Although Google started its official rollout of Android 4.4 KitKat over the air updates to Nexus devices a few days ago, it always takes days or weeks before the updates hit most phones. For those of us who are impatient and don't care about wiping a device to get the latest version, there's another source, the factory images for Nexus devices page, home to stock images built for respective devices. Just a short while ago, Google updated the factory images page with links to KitKat images for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012 and 2013, WiFi and Cellular), and Nexus 10. 

Those three devices run build KRT16O, just slightly newer than the KRT16M running on the newly-released Nexus 5. One thing to note is that as expected, the Google Experience Launcher remains exclusive to the Nexus 5, so don't be disappointed when you load up a fresh version of KitKat on your other devices.

 
Nexus 4 running KitKat

If you absolutely need KitKat right away and don't mind that you'll be wiping your device back to a clean slate, this is the easy way to get it. 

Source: Google

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  • Nuno Simões - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link

    "If you absolutely need KitKat right away and don't mind that you'll be wiping your device back to a clean slate, this is the easy way to get it. "

    Or you can just download the update version and keep everything. I did it with my N7 (2013).
  • Zinc64 - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link

    Agreed...downloaded the update and flashed with TWRP...took five minutes...no wipe...lost nothing.
  • IvanCarlos - Friday, November 15, 2013 - link

    where can I find these updates (not full image?) I'm using Nexus 4
    I need to install something on PC or just need to use TWRP Manager app for Android?

    thanks!
  • Gnarr - Friday, November 15, 2013 - link

    That, or removing the wipe parameter from the flash-all script.
  • Eddytion - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link

    What the FUCK Google?!
    I buy Google devices for their updates only. Stop doing shit like this, or else you'll lose a lot of costumers.
    This is seriously stupid, even Apple manages to run iOS7 on iPhone 4 (a 2010 phone) and you cannot keep up the updates for a 2012 phone with amazing hardware.
    Shame on you.
  • Eddytion - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link

    How it should really be:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyQKhVvePHY
  • Nuno Simões - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link

    Ask an iPhone 4 how Siri is doing. Oh wait! Fragmentation within the same version of an OS is still fragmentation, no matter what iSheep say.

    On the bright side, Google said GEL 'will' be released for other devices soon, whatever soon means.
  • ltcommanderdata - Thursday, November 14, 2013 - link

    Fragmentation is an issue faced by third party developers to the detriment of users because it makes it more difficult to program and support the broader platform. Siri isn't accessible to third party developers so it doesn't cause fragmentation, because it doesn't cause any developers any hardship. The vast majority of APIs and frameworks in iOS 7, baring hardware limitations like there is physically no Bluetooth 4.0 LE radio, are useable by developers on the iPhone 4 directly with no modification necessary. The iPhone 4 even got a bunch of new OpenGL ES 2.0 extensions even though it's GPU is woefully old and underpowered. It may be slow, but it will run. This is why iOS is considered less fragmented.

    Coincidentally, Apple just pushed out iOS 7.0.4 which is available for the old iPhone 4 simultaneously as it's available for a new iPhone 5S.
  • Impulses - Friday, November 15, 2013 - link

    The GEL isn't something third party developers have to be concerned with either, so by your definition neither case has anything to do with fragmentation.
  • Impulses - Friday, November 15, 2013 - link

    Oh, he was talking about the Galaxy Nexus? I figured the rant had something to do with the content of this news article...

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