In a classic case of hell freezing over, Sony has started rolling out the latest version of Android to some of its devices before any other manufacturer. Android 4.4.4 is now available for the Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact, and Z Ultra, merely a week after Google released the update for Nexus phones and tablets.
According to Sony’s official changelog, the update brings an improved camera experience – it’s unclear what the improvements are, but it’s possible they bring the camera experience closer to that on the Xperia Z2, Sony’s current flagship (which strangely wasn’t the first to receive 4.4.4.) Other changes include the latest versions of a few Sony apps, improvements “when using Google voice, Contacts, Music streaming and Google+,” general performance enhancements and bug fixes, and security updates, some of which were part of the Android 4.4.3 update that Google released earlier this month.
The update can be downloaded over the air and via Sony’s PC Companion software. Expect it to take a few days to reach all devices and regions, though you can also try pulling it manually from the Update Center app on your phone.
Update: Well, Sony seems to be on a roll. According to ex-Android employee Jean-Baptiste Queru, Android 4.4.4 is showing up on the Google Play edition (GPe) of the Xperia Z Ultra as well. Guess we now know how Sony managed to update its non-GPe devices so quickly, and this is hopefully a sign of faster updates coming to devices from other manufacturers as well.
