Sprint’s Moto X now getting Android 4.4 KitKat (13.11.3Q2.X-69-3-8)

Sprint’s Moto X seems to be receiving an upgrade today, but it doesn’t look like your typical bug fixer and maintenance release. We’re hearing murmurings that this thing is full-on KitKat, with all the great changes folks have been enjoying on other versions of the Moto X for a few weeks now. Sprint’s Moto X already received the upgrade in the form of a Soak Test, but that went out to a very limited group of users.

The following changelog should be familiar to those of you who have been following the KitKat OTA news for the Moto X as of late, but here it is anyway in case you aren’t in the know:

• Android 4.4, KitKat, is the latest release of the Android platform. KitKat includes enhancements such as restyled status and navigation bars, a new full-screen mode, color emoji support, improved closed captioning support, stronger security, smarter power use, and more tools and capabilities for better app development.
• Improved Phone Dialer app with the ability to look up contacts directly from the dial pad, see and tap frequent contacts, and search your corporate directory easily.
• Incorporated a new version of Google Hangouts that supports integrated SMS/MMS messaging. Hangouts can be set as the default SMS app under Settings>Wireless>Default SMS app.
• NFC Host Card Emulation support to improve experiences such as contactless payments, loyalty plans, transit passes, card access and more.
• Camera – Focus and exposure: Enhanced the “touch to focus” option with a new circular, on screen control that can be dragged by your finger around the viewfinder to adjust a photo’s focus and exposure.
• Gallery – Photo editing: Added new photo editing options to the Gallery app including new filter effects, draw on your photos, advanced cropping, and adjustments to color, exposure, contrast and more.
• Touchless Control – “Find my phone”: Added a new “Find my phone” command to Touchless Control. Just say “OK, Google Now-find my phone” and your Moto X will ring loudly to let you know where it’s hiding when you’ve misplaced it nearby.

Users are reporting that this is going out as version 13.11.3Q2.X-69-3-8, so be on the lookout for it. This might be a staggered rollout process, so you might not be able to find it right away. We’ll await more information from Sprint, but for the time being be sure to head to Settings > About Phone if you want to see if you’re ready to pull this down. You know the drill: WiFi, charge battery, and have fun!

[Sprint, Thanks Richard!]