Oh how I loved the “soak tests” when I still had my Droid Bionic – the anticipation, the knowledge that you were a tester and receiving the software before the masses, the feedback, and then the release to everybody, thinking that you had some small part in it all – it was all so exciting. Thanks to our friends at Droid Life, one of the latest soakers let them know that the Droid 4 was receiving such a soak test for a new software update…but do not get too excited, because it certainly is not Android 4.4 KitKat, but simply an update to Android 4.1.2, which the device appears to be staying on. Below is a copy of the “invite” from Motorola, sent out to a select, non-rooting, group:
Back in August 2012, the Droid 4 received its 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) update and then in March of this year, the Droid 4 received its Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update that allowed the Droid 4 to use Google Now, expanded its notifications, introduced “Project Butter,” Voice searches, added ‘Smart Keyboard” and added enhancements to Motorola’s custom UI, MotoBlur.
Motorola’s website says that the Droid 4 will stay at Android 4.1.2, so what might this update include? Probably a few bug fixes, maybe increased connectivity, certainly some more bloatware, and most likely unwanted Verizon apps. We will know more once the update is made official and a changelog is issued, probably sometime next week as Motorola seems to like to do the soak tests on a Thursday or Friday, test over the weekend, and then release to everybody early the next week.
If you still own the Motorola Droid 4, released almost two years ago, then you should be relatively happy about the way both Verizon and Motorola have treated your device. No, you will not be getting Android KitKat 4.4, but that is to be expected from the device’s age – it took six months to get ICS, and another seven months to get Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and another 4 months for an update to 4.1.2. Not bad times when you consider that you have both Verizon and Motorola to deal with…although future Motorola buyers should receive that “special” Google treatment in the future.
Let us know on our Google+ Page if you are in the soak test and how it went – we realize that you are not allowed to give out specifics – but if you notice any improvements. We would love to hear from you, as would our Droid 4 readers!