Cyber Access: HTC One M8 Android 4.4.4 update

Sunday, 12 October 2014

The Android 4.4.4 update for the HTC One (M8) has began rolling out hours after the reveal of its new handset, the HTC Desire Eye, and the new EYE Experience features of HTC's Sense 6.0 operating system.

The update (software build 3.28.401.6) will officially bring the HTC One (M8) to Android 4.4.4 KitKat, with the 252 MB download's most notable inclusion being the new EYE Experience app features.

The EYE Experience camera settings offer a number of new modes such as "auto selfie" and "crop me in", which simultaneously takes a photo with both rear and front cameras to place your mugshot in the image captured behind. This seemed like an interesting concept with dual 13 MP cameras, but we don't know how well this will work with the HTC One (M8).

The update is currently only available in Europe, but the US should soon follow, given what is by all accounts an unsubstantial upgrade, technically speaking. That being said, the release of 4.4.4. has been somewhat murky for the HTC One (M8) in the US, with release of KitKat 4.4.3 including most of 4.4.4 updates anyway. Still, if you can't wait for the over-the-air update from your carrier, you can manually install the patch by heading over to the XDA forums where its already been posted.

Last month, AT&T had to cancel its Android 4.4.3 rollout for the HTC One (M8) after users complained about its effects on their battery life. AT&T customers had already began installing official 4.4.3 patch when they discovered that their device battery life was crashing. Last we heard, AT&T still hadn't resolved the issue.

Both Sprint and T-Mobile users had already downloaded and been running 4.4.3 problem free, while Verizon was late to the 4.4.3 KitKat party, releasing their version of the patch on September 11th. Verizon users who have downloaded the update are able to take advantage of HTC’s “extreme power saving” mode, which offers a mere 1% battery discharge for every 8 hours of use.

The Android 4.4.3 patch included camera and gallery app updates, bluetooth optimization, and patches for BoomSound, Motion Launch and Quick Settings. A “Power History” tab was also added to the settings menu, somewhat ironically for AT&T users.

With all of these software version running around in different regions it can be hard to keep up.