Android 4.3 Update - S3, S4, S4 Mini & Note II

[Chris_K]

Hi All,

Many of you have been asking about the much anticipated Android 4.3 update for several key Samsung devices – Including the S3, S4, S4 Mini & Note II. As with all updates we have an in-depth and rigorous testing procedure to ensure the update is seamless and provides a perfect user experience.

What are some key updates in Android 4.3?

-              Lower latency input for gamepad buttons and joysticks

-              Bluetooth AVRCP 1.3 support - display song names on a car stereo

-              OpenGL ES 3.0 - Android now supports the latest version of the industry standard for high performance graphics

-              Official support for the Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch > http://accessoryshop.o2.co.uk/search?query=galaxy+gear

How do I get this Android 4.3 update?

Sometimes these updates are available via Samsung KIES before they are available OTA (over the air). To update via KIES, please visit this Samsung link which contains a download button to get the KIES desktop software as well as simple steps on how to install and update > http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/usefulsoftware/SWUP/JSP

Once the update arrives OTA, you can download this by going to Settings > General > About > Software Update > Update. This may differ very slightly depending on your device or software build.

Android 4.3 availability break-down

Galaxy S4 – The 4.3 update is now live via the Samsung KIES PC application. Connect your phone via USB, open KIES and check for updates. The S4 OTA update is also live and will be pushed out in batches from the date it went live on KIES - If you don't have the OTA update yet, consider updating via KIES instead.

Galaxy S4 Mini – The latest 4.2.2 update has been available via Samsung KIES since November 30^th and should be available to all O2 handsets by connecting and updating via KIES. The OTA update will be released in batches over the coming weeks. Though this particular update doesn’t include the same changes as the above 4.3 update, it does bring with it official support for the Galaxy Gear Smartwatch. Android 4.3 may come to this device in the future, but we currently have no further details on this. We’ll let you know if/when that changes, however.

Galaxy S3 – We have received this update from Samsung and after our rigorous testing, has been approved and passed to Samsung for release. We hope for this to begin pushing out to O2 handsets over the coming week or two (hopefully before the end of the month) so keep your eyes peeled on your update screen. We'll let you know if there are any unforeseeable issues or delays that crop up.

Note II – The 4.3 update for the Note II is now live for OTA updates. This will be roll out in batches over the next few weeks so this update may not be available to you immediately. If you have an O2 branded Note II and don't see this update, I'd recommend connecting manually to KIES and checking for updates this way.

Thank you for your patience in awaiting this update - we know some of you have been eagerly awaiting receiving it or further information around it.

Are you looking forward to the update? If you’ve already been able to update to 4.3 via KIES, what do you think? The biggest change with the 4.3 update is that it supports Samsung’s Galaxy Gear Smartwatch – Something only the Note 3 supported previously. Will this update make you think about trying out wearable technology anytime soon?

Edit Log:

2:22pm 18th Dec - Updated availability news for the Note II

3:52pm 19th Dec - Updated OTA availability for the S4

11:25am 21st Jan - Updated Galaxy S3 section

[Anonymous]

Ok that one has not yet been released by o2.

Many of the changes that kitkat bring are "under the bonnet". The upgrade isn't major and in my opinion is likely to disappoint those who are desperate for it so much that they can't wait! !!!!!

It will come soon enough.

[MI5]

The average user will not see anything different at all.

[Anonymous]

Following MI5's guidance, after upgrading to KitKat I decided last night to factory data reset as well. Never done so before following an upgrade. Took a while to do but did make a difference.

Apps that I had "hidden" in 4.3 which were not showing in 4.4 are now showing although I now no longer have the option to hide them (it appears I may be able to put them in a folder though). The battery icon is now grey instead of green and battery life is around 15% better I reckon.

[Anonymous]

Well updated to the latest o2 branded firmware hoping it would fix a problem I've had since the last update, both the native music player and the Google play music app started pausing and restarting randomly and I would get skips and distortions like a scratched cd, so did the latest update and factory reseted this worked for maybe a week but now it is as bad as before with both music players. Don't know what to do now

[Anonymous]

Forgot to say I've got o2 branded s3 i9300

[MI5]

Is this when streaming or playing music off the device?
If on device, where is it stored?
I don't have any issues with either so I'm not sure what to suggest other than you looking to see if anything else appears to be happening when the music starts skipping....

[Anonymous]

Hi, it's when playing music on the device, I've got a few albums bought from Google play and they are stored on the phones memory, 1.8gb, and the rest of my music is on an 8gb sandisk micro sd think it's class 10, 6gb of music on that. I've tried switching off everything Internet connection, syncing and location reporting but still get the problem so don't think it's any of that effecting the music but I'll keep a look out for anything else doing anything when I get the music problem.

[MI5]

Have you tried in Safe Mode to see if it's any better ?

[Anonymous]

Safe mode? Didn't even know it had a safe mode, how do I turn out on? Thank you for taking the time to help trouble shoot

[MI5]

Hold down the home key whilst you power on. It should start the phone with just the core apps and will say "safe mode" in the corners of the screen. If it plays OK in safe mode it rules out a hardware issue so you know that you are looking at a software glitch/bug.