I mentioned earlier today that Motorola was on a roll with its software updates lately, and now the company has gone ahead and proven my point further.
Starting today, Motorola is pushing an Android 4.4.2 update out to the Moto G, specifically the units that were purchased either through its own website or from Amazon.com in the U.S. Included with the update are many of the same features found in the Moto X's KitKat bump, including an improved phone app that features the ability to look up contacts from the dialer, as well as a camera app that's been enhanced with a new circular control that can be used to adjust the shooter's focus and exposure. Motorola's full Moto G Android 4.4.2 changelog is as follows:
- Android™ 4.4, KitKat®: Android 4.4.2, KitKat, is the latest release of the Android platform. KitKat includes enhancements such as restyled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen mode, color emoji support, improved closed captioning support, stronger security, smarter power use, and more tools and capabilities for better app development.
- Phone dialer: Improved the phone app with the ability to look up contacts directly from the dial pad, see and tap frequent contacts, and search your corporate directory easily.
- Camera - Focus and exposure: Enhanced the "touch to focus" option with a new circular, on screen control that can be dragged by your finger around the viewfinder to adjust a photo's focus and exposure.
- Gallery - Photo editing: Added new photo editing options to the Gallery app including new filter effects, draw on your photos, advanced cropping, and adjustments to color, exposure, contrast and more.
- Printing documents and pictures: Added support for printing photos, Google Docs, GMail messages, and other content via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and hosted services like Google Cloud Print and HP ePrinters.
- Hangouts - SMS/MMS support: Incorporated a new version of Google Hangouts that supports integrated SMS/MMS messaging. Hangouts can be set as the default SMS app under Settings > Wireless > Default SMS app.
- Accessory support: Added support for Square credit card reader.
Moto G owners can, and probably should, go ahead and connect their device to Wi-Fi and then hit up Settings > About phone > System updates > Download on their device to check for this update manually. After all, you wouldn't want to miss out on this KitKat-y goodness any longer than absolutely necessary, am I right?
As I mentioned previously, this update is currently rolling out to Moto G units in the U.S. that were purchased from Motorola or Amazon. Motorola goes on to promise that KitKat will come to the Moto G devices in other parts of the globe "soon."
In addition to this Moto G update, Motorola today ran down some of the recent updates that it's made to its unique apps. That includes the Touchless Control update that lets users unlock their device by speaking their PIN, the holiday boot animation, camera improvements for the Moto G and new Droid trio and bug fixes for Active Display. Motorola also says that it's released both the Android 4.3 kernel source for the Moto G and Android 4.4 kernel source for the Moto X, which is exciting news for all of the Android tinkerers out there.
It's only been a month and a half or so since Android 4.4 KitKat officially launched alongside the Nexus 5, but Motorola has already managed to update a number of its recent devices to the new OS. That includes all of its carrier-branded Moto X variants, the Droid Mini, Ultra and Maxx and now the Moto G as well. That's a pretty impressive feat and, as I said earlier, the company's focus on updating its products in a timely manner is likely winning it quite a bit of loyalty from consumers. Motorola deserves some kudos for its efforts, and here's to hoping that it can keep these speedy updates coming.
Via Motorola
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