What the Android 4.4.1 update means for Google's Nexus 5 shooters

Google’s Nexus 5 marks a substantial advance in the frequently maligned imaging capabilities of the Nexus smartphone line. The camera’s optical image stabilization combines with its decent 8-megapixel sensor to deliver images that, while not class-leading, are certainly competitive.

However, in our review we found that the Nexus 5’s camera performance was undermined by speed issues: the camera app was slow to start up, exhibited frustrating shutter lag and felt pokey when focusing. Soon after the phone started shipping Google said it would address these issues, and it has delivered on its promise with the Android 4.4.1 update that’s been rolling out to Nexus devices since Friday. (Another update, Android 4.2.2, is already on the move as well, though it comes without the same sort of significant effects.)

We’ve put the refreshed Nexus 5 through its photographic paces and found that while the camera is indeed more responsive, Google also made other changes that may please some users but irritate others.

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Unknown 04:29 No comments

Google releases Android 4.4.1 update

Only five weeks after the Android 4.4 flagship Nexus 5 started shipping, Google has released an over the air update that addresses some of the flaws found in the software. If you have the Nexus 4, 5, or 7, get ready for Android 4.4.1 to hit your device.

When the Nexus 5 was launched, it felt like an amazing piece of hardware that was somehow left unfinished before releasing it to the public. There were some strange bugs in audio, the camera was almost unusable if you needed a quick photo, and even if you took your time the chances of getting a great shot compared to other smartphones wasn’t particularly high.

There was also some odd spacing issues in the UI where icons didn’t line up, and when you put all of these things together it was frustrating to see a device with so much potential fall short. Fortunately, Google has acted swiftly to fix these problems by releasing Android 4.4.1 to Nexus devices.

The biggest user-facing change in 4.4.1 seems to be the Nexus 5 camera. It loads the app much faster, focuses on items faster, and includes a status bar for HDR+ photos so you know to try and keep still. There’s also some bizarre visual changes, like a small modification to the icon for settings and some changes to the drop shadows cast by folders on the homescreen. The Android RunTime has been made available to the other Nexus devices, where previously the option remained dark. Finally, some users have reported that the audio has normalized on the Nexus 5 with this update.

This update will be rolling out to each of the Nexus devices over the next few days, and if you’re impatient and know where to look you can find the .zip to install via ADB Side load, but it shouldn’t be long now.

Google has done well by moving so quickly to fix these issues, but it does still raise some questions regarding why the phone was released in the state it was to begin with.

Unknown 05:07 No comments