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Google Play services discontinuing updates for KitKat (API levels 19 & 20) starting August 2023 (android-developers.googleblog.com)
submitted 3 years ago by [M] to c/android@lemdro.id
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The Android KitKat (KK) platform was first released ~10 years ago and since then, we’ve introduced many innovative improvements and features for Android, which are unavailable on KK. As of July 2023, the active device count on KK is below 1% as more and more users update to the latest Android versions. Therefore, we are no longer supporting KK in future releases of Google Play services. KK devices will not receive versions of the Play Services APK beyond 23.30.99.

Is anyone here still using KitKat? πŸ€”

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[–] 2 points 3 years ago (4 children)

KitKat had a good life. It was the first android version I used and has a special place in my heart.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    My first was Froyo. Thinking back to pre Honeycomb (Ice Cream Sandwich for those features to come to phones) makes me really appreciate how far Android has come. Each update was huuuuuge. Now each year the version increases and I don't notice a single new thing. It's boring by comparison, but it's really nice that Android is so good now that the updates can be boring.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 years ago

    Oh, my heart. I remember messaging my now wife with one on Skype. It was so laggy because my phone was super budget but I was amazed what I could do nonetheless.

    I can still feel the plastic texture and the delayed vibration following a half second later.

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    • [–] 1 point 3 years ago

    In terms of vulnerabilities, Even Android 9 is dangerous. Why whould someone use an Android Kitkat device nowadays?

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    [–] 1 point 3 years ago

    I have not heard that name in a long time. Throwback to the days of installing ROMs and rooting my Moto X. Felt like a good time for Android.

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    [–] 1 point 3 years ago (1 child)

    I remind to anyone that any website using a letsencrypt SSL certificate won't be accessible from android<7 next year, unless the owner manually changes the default browser to Firefox.

    Basically everyone using Android<7 won't be able to access 6% of global websites because of the expired root certificates. They won't know how to bypass the warning nor how to install Firefox, they will just buy a new phone

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  • [–] 0 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Its kinda sad that instead of just installing an app people would buy a new phone

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    I'm not sure if it's even just as easy as "use Firefox" like the original comment implies. For your web browser, sure. But presumably these root certs are used by all apps. And thus many apps that depend on the internet would break (most wouldn't do what Firefox does and being your own root CA certs).

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