HTC One getting Android 4.4 KitKat within 90 days
HTC has said that it plans to push the latest version of Google's Android operating system to its range of One smartphones as soon as possible, with all North American variants receiving the update in 90 days or less.
HTC has said that it plans to push the latest version of Google's Android operating system to its range of One smartphones as soon as possible, with all North American variants receiving the update in 90 days or less.
HTC North America boss Jason Mackenzie told Engadget that all carrier variants of its HTC One would be updated to Android 4.4 KitKat within three months, including the update going through various carrier certification processes. Senior global online communications manager at HTC, Jeff Gordon, tweeted on Friday:
No, I'm not ordering a Nexus 5 today, but I am looking forward to getting KitKat on my HTC One very, very soon.
— Jeff Gordon (@urbanstrata) October 31, 2013
He then confirmed to CNET UK that Android 4.4 would hit North American HTC Ones in under 90 days, with the HTC One mini and HTC One max to follow afterwards. The updated Android OS that HTC is pushing out will include Sense 5.5, HTC's updated Android skin; Sense 5.5 debuted on some Android 4.3 Jelly Bean releases internationally in late October.
HTC's Google Play Edition variant of the HTC One, which runs an unskinned, unlocked version of Android, should be receiving a KitKat update within a fortnight. Existing Google Nexus devices, such as the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10, as well as Samsung's Galaxy S4, should start to see the update in the same rough time frame.
Android 4.4 KitKat was released on Friday alongside the Google Nexus 5; as a Nexus device, the LG-manufactured 5-inch smartphone runs pure Android and will always be first in line for any operating system updates.
CNET has contacted HTC Australia to find out whether local Ones should be expecting an update within the next three months as well.