Hasta La Gadget!

Big Red likes to take its time when rolling out updates for devices, which means that users have to wait for quite a lot of time to get the latest software on their devices. Folks with LG’s existing flagship on Verizon can now get excited. The Verizon LG G2 Android 4.4.2 update has been released. It brings a host of improvements and tweaks as well as subtle user interface changes. The update will be rolled out over-the-air so it should pop up automatically on users’ devices.

Immediately after installing the update users will notice a new location menu as well as white status bar icons, this is staple on all KitKat updates. Other minor tweaks include improved visual voicemail, captions and color adjustment addition. Several things have been renamed in the update. For example, the “Magnification Gestures” label now reads “Touch Zoom.”

Verizon has tweeted that it is going to roll out Android 4.4.2 for LG G2 in phases. This means that the update would be available across all regions at the same time. Users will have to wait for it to go live in their particular region. Once it does, the Verizon LG G2 Android 4.4.2 update will be available for installation on the device itself.

Verizon LG G2 Android 4.4.2 Update Released

, original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, Android 4.4, LG G2, Verizon,

Last month Sony updated the Xperia Z1, Z Ultra and Z1 Compact to Android 4.4 KitKat. The company also confirmed that several other devices will receive the much awaited update in the second quarter of 2014. Q2 has started this month and it ends in June. Back then Sony didn’t give an exact month but now it has. The company has confirmed that Xperia Z, ZL, ZR and the Xperia Tablet Z will all be updated to Android 4.4 KitKat come May 2014.

Product pages for all of these devices have now been updated and they list May 2014 as the timeframe in which users can expect KitKat to drop. So far an exact date hasn’t been provided, but one can expect the update to roll out towards the end of the month. That is just a conservative assumption since an Android update goes through a number of steps before its finally ready to be rolled out.

Users of the aforementioned devices have waited for far too long. Initially it was believed that KitKat will be released for these devices in either February or March. Google released Android 4.4 KitKat late last year but it still yet to make its way to quite a lot of devices. Xperia owners only have to wait for a few weeks now though.

Xperia Z, ZL, ZR And Tablet Z Receive Android 4.4 Next Month , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, Tablets, Android 4.4, Sony, xperia,

A standalone Google Camera app has been launched today. Available for download from the Google Play Store, the app is quite different from the camera app that’s bundled with Android 4.4 KitKat. In its standalone app Google has kept the user interface quite clean to make the shutter button quite prominent while refining and improving the overall experience. Google promises that its an interface “that gets out of your way.”

The app comes with a new Lens Blur mode which offers a shallow depth of field to achieve “SLR-like photos.” Basically it replaces the need for a large optical system and instead uses computer vision algorithms and various optimization techniques to simulate larger lens and aperture. Other features include Google’s signature Photo Sphere, a useful feature if you like taking panoramic shots.

Google has also declared war on capturing video in portrait orientation. When the video camera is selected the app won’t start recording video until the user switches to landscape orientation. The app is supported by all Android devices that are capable of running version 4.4 KitKat or higher.

There’s a big advantage for both Google and the users. Since its a standalone app, users get more choice if they’re not content with the stock app. Google can freely add features to the app because its not baked into the OS, so it doesn’t need to roll out an entire firmware update. A simple app update is all that Google needs to add new features. Google Camera is available as a free download.

Google Launches Standalone Camera App For Android original content from Ubergizmo.

Whenever Google releases major Android firmware updates, OEMs rush to get them ready for their most recent devices. Android 4.4 KitKat was released late last year. The first few devices to receive said update were 2013 flagships. Once they get out of the way, the OEMs turn their attention towards other compatible devices. Motorola Droid Razr HD, Razr Maxx HD and Razr M were all released back in 2012. They’re weren’t exactly at the top of the list. Though Motorola has now confirmed that Android 4.4 KitKat for the 2012 Droid family will be released in the next few weeks.

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2012 Droid Family To Get Android 4.4 KitKat In The Near Future original content from Ubergizmo.

HTC has worked very hard to ensure that the KitKat update reaches its prominent devices promptly. Last year flagship, the HTC One, received KitKat back in February. HTC One Max owners haven’t been that lucky though, they’ve had to wait for quite a while even though Android 4.4 was released by Google late last year. Though it appears that the wait might soon be over for One Max owners on Big Red.

The company’s executive director of product management has announced on Twitter that they have received technical approval for Sense 5.5 and Android 4.4.2 KitKat update from the carrier in question, Verizon. He further adds that users should expect the over-the-air update to start rolling out tomorrow afternoon.

Apart from the visual tweaks in Sense 5.5 itself, the core OS update also brings quite a few visual enhancements. Certain new features will also be added, apart from improved security and system performance.

Given the fact that major updates like this are often rolled out in stages, it may take quite a while for Verizon HTC One Max Android 4.4.2 update to go live in your particular region. Even if the update notification doesn’t immediately pop up on your device, rest assured, it will do so in a couple of days after Monday at the very least.

Verizon HTC One Max Android 4.4.2 Release Possible Tomorrow , original content from Ubergizmo, Filed in Cellphones, Android 4.4, htc one max, Verizon,