The Android KitKat (KK) platform was first released ~10 years ago and since then, we’ve introduced many innovative improvements and features for Android, which are unavailable on KK. As of July 2023, the active device count on KK is below 1% as more and more users update to the latest Android versions. Therefore, we are no longer supporting KK in future releases of Google Play services. KK devices will not receive versions of the Play Services APK beyond 23.30.99.
Is anyone here still using KitKat? 🤔
KitKat had a good life. It was the first android version I used and has a special place in my heart.
Same
My first was Froyo. Thinking back to pre Honeycomb (Ice Cream Sandwich for those features to come to phones) makes me really appreciate how far Android has come. Each update was huuuuuge. Now each year the version increases and I don’t notice a single new thing. It’s boring by comparison, but it’s really nice that Android is so good now that the updates can be boring.
I haven’t seen the word Froyo in so long! Agreed, the changes used to be so visually significant.
Oh, my heart. I remember messaging my now wife with one on Skype. It was so laggy because my phone was super budget but I was amazed what I could do nonetheless.
I can still feel the plastic texture and the delayed vibration following a half second later.
Cupcake, for me. I loved that HTC Dream Developer Edition. Soft to the touch, and the keyboard/ trackball thing were so convenient.
Same for me, or at least around that time period. First class hardware keyboard support too.
I have not heard that name in a long time. Throwback to the days of installing ROMs and rooting my Moto X. Felt like a good time for Android.
Oh man. I miss my Moto X. That one really had a perfect in-hand feel! It’s too bad mine died on me rather suddenly relatively early into its life.
I wish I could find a sub 5 inch screen that hits the other requirements (excellent camera, fully root-able). I’m afraid Pixels have run away with my wallet.
For me, the screen size is what enabled that comfortable fit.
I feel like it was the thickness and grippy texture that didn’t for me, personally. I have a harder time with thin devices since they don’t really cradle in my palm.
In terms of vulnerabilities, Even Android 9 is dangerous. Why whould someone use an Android Kitkat device nowadays?
I remind to anyone that any website using a letsencrypt SSL certificate won’t be accessible from android<7 next year, unless the owner manually changes the default browser to Firefox.
Basically everyone using Android<7 won’t be able to access 6% of global websites because of the expired root certificates. They won’t know how to bypass the warning nor how to install Firefox, they will just buy a new phone
Its kinda sad that instead of just installing an app people would buy a new phone
I’m not sure if it’s even just as easy as “use Firefox” like the original comment implies. For your web browser, sure. But presumably these root certs are used by all apps. And thus many apps that depend on the internet would break (most wouldn’t do what Firefox does and being your own root CA certs).
Same
In case anyone else doesn’t keep track of Android versions by the fun nicknames, here’s a Wikipedia page for the versions with numbers included. KitKat was version 4.4 of Android.
Honestly couldn’t remember which numbered version this was & couldn’t imagine I was alone in that, lol
I remember the small outrage that happened when Google stopped officially calling Android versions by desserts. Nowadays I can’t imagine going back.
It was always weird because it only became clear with Android 6 (Marshmallow) and 7 (Nougat) that Google stopped making major versions with x.y numbers, with x.1 being exception. You couldn’t just ask someone if they were on Android 4 cause there was at least 3 major Android versions, so it was easier to use the dessert names.
It was also weird having to wonder if you should translate the dessert name when speaking casually about it.
