Samsung is rolling out the Android 4.4.2 KitKat update to yet more of its devices.
According to SamMobile, the Samsung Galaxy S4 VE Android 4.4.2 KitKat update is rolling out to mainly Vodafone users in Germany, Hungary, Ireland, and Romania.
Galaxy S5 Mini users in Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Netherlands will also get their update.
The Galaxy Note 10.1 update is available to mainly T-Mobile users in Austria, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania (Cosmote), and Spain (PHE).
Galaxy Tab S 10.5 users in Egypt, Hong Kong, and Taiwan will too get their update.
Unlike most other Android smartphone and tablet manufacturers, the Korean tech giant has yet to announce that it will roll out the Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat update to its devices. In fact, it is unclear if Samsung ever intends to release those updates, or simply skip ahead to Android L when it is released.
Of course, Samsung could be too focused on developing its Tizen operating system to bother with producing its own version of the Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4. KitKat. Tizen is Samsung’s attempt to get more control over the end-user experience, and not be over reliant on Google.
See an AP tech update on Samsung.
Microsoft Sues Samsung in Royalty Dispute
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Microsoft said Friday it is suing Samsung for threatening to stop paying Microsoft royalties for patents behind the Android operating system.
The two companies came to a deal in September 2011 to cross-license each other’s patent portfolios. Samsung wound up paying Microsoft royalties on a series of patents.
Analyst Rick Sherlund of Nomura Securities has estimated royalties on its Android patents bring Microsoft nearly $2 billion a year.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, says more than 25 companies are licensing the patents, including Samsung, Acer and ZTE, covering roughly 80 percent of the Android-based smartphones sold in the U.S.
In a blog post Friday, Microsoft Corp.’s deputy general counsel said Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. decided to breach its contract after Microsoft announced in September it was acquiring Nokia’s devices business.
After initially refusing to pay royalties in the second year of the deal, Samsung made a late payment in November but did not add on interest, according to a redacted copy of the complaint filed in federal court in New York and provided by Microsoft.
The complaint also alleged that Samsung has asked South Korean competition authorities to change the contract to reduce or eliminate its payments to Microsoft.
Samsung said in a statement, “We will review the complaint in detail and determine appropriate measures in response.”
