Android 4.4 KitKat aka Key Lime Pie is expected to come out in October 14, 2013. However, many said that the date is a misinterpretation of media and subject to changes anytime. Moreover, changes in apps have been revealed as well such as Hangouts as main SMS and more.

Android 4.4 KitKat Release Date

Early reports indicated that October 14 is the scheduled launching date of the next-generation Android OS - KitKat - based from the tipster AusDroid. According to their sources, the magical date fits the time frame when most people are expecting another version of Android and of course, another Nexus smartphone.

Nexus 5 is also rumoured to be launched on the same date as Android 4.4 KitKat and the first device to actually run it, but some refers November as the actual date of release like with previous Nexus phones.

Some features of Android KitKat based from a tip include:

1. Firmware availability to older phones

2. Fragmentation changes such as screen resizing

3. Miracast updates

4. New Gallery app visualisation

5. New APIs for animations

6. Changing of palette colour schemes

7. New notification widgets

Possible Delay of Release

October 14 seems not clear for Google according to Artem Russakovskii of AndroidPolice. Some of Artem's post in Google+ revealed information regarding the official Android 4.4 KitKat release date and one of them denies 14th launching date.

"As of about a month ago, KLP's release date was set to October 31st. Dates do change and my information is about a month old, so if KitKat or the Nexus are delayed, Google may not hit the October 31st date. I really don't see them finishing everything nearly, so I wouldn't bet on anything earlier than that date. Miracles do happen though," Mr Russakovskii posted on Google+.

In addition, the posts somehow clarified that the "October 14" may have been the TA or technical acceptance date for the upcoming Nexus smartphone which according to a source, misinterpreted by media as the actual launching date.

It is possible that firmware internal reference dates it in October 14 or on the Nexus 5 but doesn't mean as release or launching date.

For the time being, Android fans should wait until KitKat or Nexus is officially announced since everything is just rumours till Google actually confirms it. The possible deadline for Android 4.4 KitKat launching may be the actual birthday of Android coming in November.

Optimisation and Segmentation

Low memory requirement is something Android 4.4 KitKat will bring to users who owns low-level phones and tablets. According to early reports from AndroidCentral, Google is currently working with an updated Linux kernel to improve memory issues of Android OS and if ever successful, the newest firmware will become available to almost any device running Android.

Firmware optimisation may only support devices equipped with 512MB RAM which still leaves out obsolete ones running Android 2.2 or 2.3. But according to StuffTV, Google can use the Play Store to push Android 4.4 into segments to allow users of very old phones or tablets to get certain features from the latest firmware instead of waiting for their manufacturers to push updates. Some segmented parts may include improvements in the UI, updated services and apps.

Application Changes

Most Google services included on Android 4.4 KitKat are updated such as Gmail, Maps and YouTube but some applications are going to be native this time and it includes the Google Keep, Drive and QuickOffice for accessing Microsoft Office documents.

Messaging app has been redesigned as well with palette colour themes and may be integrated completely to Google's Hangouts which also features chatting to circles on Google+.

Mr Russakovskii supported somehow the floating rumours regarding Android 4.4 message application which designed to function on sending and receiving text messages and multimedia services as well.

"In fact, the Messaging app is gone and is fully replaced by Hangouts, at least on the Nexus device that was being tested. It should be able to handle MMS as well," he stated.

Google finally decided to start fully integration of their services to Android OS and creation of Android's own cloud system - Hangouts and Drive to begin with - then possibly in the future, with Chrome OS.