One of Google’s best operating system updates, Android KitKat 4.4, will no longer be supported by Google Play Services. The message came from the Android Developer Blog, where it was revealed that API levels 19 and 20 will not receive APK versions beyond 23.30.99, starting in August 2023. This means that devices with KitKat will not receive the latest version of the Play Store, which essentially will not allow users to update apps and their devices will slowly be rendered unusable.
Android KitKat introduced updates that are still valid today, more than ten years after the operating system was launched. The system made improvements to the performance of the resource-constrained device and paved the way for what is now Android GO, a proper iteration of the low-power smartphone operating system.
KitKat was the first Android that let users choose their own launcher, introduced full screen video playback, UI elements became transparent for the first time, and finally there was native support for IR blaster. We’ve also seen NFC functionality gain traction, and this is the technology today that allows us to pay with our smartphones, start our cars, and unlock our homes.
Currently, devices running Android KitKat 4.4 are less than 1% of total mobile devices, making it a completely understandable move by Google, even if we are quite excited and nostalgic to see the end of one of our favorite Android versions.
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