Smartphone leader, Samsung has reportedly released the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS update to company's mid-range phablet Galaxy Note 3 Neo in India.
The new update (build number: KOT49H.N750XXUCNG6) with a size of 495.61 MB, has been rolled out for Galaxy Note 3 Neo via OTA (Over-The-Air) and it also available through Samsung Kies PC companion application for manual downloading, reported AndroidOS.in.
Users can check for updates on the phone by:
Going to Applications >> Settings >> About Device >> Software update > Check for update
[Note: Since the roll-out procedure is carried through phases, it will take some time to get updates to certain regions; if history is any guide, it won't take not more than a handful of days to cover all the regions of India]
The chocolate-wafer flavoured Android update reportedly brings in enhanced user-interface, camera and music album short-cuts at lock-screen, new launcher settings menu, smarter caller ID, more organised message grouping (Hangouts), quick access to settings, colourful Emoji characters on keyboard, voice search, Quickoffice word document app, wireless cloud printing (only with select HP printers) and many more improvements.
Last month, the company had released the new 4.4.2 KitKat firmware to Galaxy Grand 2, bringing similar features to the mid-range smartphone.[Read full report, here].
So far, Samsung has rolled out the new OS update to Samsung Galaxy S4, Note 3 and Note 2, whereas the company has officially abandoned to provide software update to 2012 flagship smartphone Samsung Galaxy S3 due to limited RAM capacity.
Key features of Android v4.4 KitKat OS update:
Improved Caller-ID: If a user receives a call from an unknown number, the phone will look for matches on the net with local listings via Google Maps.
Priority Contacts: The new OS empowers the phone to automatically prioritize contact list for easy access, based on the frequency of the peoples' contacts to which users talk.
Immersive display: To enhance the entertainment factor, the new OS comes with immersive mode, where the status bar and navigation buttons disappear into the background while you play music, games and read e-books. Users can just swipe the edge of the screen to bring back the utility buttons.
Location Menu: This integrated location menu enables users easily activate GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile networks, while simultaneously keeping a tab on the battery consumption by the location service-based apps.
Enhanced Message grouping: Google has brought in some improvements to the new Hangouts app; now, users can find all their SMS and MMS, audio and video call details all at one place. You can also share the location and send animated GIFs.
Emoji Characters: Initially users had to install third-party apps to use colourful characters in their SMS. Now, with KitKat update, the keypad comes pre-loaded with native Japanese Emoji emotion icons.
Enhanced Google Mobile Service (GMS) apps: This application helps user to automatically back-up photos and video clips. He/she also can create, view, share rename Google Docs and files.
NFC and Wireless Printing: Google's new OS comes with a new Quickoffice app where in people can create and store word documents in cloud storage as well as print files wirelessly on NFC-enabled HP printers.
Multi-tasking: With efficient memory management, users can multi-task by opening multiple applications; Listen to music while you can browse through the net.
Performance: Like all software updates, the new KitKat enhances smartphone's performance as well as efficient RAM management, leading to increase in battery life.
