Android KitKat reaches its end as Google Play services discontinues support
Android KitKat reaches its end as Google Play services discontinues support
In a quick post, Google announced that it is no longer supporting Android KitKat in future releases of Google Play services.
That's some long-term support. If your iPhone doesn't get OS updates, it almost instantly turns into a brick. Android doesn't get updates for nearly as long, but you won't lose apps and stuff nearly as fast.
My Nexus 4 still runs Android 12 and gets all of the latest apps. Same with my Nexus 7.
Kinda crazy how long Android phones can outlast iPhones if you take a few minutes to root them.
Currently using my Nexus 4 as a WhatsApp server, and my Nexus 7 as a digital stream deck.
Sure, with custom ROMs you can carry phones much farther than intended, if you are lucky enough that your phone gets updated custom ROMs.
But I wouldn't equate 3rd-party support with 1st-party support.
Also, custom ROMs that provide newer Android versions than the original 1st-party support often don't upgrade everything, e.g. the kernel is usually not upgraded, which can cause issues in some circumstances.
But yeah, it's pretty great that there are people who spend their spare time to get newer versions of Android on old phones. Should be standard, that phone manufacturers are doing this themselves, sadly it's not.
You could still sideload apps to these, right? The apps themselves would have to be pretty old, though...
And with that, the absolutely best Android version that has ever been released is starting to get put on the side.
I personally found Nougat to be the best, and then they focuses more on UI than features. (They also stopped the naming after that)
They stopped after Pie (9).
Time to update my HP Touchpad.
Heh. Well that's interesting. I'm using an old mobile for my VOIP. Happens to be KitKat OS. Was able to extend it's life with a replacement battery off ebay, but VOIP softwares were starting to all update beyond the limits of my device anyway.