Galaxy Nexus users petition Sundar Pichai for Android 4.4 KitKat update

Google started the festive season with its big announcements about the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat. While the company has resolved issues related to memory constraints to bring KitKat to lower-end Android phones as well, the update won’t be coming to the Galaxy Nexus, which was released in 2011. This hasn't gone down well with most Galaxy Nexus users, so one such user Max Duckwitz has started a petition requesting Google to reconsider its decision.

After receiving nearly 14,000 signatures, he has finally written a short letter, which along with the petitions, is being sent to Sundar Pichai, the Android head at Google. Duckwitz has written in an email sent to petitioners, “Today I have printed out all of the 13,024 Signatures and over 3,000 comments, written a short letter and sent the whole package to Sundar Pichai in Mountain View, California.” He said that the package will reach Pichai's desk in about 3 weeks. As the package is sent by registered mail, he will be notified once it reaches Pichai.

Will Google buckle?

In case of the Galaxy Nexus, the update has been scuppered by the fact that the device runs on a Texas Instruments OMAP chipset, a platform that TI itself doesn't support any more. So Google will need to single-handedly drive all Android 4.4 KitKat development for the chipset, which could run up a considerable bill. The Galaxy Nexus isn't helped by the fact that it has run out Google's 18-month support period.

However, considering how popular the Galaxy Nexus is in many markets and the fact that it's still being sold in the Indian grey market, Google could have a lot of angry users eventually. One option for Galaxy Nexus users is to turn to the custom ROM scene, where the development community is churning out firmware based on Android 4.4 for the phone. It's definitely a roundabout way and not for every user, but the option does exist.