Droid Maxx: Improvements with 4.4?

[doogald]

Most of the improvements in kitkat are supposed to be under the hood. I've noticed on my HTC One phenomenal improvement in battery life on 4.4. I'm excited at the prospect of similar improvements on top of the already great battery life on the Maxx.

Anyone noticing any differences in battery life with 4.4?

No. If anything, battery life is slightly worse for me. (I've had the update since the first soak, so almost a month now.) I did a factory reset and there was no difference. What's weird is that battery life changes day to day. Yesterday was very good - I went to bed at about 60%, which was typical under JB. Today my phone is at 81% after 5 hours. I'd say that I have seen anything from the same as before to as much as 1% worse per hour than before.

 

[XDCX]

Correct. 4.4 resets the Entitlement Check and free tether no longer works. I know it first hand

I remember reading that too.

If I recall correctly, the entitlement check survived when the Moto X was updated to Kit Kat but it gets reset when the Droids are updated.

I wonder if Verizon has more control over what gets changed on the Droid phones?

Posted via Android Central App

 

[doogald]

I remember reading that too.

If I recall correctly, the entitlement check survived when the Moto X was updated to Kit Kat but it gets reset when the Droids are updated.

I wonder if Verizon has more control over what gets changed on the Droid phones?

Far more likely explanation: the SQL database was updated as part of the KitKat update, but an update wasn't required for the 12.15.15 update.

 

[CrazyRussian007]

Far more likely explanation: the SQL database was updated as part of the KitKat update, but an update wasn't required for the 12.15.15 update.

Possible. But then the X going from 4.2.2 to 4.4 would've gotten the new SQL database but that didnt happen - the Entitlement Check survived the 4.2.2->4.4 update on the X

 

[1901Madison]

Interesting -- how to explain worse battery life with Kitkat than we had with 4.2? If that is truly the case, is there any way to undo the update and go back to the amazing battery life I had under 4.2?

 

[drvier8]

No. If anything, battery life is slightly worse for me. (I've had the update since the first soak, so almost a month now.) I did a factory reset and there was no difference. What's weird is that battery life changes day to day. Yesterday was very good - I went to bed at about 60%, which was typical under JB. Today my phone is at 81% after 5 hours. I'd say that I have seen anything from the same as before to as much as 1% worse per hour than before.

That was my experience when I had my Moto X after it updated to 4.4. Battery life wildly inconsistent and in general worse than on 4.2.2. I returned it before I was stuck with it and went with a maxx. I figured that even if it took a battery hit, I'd still have more than enough to get through the day. So far, it seems to be using about 1% more per hour than before. So I'm ending the day at 50% instead of the 65% I saw on 4.2.2.

 

[doogald]

Interesting -- how to explain worse battery life with Kitkat than we had with 4.2? If that is truly the case, is there any way to undo the update and go back to the amazing battery life I had under 4.2?

It's possible that it will be the same for you. There was an update to Google Play Services coincidentally with the KK update that people using other phones reported to cause some battery drain. There is an update that is slowly pushing out for Play Services but my phone still has not received it. That may be the cause for me. I don't remember when Play Services updated for me (it is a silent update.)

Mine is currently at 4.0.34. See It's Not Just You - Google Play Services Seems To Be A Battery Hog Today and Google Play Services 4.1 Begins Rollout With Location Reporting Battery Fix, Turn-Based Multiplayer, And More [Update: APK Download]

 

[anon(40376)]

I just downloaded the OTA update. Maybe I'm missing something, but other than the NFC and camera, I don't see any changes. I still have the blue up top and my dialer doesn't appear to be different. Did I do something wrong? Oh yeah, there are more emoji's on the keyboard too

From Verizon:
Verizon?s devices will still keep the Jelly Bean-style dialer, the blue status icons, and the Jelly Bean home-screen. Everything else KitKat related should be intact.

 

[SteelGator]

No, you did nothing wrong. There is no new dialer. The status bar remains the same. I've detailed the changes I've noticed above. There are now some updates to assist and Touchless controls that I think are kitkat only.

You can side load the GEL (Google Experience Launcher) launcher and get the transparent status bar. I finally decided to give it a try after playing with Aviate for a few day and I vastly prefer GEL.

 

[JimBen73]

You can side load the GEL (Google Experience Launcher) launcher and get the transparent status bar. I finally decided to give it a try after playing with Aviate for a few day and I vastly prefer GEL.

How do you side load?

Posted via my awesome, longer lasting phone than yours aka droid MAXX

 

[SteelGator]

That was my experience when I had my Moto X after it updated to 4.4. Battery life wildly inconsistent and in general worse than on 4.2.2. I returned it before I was stuck with it and went with a maxx. I figured that even if it took a battery hit, I'd still have more than enough to get through the day. So far, it seems to be using about 1% more per hour than before. So I'm ending the day at 50% instead of the 65% I saw on 4.2.2.

My battery life was worse initially, but I think it has improved since. I have had some amazing battery life for the last week or so, then I downloaded a new game . . .

 

[doogald]

You can side load the GEL (Google Experience Launcher) launcher and get the transparent status bar. I finally decided to give it a try after playing with Aviate for a few day and I vastly prefer GEL.

Yes, you can. I consider side loading too much of a security issue so I won't do it. Many people guess that Google will eventually release the launcher on Google Play for all KK phones. I can wait until then.

 

[SteelGator]

How do you side load?

Posted via my awesome, longer lasting phone than yours aka droid MAXX

I downloaded from this link on XDA. Once the download is finished, you are all set to run it.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2529594



Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[SteelGator]

Yes, you can. I consider side loading too much of a security issue so I won't do it. Many people guess that Google will eventually release the launcher on Google Play for all KK phones. I can wait until then.

I do miss the Droid Command center, so it would be nice to see Moto release their version.

I am still adapting to by home screen not being in the middle. I do like Google Now being a page, bit it is only slightly better than the widget I used.

I was happy to see my screens were preserved, so setup was minimal.

Overall I am going to play with it for a while to see which I prefer.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[jbeachy]

Interesting -- how to explain worse battery life with Kitkat than we had with 4.2? If that is truly the case, is there any way to undo the update and go back to the amazing battery life I had under 4.2?

My OTA update rolled out this morning so I have exactly one day of experience with KitKat. Rockin my Maxx all day, heavy usage, and still at 79% this evening, when it's usually at 50%. Hope it's a trend!

Posted via Android Central App with my Droid MAXX

 

[cdd543]

My camera seems a lot better with this update--19.5.3. I'd previously loaded the original leak around christmas, but the camera improvements seem much more profound on the version I got via ota last night.

 

[DCooper323]

My only issue is that my Gallery icon isnt there. Its an android guy with "Loading" under it. Its still functional.

 

[eewwyeah]

You can side load the GEL (Google Experience Launcher) launcher and get the transparent status bar. I finally decided to give it a try after playing with Aviate for a few day and I vastly prefer GEL.

I uninstalled AVIATE after a day. seemed to like the phone as it was

 

[doogald]

My camera seems a lot better with this update--19.5.3. I'd previously loaded the original leak around christmas, but the camera improvements seem much more profound on the version I got via ota last night.

If you installed something around Christmas, this update is the same as what you installed. There is no difference. 19.5.3 came out December 19.

 

[SatyrJoshua]

I just got the update (January 14, 2014) and have had immediate issues with installing chat/dating apps.

I am no longer able to load pictures from my gallery or files. Several different apps state they are not compatible with my device. Trying to download apps from the google play store download t0 100 percent but do not install. I wish there was a way to back out the install. Totally bites.