Android 4.4.3 Preview: Expected Fixes for the Nexus 5
Why 4.4.3 was awaited
Android 4.4.2 had mostly resolved camera problems on the Nexus 5, but some bugs lingered and new ones appeared. Users kept asking on issue tracking platforms when a fix would come. The most common complaint, which the writer also experienced, was the mm-qcamera-daemon process draining the battery.
What was reported
A screenshot of a Nexus 5 running Android 4.4.3, with parts hidden for privacy, was obtained by Android Police. A full changelog was expected only once Google engineers released the build to the AOSP repositories. The reported fixes were:
- Frequent data connection dropouts
- Camera daemon crashes and optimization, plus focus fixes in regular and HDR modes
- A power manager display wakelock
- Multiple Bluetooth fixes and Wi-Fi auto-connect
- A random reboot
- App shortcuts sometimes being removed from the launcher after an update
- Security fixes for USB debugging and app shortcuts
- Fixes for MMS, email and Exchange, calendar, contacts and dialer, DSP, IPv6 and VPN
- Getting stuck on the activation screen, missed call LED, subtitles, the data usage graph, internet telephony and FCC compliance
Evidence the build was real
Myce found a Nexus 5 build fingerprint pointing to a KTU83 build created on March 24, which appeared to match the build in the screenshot.
Frequently asked questions
What was the main Nexus 5 complaint?
Battery drain caused by the mm-qcamera-daemon process was the most common one.
Was the changelog official?
No. The list came from a leak, and a full changelog was due only after Google published the build.
Is 4.4.3 still current?
No. It is a long outdated release and the Nexus 5 is no longer supported.