Newsletter
If you own a Sony Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact or the Xperia Z Ultra you are in luck. Because earlier this morning Sony Mobile confirmed that its beginning to roll-out the Android 4.4 KitKat update to your devices, which means you should start seeing update notifications appear relatively soon. If not, remember to you can check for an update manually via the About Device option in Settings. If the update hasn’t reached you yet, don’t panic; it’s doubtful that the update will suddenly appear for everyone at the same time, and remember that the arrival of your update will vary according to which country you are in, as well as which carrier you received your handset from.
Along with the standard performance and UI optimisations that you can expect from the latest and greatest version of Android, the update will include some new goodies from Sony, who have added their tweaked Status bar and Quick Settings, helping you only get the notifications that you actually need, as well as making it more intuitive, customisable and easier on the eye. Sony have updated their proprietary apps (which includes: Messaging, MyXperia, Smart Connect, Small apps, TrackID, TrackID TV, Sony Select, Smart Social Camera) to the latest versions, bringing tweaks and improved performance.
Sony’s Media applications also get revamped, with the Album, Movies and WALKMAN apps offering closer ties to Sony’s Entertainment Network cloud service, with better download speeds and a more intuitive UI giving users a better experience. The unique Xperia Themes app is present, which is a native Sony app allowing you to customise your Sony smart phone in a number of different ways; giving the user the ability to skin or change icons, folders and even the navigation bar, with the promise of more options to follow. After the update, if you own a PlayStation 4 as well, you should recognise the new user interface which offers the same launch animation and live-wallpaper across the lock and home screens. Sony really seem to be getting the idea of offering a seamless experience across their range of devices, which can only be a good thing for their fans.
Whilst the current update is currently only for the Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Z Ultra devices, Sony has some good news for owners of the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z as well as the Xperia ZR, stating that they expect to begin the Android 4.4 kitKat roll-out for these devices from sometime in May. Sony also stated that they are making a KitKat update available for the Xperia T2 Ultra, Xperia E1 and the Xperia M2, with details to follow closer to the time. If you’ve already received the KitKat update, hit us up in the comments or via our Google Plus page and let us know of any new features you’ve noticed or problems experienced during or after the update.