Updated Nexus 9 factory images lead this week’s Android device updates roundup

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Published 21 Nov 2014

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Disclosure

The Nexus 9 is a pretty solid tablet. As part of ’s Nexus program, you can grab the factory images download them directly, freeing you to tinker away with your device restore it to its original state if things go haywire.

uploaded a new image for its flagship tablet, solving an issue some were having with updating squashing a few bugs along the way. 

Each week we gather up all the major software updates for the biggest devices; phones tablets on U.S. carriers ( unlocked phones, of course), wearables, round them all up so you don’t miss a thing.

Making sure your device installs the latest software is a good housekeeping practice, ensuring you have the latest features, close security holes, squash those pesky bugs.

Nexus

Nexus 9: The latest factory image for the Nexus 9 is here, bringing some bug fixes performance improvements to ’s newest tablet. Version X21R is supposed to upgrade those who could not move from X21to X21Q. If you can’t get the update over-the-air on your tablet, head to ’s page flash it yourself.

AT&T

Galaxy Note 3: Congratulations, you’re getting some extra AT&T Samsung bloatware in your latest update. At least you’re getting bumped up to Android 4.4.4, which has some bug fixes performance updates. But the over-the-air update also brings the Samsung-made Kid mode, SideSync 3.0, Knox 2.0, virtual tour mode in the camera app, adds Uber to the list of apps you can’t uninstall (not exactly great timing).

Sprint

Galaxy S5: ile Verizon’s variant got this update two months ago, the Sprint Galaxy S5 is finally getting Android 4.4.4. Beyond the security fixes other improvements in the most recent build of KitKat, the download includes support for international -Fi calling an icon for accessing HD voice capabilities.

Verizon

G Vista: Verizon is pushing out a few user interface tweaks in update VS88011B. The most notable is a pop-up that displays caller information when you’re having a phone conversation. There’s also a camera button on the lock screen improved performance with YouTube, which will be useful if you go with ’s YouTube MusicKey service.

Huawei

Ascend Mate2: Huawei took some heat for announcing in a bizarre blog post that it would not be updating its Ascend Mate 2 to llipop. The company is now reversing course, saying that it will update the phone to Android 5.0 in the “first half of 2015.” It’s nice to see Huawei change its mind, but it still has us shaking our heads that they would have even thought of doing this in the first place.