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-menu-button-now-on-by-default-on-all-device-with-KitKat_id50179 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Write access disabled for user-installed applications on external storage (i.e. [[MicroSD]]), except for their own directories inside <code>Android/data</code>.<ref>[https://www.androidauthority.com/fix-kitkat-sdcard-issue-app-sdfix-358844/ ''"Got the KitKat SD card blues? Solve the problem with SDFix (root required)"''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808155150/https://www.androidauthority.com/fix-kitkat-sdcard-issue-app-sdfix-358844/ |date=August 8, 2021 }} – Android Authority, March 18, 2014 (article includes details of restriction)</ref><ref name="4.4storage">{{Cite web |url=https://source.android.com/devices/storage/ |title=External Storage &#124; Android Developers |date=May 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509021632/https://source.android.com/devices/storage/|archive-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref>
* Purging of app data directories in user storage (internal user storage and MicroSD) upon uninstallation<ref name="4.4storage"/>
* Optimizations for performance on devices with lower specifications, including [[zram|zRAM]] support and "low RAM" device API.<ref name="Nexus 5 review"/>
* Wireless printing capability.<ref name="Nexus 5 review"/>
* NFC [[host card emulation]], enabling a device to replace [[smart card]]s.<ref name="Nexus 5 review"/>
* WebViews are now based on the [[Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]] engine (feature parity with [[Google Chrome for Android|Chrome for Android]] 30).
* Expanded functionality for notification listener services.<ref name="Nexus 5 review"/>
* Public API for developing and managing [[Short Message Service|text messaging]] clients.<ref name="adb-kitkatsms">{{cite web |title=Getting Your SMS Apps Ready for KitKat |url=http://android-developers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/getting-your-sms-apps-ready-for-kitkat.html |work=Android Developers Blog |access-date=October 14, 2013 |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015024734/http://android-developers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/getting-your-sms-apps-ready-for-kitkat.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Storage Access Framework, an API allowing apps to retrieve files in a consistent manner. As part of the framework, a new system file picker allows users to access files from various sources (including those exposed by apps, such as online storage services).<ref name="anandtech-sdkitkat"/>
* New framework for UI transitions.
* Sensor batching, step detector and counter APIs.<ref name="Nexus 5 review"/>
* Settings application now makes it possible to select default text messaging and the home (launcher) application.
* Audio tunneling, audio monitoring and loudness enhancer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-4.4-brings-support-for-low-power-audio-playback_id48948 |title=Android 4.4 brings support for low-power audio playback |publisher=PhoneArena.com |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110130344/http://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-4.4-brings-support-for-low-power-audio-playback_id48948 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Built-in screen recording feature (primarily for developers, as usage of [[Android Debug Bridge|ADB]] is required).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57610905-285/how-to-record-your-screen-on-android-4.4-kitkat/ |title=How to record your screen on Android 4.4 KitKat |date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=January 4, 2014 |author=Jason Cipriani |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=CNET |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104222416/http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57610905-285/how-to-record-your-screen-on-android-4.4-kitkat/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Native [[infrared blaster]] API.
* Verified boot.
* Enforcing [[SELinux]].
* Expanded accessibility APIs and system-level [[closed captioning]] settings.
* [[Android Runtime]] (ART) introduced as a new experimental application [[runtime environment]], not enabled by default, as a replacement for the [[Dalvik (software)|Dalvik]] virtual machine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://source.android.com/devices/tech/dalvik/index.html |title=Android Developers: ART and Dalvik |date=March 9, 2015 |access-date=March 19, 2015 |website=source.android.com |archive-date=March 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315163429/http://source.android.com/devices/tech/dalvik/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Message Access Profile|Bluetooth Message Access Profile]] (MAP) support.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/10/31/kitkat-feature-spotlight-android-finally-supports-bluetooth-map-will-make-bluetooth-integration-with-your-car-suck-a-lot-less/ |title=KitKat Feature Spotlight: Android Finally Supports Bluetooth MAP, Will Make Bluetooth Integration With Your Car Suck A Lot Less |author=David Ruddock |date=October 31, 2013 |access-date=November 2, 2013 |publisher=Android Police |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102201043/http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/10/31/kitkat-feature-spotlight-android-finally-supports-bluetooth-map-will-make-bluetooth-integration-with-your-car-suck-a-lot-less/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Disabled access to battery statistics by third-party applications.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=61975 |title=Android Issue 61975: Undo removal of access to BATTERY_STATS permission for apps |date=November 2013 |access-date=January 29, 2014 |archive-date=December 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210214042/https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=61975 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Settings application no longer uses a multi-pane layout on devices with larger screens.
* Wi-Fi and mobile data activity (TX/RX) indicators are moved to quick settings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=61834 |title=Android Issue 61834: 4.4 KitKat reception/Wifi indicators no longer show data rx/tx during operation |date=November 2013 |access-date=February 20, 2014 |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413183216/https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=61834 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Disables text wrapping in the WebView browser component.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=62378 |title=Android Issue 62378: KitKat WebView text wrap no longer works |website=code.google.com |access-date=October 28, 2014 |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021095502/https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=62378 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 4.4.1
| December 5, 2013<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/refs/tags/android-4.4.1_r1 |title=refs/tags/android-4.4.1_r1 – platform/system/core – Git at Google |website=android.googlesource.com |access-date=May 19, 2021 |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114142414/https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/refs/tags/android-4.4.1_r1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://plus.google.com/+Nexus/posts/YW8sTPpVN8W |title=Android 4.4.1 Released to Nexus 5 |date=December 5, 2013 |access-date=December 5, 2013 |publisher=Google Plus |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114142322/https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/04/new-community-features-for-google-chat-and-an-update-currents%20.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
* Better application compatibility for the experimental Android Runtime (ART).
* Camera application now loads Google+ Photos instead of Gallery when swiping away from the camera view.
* Miscellaneous improvements and bug fixes.
|-
| 4.4.2
| December 9, 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/12/09/android-4-4-2-kot49h-is-already-rolling-out-to-nexus-devices-here-are-the-ota-zip-links-for-manual-updating/ |title=Android 4.4.2 (KOT49H) Is Already Rolling Out To All Nexus Devices – Here Are The OTA ZIP Links For Manual Updating |date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=December 9, 2013 |author=Artem Russakovskii |publisher=Android Police |archive-date=December 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210035532/http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/12/09/android-4-4-2-kot49h-is-already-rolling-out-to-nexus-devices-here-are-the-ota-zip-links-for-manual-updating/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
* Further security enhancements and bug fixes.
* Removal of the "[[App Ops]]" application permissions control system, introduced in Android 4.3.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/12/google-removes-vital-privacy-features-android-shortly-after-adding-them |title=Google Removes Vital Privacy Feature From Android, Claiming Its Release Was Accidental |date=December 12, 2013 |access-date=December 14, 2013 |author=Peter Eckersley |publisher=Electronic Frontier Foundation |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213220101/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2013/12/google-removes-vital-privacy-features-android-shortly-after-adding-them |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 4.4.3
| June 2, 2014<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/refs/tags/android-4.4.3_r1 |title=refs/tags/android-4.4.3_r1 – platform/system/core – Git at Google |website=android.googlesource.com |access-date=May 19, 2021 |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114142335/https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/refs/tags/android-4.4.3_r1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/06/google-releases-android-4-4-3-to-nexus-devices/ |title=Google releases Android 4.4.3 to Nexus devices |date=June 2, 2014 |access-date=June 2, 2014 |author=Ron Amadeo |publisher=Ars Technica |archive-date=June 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603165300/http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/06/google-releases-android-4-4-3-to-nexus-devices/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
* Refreshed the Dialer app's interface.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.droid-life.com/2014/06/02/fresh-new-dialer-arrives-in-android-4-4-3/ |title=Fresh New Dialer Arrives in Android 4.4.3 |date=June 2, 2014 |access-date=June 2, 2014 |author=Kellex |publisher=Droid Life |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606052307/http://www.droid-life.com/2014/06/02/fresh-new-dialer-arrives-in-android-4-4-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Updated the Chromium-based WebView to version 33 (screencasting to DevTools, HTML5 Canvas hardware acceleration performance improvements, vibration API, HTML5 form validation, and an HTML5 datalist).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://plus.google.com/+AndroidDevelopers/posts/EfKRBGm19dT |title=Android 4.4.3 aka KitKat MR2 is rolling out – Google+ |date=June 3, 2014 |access-date=June 4, 2014 |author=Android Developers |publisher=Android Developers (Google+) |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114142315/https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2023/04/new-community-features-for-google-chat-and-an-update-currents%20.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Miscellaneous improvements and bug fixes.
|-
| 4.4.4
| June 19, 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.droid-life.com/2014/06/19/whoa-android-4-4-4-factory-images-posted-as-build-kut84p/ |title=Whoa: Android 4.4.4 Factory Images Posted as Build KTU84P |date=June 19, 2014 |access-date=June 19, 2014 |author=Kellex |publisher=Droid Life |archive-date=June 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621023430/http://www.droid-life.com/2014/06/19/whoa-android-4-4-4-factory-images-posted-as-build-kut84p/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
* [[CVE-2014-0224]] fixed, eliminating an [[OpenSSL]] [[man-in-the-middle attack|man-in-the-middle]] vulnerability.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/06/19/google-rolling-out-android-4-4-4-update-ktu84p-with-a-security-fix-factory-imagesbinaries-up-for-nexus-devices/ |title=Google Rolling Out Android 4.4.4 Update (KTU84P) With A Security Fix, Factory Images/Binaries Up For Nexus Devices |date=June 19, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2014 |author=Ryan Whitwam |publisher=androidpolice.com |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625085901/http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/06/19/google-rolling-out-android-4-4-4-update-ktu84p-with-a-security-fix-factory-imagesbinaries-up-for-nexus-devices/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

==== Android 4.4W KitKat, with wearable extensions ====
{{Main|Wear OS}}
{{anchor|Android 4.4W|4.4W}}

On June 24, 2014, a version of Android KitKat exclusive to Android Wear devices was released.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|+ Android 4.4W KitKat, with wearable extensions (API 20)
|-
! style="width:2%;" | Version
! style="width:11%;" | Release date
! style="width:87%;" | Features
|-
| 4.4W<ref name="Wear source code">{{cite web |last1=Rob |first1=Triggs |title=Google uploads part of the Android Wear source code to AOSP |date=July 22, 2014 |url=http://www.androidauthority.com/android-wear-source-code-aosp-408276/ |publisher=Android Authority |access-date=July 22, 2014 |archive-date=July 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726221313/http://www.androidauthority.com/android-wear-source-code-aosp-408276/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| June 25, 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidauthority.com/android-wear-io-official-397096/ |title=Android Wear platform fully unveiled at I/O 2014 |author=Andrew Grush |publisher=Android Authority |date=September 6, 2014 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |archive-date=March 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323025103/http://www.androidauthority.com/android-wear-io-official-397096/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|
* Initial release of the Android Wear platform for [[smartwatch]]es: the same as Android 4.4 "KitKat", but with wearable extensions added.
|-
| 4.4W.1
| September 6, 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/09/09/samsung-gear-live-updated-to-android-wear-4-4-w-1-build-kgw42n-heres-whats-new/ |title=Samsung Gear Live Updated To Android Wear 4.4W.1 Build KGW42N: Here's What's New |date=September 6, 2014 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |author=Michael Crider |publisher=Android Police |archive-date=January 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119203934/http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/09/09/samsung-gear-live-updated-to-android-wear-4-4-w-1-build-kgw42n-heres-whats-new/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
* UI updates for Google Maps navigation and alarms.
|-
| 4.4W.2
| October 21, 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/10/21/android-wear-4-4w-2-build-knx01q-starts-rolling-lg-g-watch-brings-offline-music-gps-support-though-cant-use-latter/ |title=Android Wear 4.4W.2 Build KNX01Q Starts Rolling Out For The LG G Watch, Brings Offline Music And GPS Support (Though You Can't Use The Latter) |date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |author=Rita El Khoury |publisher=Android Police |archive-date=January 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107131422/http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/10/21/android-wear-4-4w-2-build-knx01q-starts-rolling-lg-g-watch-brings-offline-music-gps-support-though-cant-use-latter/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|
* Offline music playback.
* GPS support.
|}