Android 4.4 KitKat And Nexus 5 Appear In Photos In Italy

This week someone all the way over in Italy appears to have gotten their hands on a Nexus 5 running no less than Android 4.4 KitKat. This build seems to be final or certainly near-final with a collection of features we've either only heard rumors of or have never seen before. Working with build KRS92B and Kernel 3.4.0, this Nexus 5 appears to be nearly ready for showtime – and not all that unlike the Moto X.

Here we're finding the likes of white icons in the notifications bar, first of all – this is distinctly different from the blue or cyan look of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. NFC appears to be playing a much larger part in this equation as "Pay with just a tap" appears in the main settings collection. As shown by Tutto Android, this will likely tie in with Google Wallet, allowing the feature to come out as a much more prominent element in the LG-made Nexus 5 than in past Android devices.

Location mode appears to be separated into three categories – Device sensors, Battery saving, and High accuracy. With High accuracy, the user will have GPS, Wi-fi, and mobile networks working to grab location data. With Battery saving, just Wi-fi and mobile networks will be used. With Device sensors, just the GPS sensor will be used – much easier to understand than the series of checkmarks in previous iterations of Android.

The color scheme appears to be the biggest change in this iteration of the Android operating system. You'll find slightly flatter icons, a new "modern" set of wallpaper images, and a slightly different configuration for the lockscreen. With the lock in the same location as previous iterations of Android, you'll also find the Google Now circle is slightly more apparent, and that slight black-to-transparent gradients exist at the top and bottom of the display.

This iteration of Android nearly does away with the top black bar generally apparent in previous versions of Android – the same is true about the on-screen buttons black bar which now fades into the background. Once you're at a general homescreen you'll also see that – at first launch – the Nexus 5 may very well only be showing a camera, apps drawer, and phone icon (the phone icon notably updated from Jelly Bean 4.3).

The Boot animation appears to be the same as shown in the Google Play editions of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 with swirling, interlacing circles of color. You'll also find an updated collection of access points for Google Now. Pulling in from the left at your left-most homescreen brings Google Now up the same as you'd have gotten to "quick access settings" in a Motorola RAZR HD device last year. You can also apparently say "OK Google" from the homescreen with an "always listening" mode just like Moto X.

Have a peek at the archive of other recent revelations in the Android 4.4 KitKat universe over the past few weeks and expect a full launch sooner than later! The Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat environment are just around the corner!