4.4.2 KitKat Update - First Impressions

[jpr]

If you have word and excel type documents stored on your SDcard, you can no longer edit and save them using apps like Documents To Go, as well as other office apps.
All files on the SDcard are now Read Only. You can only edit and save your changes if they're moved to the internal memory.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

This isn't quite true. You can use Quick Office to open files that were made with other programs and then edit and save them to the SD Card as long as you save them with either a new name or in a new folder. To access the SD Card in Quick Office when you are either opening or saving a file, click the menu button then settings and choose the show advanced devices option.

And to be clear, you only have to do this renaming or saving to a new folder once. After that you can just edit and save as normal in Quick Office. And of course any file that was created with QO doesn't need to be renamed at all.

 

[cdf3]

This isn't quite true. You can use Quick Office to open files that were made with other programs and then edit and save them to the SD Card as long as you save them with either a new name or in a new folder. To access the SD Card in Quick Office when you are either opening or saving a file, click the menu button then settings and choose the show advanced devices option.

And to be clear, you only have to do this renaming or saving to a new folder once. After that you can just edit and save as normal in Quick Office. And of course any file that was created with QO doesn't need to be renamed at all.

I don't use Quick Office because I have quite a few spreadsheets that contain a lot of data, and the lag when using Quick Office while trying to edit those files is unbearable.
I also had folders stored on my SDcard that were synced to my Dropbox account using the Dropsync app. I could easily make changes using Documents To Go, and have it two way sync to my Dropbox account. After the new update I had to move all of the files and folders that I sync using Dropsync to my internal memory.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[jpr]

I don't use Quick Office because I have quite a few spreadsheets that contain a lot of data, and the lag when using Quick Office while trying to edit those files is unbearable.
I also had folders stored on my SDcard that were synced to my Dropbox account using the Dropsync app. I could easily make changes using Documents To Go, and have it two way sync to my Dropbox account. After the new update I had to move all of the files and folders that I sync using Dropsync to my internal memory.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

Well you can ask Dropsync and Docs to Go to fix that. They have the choice. Kit Kat is not stopping them.

 

[cdf3]

Well you can ask Dropsync and Docs to Go to fix that. They have the choice. Kit Kat is not stopping them.

From what I was told, only Google and OEM approved apps have the ability to save to the SDcard. All other 3rd party apps are excluded.


Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[jpr]

From what I was told, only Google and OEM approved apps have the ability to save to the SDcard. All other 3rd party apps are excluded.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

That is absolutely not true. The SD Card is writable by any app. The devs just need to fix their apps.

 

[cdf3]

That is absolutely not true. The SD Card is writable by any app. The devs just need to fix their apps.

All of my document apps can no longer save files on my SDcard. Perhaps Quick Office can, because it's now owned by Google. All over the internet everyone is upset with the changes. Documents To Go also sent out info in regards to the change. If you can provide information as to why this is untrue, or if you can find a non Google or OEM app that can open, edit, and resave a file like it did prior to the update, I'd like to know.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[cdf3]

This isn't quite true. You can use Quick Office to open files that were made with other programs and then edit and save them to the SD Card as long as you save them with either a new name or in a new folder. To access the SD Card in Quick Office when you are either opening or saving a file, click the menu button then settings and choose the show advanced devices option.

And to be clear, you only have to do this renaming or saving to a new folder once. After that you can just edit and save as normal in Quick Office. And of course any file that was created with QO doesn't need to be renamed at all.

Not sure what device you have, but checking advanced devices within Quick Office on my Note 3 only shows Internal Storage. The option to display the SDcard does not appear at all.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[jpr]

@cdf3

Off the top of my head, just a few of the third party apps I have used to write, edit, save, move, copy, rename to the SD card with 4.4.2 are X-plore, File Expert, Total Commander, Camera FV-5. There are several more but I'm not going to make an exhaustive list here. Docs to Go has the ability to write to the SD Card and allow you to open, edit, and save to the SD Card if they would only choose to do so.

Now about your QuickOffice post. What version do you have? Mine is 6.3.1.041. Here is a screenshot of mine. I have a Note 3, T-Mobile variant.

 

[cdf3]

@cdf3

Off the top of my head, just a few of the third party apps I have used to write, edit, save, move, copy, rename to the SD card with 4.4.2 are X-plore, File Expert, Total Commander, Camera FV-5. There are several more but I'm not going to make an exhaustive list here. Docs to Go has the ability to write to the SD Card and allow you to open, edit, and save to the SD Card if they would only choose to do so.

Now about your QuickOffice post. What version do you have? Mine is 6.3.1.041. Here is a screenshot of mine. I have a Note 3, T-Mobile variant.

View attachment 118768

I have Quick Office version 6.3.1.041,
Verizon variant.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[HamRadioNut]

@jpr

It's like cdf3 said, there is nothing the Dev's can do to fix there app. I use My Backup Pro and have always saved my backups to my SD Card. When I found out about the KitKat issue I contacted MBP and had a very long conversation with them and they say they can not fix the issue, Google or who ever created this has to change it. Yes I have read all the information out on this subject, even Jerry's article on here. Some where I read that if the app creates the folder then it will be able to write to it. My Backup Pro creates it's own folder on the SD card and will write to it IF you are still on 4.3, but after KitKit it WILL not work and there is NOTHING the DEV's can do.

My Email to My Backup Pro:
Hello,

I have My Backup Pro on my device, it's a Galaxy Note 3 running stock 4.3. I have read that if I upgrade my OS to 4.4.2 or what ever the newest one is, I can no longer save my backups to the SD card. Is this true and will there be a fix for this.

There reply to Me:
Hi Hamradionut

Yes this is true, and the problem is that android 4.4.2 no longer allows apps to access the sdcard directly and fully. So to fix you have to have a root device and do the following.


1- Using a root-enabled file manager, navigate to /system/etc/permissions
2- Edit platform.xml

3- <permission name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE" >
< group gid="sdcard_r" />
<group gid="sdcard_rw" />
<group gid="media_rw" />
</permission>

-4- save and restart

 

[monsieurms]

Just got the update this morning. Too soon to give an opinion but will do so by the end of the day.

I'm hoping the camera functions better in medium and low light conditions.

What are your first impressions and experiences??? Does it fix anything for you? Break anything?

There are a lot of threads on this....

Here are a couple:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...4-galaxy-s4-kitkat-4-4-2-horrible-update.html

http://forums.androidcentral.com/ve...kitkat-issue-cant-write-external-sd-card.html

 

[jpr]

Hamradionut, it is not true. The devs can fix their apps. Several devs have already. I am not rooted and have no problem using these apps with my SD Card. Many devs are lazy and many are incompetent. And many of the people who own these apps are not devs at all and can't write or even read a single line of code. They hope their customers will believe whatever lies they tell to get out of a little work.

The same thing happened when JellyBean was first released. Permissions were changed and devs were insisting they could do nothing about it and were ranting at their customers for even asking for a fix. But magically, without any change from Google or from the manufacturers, these same devs got their apps to work when they lost enough money.

 

[ansa82]

I got my update last night. The only thing I see thus far is I'm getting 3G more often now. Grrrrrrrr! Not real happy with that.

Posted via Android Central App

Me too, less 4G more 3G

sent from my Note 3

 

[honu85]

multiscreen?

iv not heard of that, can u screen shot it/


thanks

im the htc one

Sorry I meant the multi window function. Mine isn't working anymore.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[iceman64]

Sorry I meant the multi window function. Mine isn't working anymore.



Your multi window function is not working anymore, did you turn it back on. For some strange reason when I updated to kitkat it turn it off. Settings, device (top tab), multi window, on.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dss2000]

Just got the update this morning. Too soon to give an opinion but will do so by the end of the day.

I'm hoping the camera functions better in medium and low light conditions.

What are your first impressions and experiences??? Does it fix anything for you? Break anything?

Seems like my Bluetooth is better at sending meta data to Ford Sync. Before with Beyond Pod podcasts it would just say "unknown source" on my Sync Touch display. Now it shows title and length of podcast. Could also have been an update of Beyond Pod but I don't think it's updated recently. Play Music and Pandora always worked.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dc5_k20z1]

Sorry I meant the multi window function. Mine isn't working anymore.

Posted via Android Central App

Your multiwindow won't work at all? So you have the toggle enabled and the lil tab that normally shows up on the side of the screen isn't even showing up? Or, it does, but dragging another app down doesn't split the screen up into two?

 

[fg0626]

Hey guys... New here to the forums. I'm a Note 3 owner and a longtime lurker here in this forum. Decided to finally join to give my opinion about Kit kat.

I've noticed some improvements.

Battery doesn't die as quick.

GPS before was TERRIBLE. Would take up to 5 mins before it would lock the location, and not to mention the voice sounded horrible too. Now it's pretty quick to lock on and the voice is soothing.

I love Instagram and I wasn't able to to record videos before. It would always crash and freeze. Now it records with no issues.

Also the email attachments changed a bit.. Its much better looking but takes a bit longer to load.





Anyway that's all for now.. I also work for Best Buy and would be happy to answer any questions.. As long as I'm allowed to answer and doesn't get me in trouble. Cheers!

 

[mspace81]

For those not having any issues right now, that's awesome!! I would encourage you all to start paying attention once the OS has had time to settle, then see if you are experiencing any of the issues that have been pretty widespread. There are some people whose devices have improved with the update, I don't know very many of these people lol. The update made me hate my note 3. It drops data connection even if I have full bars (having this happen at least 3+ times a day isn't fun, especially when using your phone for business), the battery drain is just atrocious. I can no longer get over 18 hours on my phone and have to charge it daily. Prior to the update I only had to charge my phone every 2 days. I didn't start to notice these issues until about a week or 2 into the update. Android OS and Android system is killing my battery and the workarounds just don't work.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[dss2000]

Sorry I meant the multi window function. Mine isn't working anymore.

Posted via Android Central App

I've noticed that after the update Multi-window tab isn't visible anymore even if I hold down the back arrow key in certain applications. Specifically when in Navigation. But the tab does appear when on the regular Google Maps screen. Didn't use to be like that. Once you go to the Home screen the tab reappears. This happens also with Car Home Ultra.