14 DAY TRIAL // In somewhat of a surprise move, Google has announced that the next major version of Android would bear number 4.4 and would be codenamed KitKat. Both those details were unexpected, as was the announcement itself.
Google has just released Android 4.3, the latest in the Jelly Bean line, and the presumption was that the next major release would be Android 5 Key Lime Pie and that it would come later in the fall.
Android 5 has been rumored for months now and it was supposed to be one of the major reveals at Google I/O. As it turned out, Google didn't release any new Android at I/O, but it did unveil something just as big, or perhaps bigger.
That reveal is actually the explanation for the delayed Android 5 and the reason why Android 4.4 KitKat isn't going to be a major release, despite the new codename. In fact, there may never be a major Android release, or at least, there won't be one for a long time. That's because Google doesn't need major OS releases to improve Android anymore.
With the introduction of the Google Play Services and an increasing number of other system apps and helper services available via the Play store, Google can provide new functionality both to the OS and to third-party apps across the entire Android ecosystem without having to wait for manufacturers to roll out the new versions of the OS to their devices.
To this day, few devices have been updated to Android 4.2 and only those from Google's own Nexus line have switched to Android 4.3. The same is probably going to be true for Android 4.4. The upcoming Nexus 5 will likely be sporting KitKat, but it's going to take months for other manufacturers to catch up and only with a few devices.
But Google doesn't care as much, all the worthwhile improvements will be pushed via Google app updates, so anyone running Android 2.2 or higher will benefit from them.