Kitkat Might Not Be So Sweet For Everyone

Long before KitKat released, there were rumors flying about how the update would end fragmentation and muster Android into its next phase as a big group of many devices running one OS. However, soon after release people began to be let down.

When it was announced that the Galaxy Nexus would not be updating to Android 4.4, the fanbase was outraged due to the fact that the GNex has double the RAM required to run the OS. It turns out that the GNex was just the first bit of sadness in a long line of disappointment. The plan for the future of Android seems to be updating future and current devices to Android 4.4, not older devices with the same specs.

It appears that everyone owning a phone with the proper specs released before 2012, like the Droid Bionic, Razr, Razr Maxx, GS2, and LG Optimus LTE will be stuck on Jelly Bean 4.1. Just what modern devices will be running on 512 MB of RAM in this day and age you may ask? Google's rumored Smartwatch, Google Glass, and bargain phones like Samsung's emerging market devices it has planned for next year.

The 18-month window is the excuse given by manufacturers when pressed about updates, which is disconcerting for people who have recently bought the relevant GS3, Note 2, HD Droids, or even the Nexus 4. Will KitKat be the last time Google's flagship from last year sees an OTA update? These issues are causing concern in the Android community and further reaffirming that the manufacturer cares more about selling devices than upgrading them for the best user experience for the consumer.

However, if KitKat is what you desire, KitKat is what you will get -- with Android developers working nonstop since the 4.4 release to make a version of KitKat for every person left behind by progress for progress's sake. Already there are alpha builds for the GNex, Nexus S, and the Motorola Defy. The reason many people like being a part of the Android community is the developers, and they've certainly not let us down this time -- even though someone did.