Android 4.4.3 is still brand new, with only certain Nexus, Google Play Edition, and Motorola devices having received it at this point (and even within this select group, there are issues). In an incredibly odd move, however, Google has released factory images for Android 4.4.4 (build number KTU84P). At first glance, there isn't much difference, but there of course is that little something that caused Google to release the update so soon after 4.4.3. Both factory images and binaries have been posted for KTU84P, with only certain Nexus devices seeing the love at this time -- there's ...

Last week we announced that Microsoft was officially releasing Office for Apple's iPad and shortly thereafter went hands-on to show you what to expect if you're an iOS user. Being an Android guy, I immediately headed to the Play Store so I could download the Android version on my 2013 Nexus 7. The link said that my device wasn't compatible with the app. What? Not compatible? How can that be? I've got Google's latest tablet running the latest version of the Android operating system! How can Microsoft Office not be compatible?! Android Support I pulled out my Nexus 5 and checked the same ...

The original Nexus 7 was quite a piece of work when it was originally released back in 2012. Pocketnow's own Brandon Miniman even rated the device an 8.7 out of 10 in his review. Not bad for a tablet that cost less than US$200. What starts to happen almost immediately after we get our fancy new devices? They start to slow down. At least that's what it feels like, right?  Usually this perception is caused by installing a whole bunch of apps that take up more space in the system's RAM, apps getting bigger and slower, and updates to the operating system taking up more space. All of these are ...

The Nexus program is a somewhat shrouded in mystery. We suspect that Google it running it to a platform upon which it can demonstrate the "pure" version of Android, and to serve as a reference platform from which the other OEMs can look to. It also proves that fairly high-end and high-quality hardware can be made and sold for a very reasonable price -- in the States at least. Thus far, Google has selected one OEM to partner with at a time to make a Google-branded smartphone or a Google-branded tablet -- tablets being the late arrivals to the lineup. So far, Google has partnered with HTC to ...

We've been cautiously optimistic about Canonical's chances for really seeing Ubuntu Touch take off this year, especially with the promise of relationships with OEMs bringing us the first commercial hardware intentionally designed for use with Ubuntu. But thus far, if you've wanted to experiment with the platform, that's meant flashing a Ubuntu ROM to one of several Nexus devices. Unfortunately, your options going forward are going to be a lot more limited, as Canonical announces that support for the majority of Nexus models is being dropped. Last year we were showing you one of those early ...

When talking about our smartphones and tablets, there seem to be two things we always want more of: battery life, and speed. Ironically, the two may not be mutually exclusive, since completing tasks faster means the processor can return to a more energy-efficient speed quicker. How the speed boost is achieved will have a significant impact on how much battery life will be saved -- or squandered. Overclocking and overvolting are two popular ways to speed up any device, but they're also notorious for causing more power drain and increased heat -- both will zap your battery fast! There's ...

Even though most of your holiday shopping is over, we know that there is a slight possibility that Santa didn't leave the gift that you really wanted this Christmas. Still, if you're like any of us, then we're sure you're most probably broke already from so much celebration. The great thing is that it's never too late to get the smartphone or tablet that you wanted, and there are some great devices out there that are worth every penny. Watch today's Top 5 as we talk about some of the best deals you'll find in this holiday season. We're not just talking about devices that are affordable, ...

Android 4.4 KitKat was introduced when Google released the Nexus 5. Earlier this month we heard of an "incremental update" that was supposed to fix a few things specific to the Nexus 5 called Android 4.4.1. Now, even before the 4.4.1 OTA update reached any of my devices, Android 4.4.2 is being pushed to users. What's with all the updates? What is new in Android 4.4.2 that wasn't in 4.4.1 or 4.4? Bugs and patches One skill I bring to the Pocketnow team is my experience as a software developer. As such I'm intimately aware of the product lifecycle -- and the fact that bugs are everywhere. ...

We're not even sure everyone managed to grab the Android 4.4.1 update that started rolling out to the Nexus 5, Nexus 4, and some Nexus 7 devices recently, and now Android 4.4.2 is being pushed out to pure-Androids. The update's size might vary but it is a small one (sub-2MB), and it apparently brings bug fixes as well as security enhancements to the table. The build you should expect is KOT49H and is rolling out to all Nexus devices, including last year's Nexus 7, which didn't get the 4.4.1 refresh. Among the changes there are also reports that this update will fix the SMS hack that was ...

Pocketnow Daily gets an average of 300 to 500 comments a day, and sometimes even a thousand. We’d like to thank you all for participating in our question of the day, and we love your feedback so much, that we decided that since we can’t respond to ever single one of your comments, we should at least feature a couple in a weekly video. This is the Pocketnow Daily Recap. Since we only have 3 minutes on every Daily video to go through the hottest news, the weekly recap will serve as a more extensive discussion where we also include your thoughts on the subject. Sadly, for the sake of ...

Most of us in this industry get asked a lot of questions from people in the market to buy new mobile products. "Which smartphone is the best current deal?" "Should I get this phone or that one?" "Which is the best tablet to buy?" But of all the questions I've been asked in my four years of service to the mobile tech media, there is one question that is inherently more difficult to answer than others: "Should I buy a small or full-sized tablet?" The question is difficult to answer to begin with because … who actually needs a tablet? Should anyone buy a tablet to begin with? Of course, ...

Watch today's Pocketnow Daily as we talk about Nokia's new sale whenever you buy the new Lumia 2520 Windows tablet. We later go through more deals as retailers have dropped the price of the Google Nexus 7. Motorola follows the news as the company has just hired a 3D printing firm to take care of Project Ara. Leaks of Samsung's plans to upgrade the Galaxy Line-up to Android 4.4 KitKat follow after that. We end today's show talking about certain leaks showing a metal frame for the possible Samsung Galaxy S5. All this and more after the break. Stories: - Nokia offering free Power Keyboard ...

With so many questions day by day about viewers still considering an iPad Air or a Microsoft's new Surface Pro 2, we know the ropes are complicated this holiday season if you’re out to get yourself a new tablet. 2013 has shown just how great technology can evolve in the mobile space, and there’s a lot to choose from. Some may agree that tablets have stagnated in their innovation, while others feel that you can only invent the wheel so many times. Watch today’s Top 5 as we talk about our top picks for your next tablet during Fall 2013. It’s been a very innovative year for some ...