Monday, January 27, 2014

Samsung to issue new Galaxy Note 3 OTA to fix third-party accessory support issues

Cases that replicate 'S-View' functionality will work again after fix

The Android 4.4. KitKat update is making the rounds to certain Galaxy Note 3s, but an unfortunate bug is causing issues with some third-party view covers. After the update began rolling out, users reported that non-Samsung covers that replicated the "S-View" functionality were not working after the bump to KitKat. This is naturally not an intended "feature" of the latest update, and Samsung has vowed to roll out a new update that fixes the issue, according to a statement given to Ars Technica:

We have currently identified a software compatibility issue with the Galaxy Note 3 update to Android 4.4 (KitKat) and select 3rd party accessories. A software update will be available shortly. We are committed to offering a diverse and reliable mobile experience for all customers, providing continued support and solutions for any issues that arise with product updates for both Samsung manufactured and third-party accessories.

This follows up on an initial assertion that the update had nothing to do with the incompatibility, but there's really no indication that Samsung has any reason to disable third-party case functionality. Those who already have KitKat on their Note 3 can be on the lookout for another update soon, and we can expect the latest code to be integrated into future updates when they make their way to other regions as well.

Source: Ars Technica