The Sony Xperia Z2 devices consisting of the smartphone and tablet are both receiving a newfangled Android 4.4.4 KitKat update in the coming weeks namely the 23.0.1.A.0.167 build. We know this since the PTRCB website showed us signs that it is passing through the certification stages as we speak. That means it is coming, but nobody knows the exact time until we start witnessing the evidence from people’s notification panels and screenshots. We do know that it is likely still a couple of weeks away until we see the real deal show up at all.
The model numbers receiving the firmware include the D6502 D6503, SGP521 and SGP541. Additionally, information on the builds is scarce until we get the full change log after the update is announced by the phone manufacturers. However, we do know that there are always a ton of bugs in the Android software as there always is for other OEMs and operating systems alike. We can tell you that many of the known bugs will be addressed in the fresh build. Therefore, if you are working with a bug that needs fixing this is software you should keep an eye on.
So far the chocolate software has been a delight in more ways than one. Having the thought of many of your favorite treats in our head resulted in lots of mental love over the past year. Furthermore, we know it brought in many amazing features including all white status bar icons from WiFi, signal strength and battery monitors, to all new color Emoji, enhanced landscape keyboard, wireless printing, full-screen album art from the lock screen and much more. The latter stages of KitKat including the Android 4.4.3 and the Android 4.4.4 builds had far fewer features. Additionally, it was the 4.4.3 that carries the Open SSL bug that needed fixing during the 4.4.4 update.
What we do know about Android 4.4.4 is that it comes with a new phone dialer with altered font and a fresh vibrant blue color, a new HD Voice icon, International VoWiFi support and several Google services fixed. In addition, Sony usually like to update a few of their own personal packages to do with Sony services. None of that receives any confirmation until we hear it from Sony’s mouth with the official change log after the first day of release.
If you are running custom firmware or a custom ROM you will not get any OTA notification alerting you of the new build available for installation. You must return back to stock software first or grab the file and install it manually instead. The rest of you will get the automatic alert letting you now when it coming in or you can navigate your way to the Settings > About Device > Software Update And check for the update that way.