Google has introduced that it’ll cease supporting Android KitKat in its new updates from August 2023. Android KitKat was first launched in 2013 and can lose help simply earlier than its tenth anniversary.
Explaining the rationality behind this transfer, Google mentioned that it has launched many new enhancements and options for Android and lots of of those enhancements usually are not obtainable on KitKat. Along with this, just one p.c of complete gadgets on Android KitKat are energetic at the moment.
From August, Play Providers will cease working with KitKat gadgets as Google will finish help for Android 4.4 (API ranges 19 & 20) in model 23.30.99 and later.
“The Android KitKat (KK) platform was first launched ~10 years in the past and since then, we’ve launched many revolutionary enhancements and options for Android, that are unavailable on KK. As of July 2023, the energetic gadget rely on KK is beneath 1% as increasingly more customers replace to the newest Android variations,” Google mentioned in a assertion.
“Subsequently, we’re now not supporting KK in future releases of Google Play companies. KK gadgets won’t obtain variations of the Play Providers APK past 23.30.99”, Google provides.
For the unversed, even when Android gadgets now not get OS updates each month, Google Play companies hold getting new variations for an extended time frame as they supply many new options to app builders and Google’s personal apps.
Again in 2013, Android added many vital options in KitKat equivalent to immersive full-screen mode, Fingers-free Google Now with a Full-screen widget, Native printer help, Subtitles and closed captioning help within the video participant, Higher dialer with fast dial and smarter caller ID, Emoji on the Google keyboard, and a Google Now web page on the house display screen.
Google final stopped Play companies help for Android Jelly Bean (API degree 16-18) in 2021 and mentioned that preserving help for outdated releases takes extra time for builders and testers to work on new options that want particular dealing with.
In the meantime, cell communication know-how will quickly have a giant enchancment as Android 14 will reportedly help SMS by way of satellite tv for pc characteristic on cell phones quickly.
Primarily based on a tweet by the Pixel #TeamPixel Twitter account, customers will possible get satellite tv for pc SMS help with Android 14 quickly, experiences Telephone Enviornment.
“Satellite tv for pc SMS, Android 14,” it tweeted.
Customers will have the ability to use their gadgets to ship and obtain SMS messages as soon as the replace is launched, even in areas the place mobile protection is proscribed or unavailable.
