What, did you think only the Nexus 5 was getting the Android 4.4.1 love today? Not so fast. The 4.4.1 update file for the Nexus 4 is now available as well. We have the direct Google download link for you below to bring you to build KOT49E.
Nexus 5 update to 4.4.1 now live
The good news is has Google quickly addressed this with not one, but two updates. Android 4.4.2 followed 4.4.1 so quickly that my Nexus updated from Android 4.4 to 4.4.2 directly. Bugs in 4.4.1 were blamed for the quick-fire update, but regardless of the motivation the camera has been transformed. Shots are fast, sharp and well composed while the optical image stabilisation (OIS) can also come to the forefront and its HDR shots are now particularly effective in dark environments.
Editor's note: This review was conducted using a Nexus 5 with the latest software at that time, Android 4.4. When Google rolled out Android 4.4.1 with the promise of significant updates to the Nexus 5's camera capabilities, we updated and retested our device, amending our review when and where it was appropriate with notes from our reviewer. You can also learn more about what the Android 4.4.1 update means for Google's Nexus 5 shooters.
I noticed that even prior to the 4.4.1/2 update that improved shooting speed, you could actually significantly improve the shot-to-shot speed if you use the volume button shutter activation rather than the on-screen shutter. For whatever reason, you're right, the screen shutter is ignored if you try spamming it, and you're getting a shot per half a second.
In December 2013, the Nexus 5 began receiving the Android 4.4.1 update, which introduced HDR+, fixed issues with auto focus, white balance and other camera issues,.[34][35][36] HDR+ takes a burst of shots with short exposures, selectively aligning the sharpest shots and averaging them using computational photography techniques. Short exposures avoids blur, blowing out highlights and averaging multiple shots reduces noise. HDR+ is similar to lucky imaging used in astrophotography.[37] HDR+ is processed on the Qualcomm Hexagon DSP.[38] It also fixes low speaker volume output in certain applications.[39] Android 4.4.2 update followed in a few days, providing further bugfixes and security improvements.[40] In early June 2014, the Nexus 5 received Android 4.4.3 update that included dozens of bug fixes,[41]while another mid-June 2014 Android 4.4.4 update included a fix for an OpenSSL man-in-the-middle vulnerability.[42]
The search engine giant confirmed the news via a post on its Nexus' Google+ page. As per the company, the Android 4.4.1 update brings camera improvements like faster focussing, particularly in low light situations; quicker white balancing for truer colours; ability to pinch-zoom the viewfinder in HDR+ mode and less shutter lag. Google has also shared some images showing the difference between HDR+ mode and normal mode after the update.
In addition, Google's Director of Engineering for Android, Dave Burke in an interview with The Verge confirmed that the Nexus 5's camera took longer to focus, although post update the smartphone would have faster shutter speeds. Burke claimed that post the Android 4.4.1 update, the camera on Nexus 5 will launch a full second faster that it did earlier. Burke also said that the camera would get better with time, as he admitted that a lot has to be done to improve the camera performance.
Editors' Note (12/6/2013): This review has been amended to include the camera improvements added with the 4.4.1 Android update. In our retesting, we found that the update fixes most of the camera's flaws we encountered in our original review. As a result, the rating has increased from 4 to 4.5.
Earlier today, we reported on a rumor that claimed that Android 4.4.2 KitKat would be rolling out to the HTC One Google Play Edition and the HTC One with Sense at some point. The rumor suggested that it would arrive in the place of Android 4.4.1 KitKat, an update that just started rolling out last week to Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 5 and Nexus 10 users.
Well, there you go folks. Looks like Google has delivered on the promises of a better camera with the 4.4.x updates. The camera definitely takes better photos in normal as well as HDR+ modes and we would like to tell you that the HDR+ mode alone is not the only good mode on the Nexus 5 anymore. For a faster experience and good enough photos use the normal mode, but again, for better dynamic range and evened out exposure go for HDR+. Have more questions? Let us know in the comments section below.
Google had released the Android 4.4.1 update last week and halted it because of a few issues with that update and has now released the 4.4.2 update to everyone today. The Update is right now being made available to the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10 owners. If you own any of these devices its recommended to check out the Settings > Updates section right away if not download the firmware from the links below and side load the update onto your device.
I am also seeing the same issue as Dan with 4.4.2 on a Nexus 4 and a 7. Did the bug only get fixed in 4.4.1? If so is there a target to get it fixed in 4.4.3 or what ever the next update is. Anyone else having this issue? 2ff7e9595c
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