Nexus 5 Release Date Coming? Why The Smartphone With Android 4.4 KitKat May Not Be Unveiled Just Yet

As of Wednesday, a second rumored unveiling date for the Nexus 4 and Android 4.4 KitKat has come and gone. Pundits first predicted that the smartphone and operating system would launch on Oct. 14, and then the date was Oct. 15. Now other alternate dates are being thrown around, but we can be certain of none of them.

We are actually in the time frame when Google does its fall unveilings, but one thing remains certain: When Google is ready to tell us when the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 will be released, we will know.

Google Launch History

Google has notably not yet announced any media events to give us an idea of when the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 will launch. In July, when the 2013 Nexus 7 tablet and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean were unveiled, Google announced its “Breakfast with Sundar Pichai” event a week before it occurred. Before that, we were just as clueless about the tablet and operating system launch date as we are now. Launch dates between June and July were suggested, and the 2013 Nexus 7 and Android 4.3 were ultimately unveiled in late July; the Nexus 7 went on sale even sooner than Google had announced, showing how there is always room for surprises.

As for previous Google unveilings, the Nexus 4 smartphone, Nexus 10 tablet and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system were unveiled on Oct. 29 of last year in a press release in lieu of an event, which was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy. Initially Google sent out press invitations for the event just over a week prior.

In 2011, Google unveiled its Samsung collaboration Galaxy Nexus and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system on Oct. 19. Another event marred by tragedy, Samsung released a teaser for the “Samsung Unpacked: Google Episode” event, which was originally to take place on Oct. 11, again approximately one week prior. The event was postponed following the Oct. 5 death of Apple founder Steve Jobs.

New Prospective Unveiling Dates

New launch rumors have pegged several dates for the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat. One prospective release date is Oct. 18, which has been derived from a post on the KitKat Google + page. An image of an Android-shaped KitKat bar was loaded to the page on Tuesday with the caption “Everybody dance now!” One patron noted that the phrase comes from the song “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C & C Music Factory, which released on Oct. 18, 1990. However, the length of the song is 4:06, not 4:04 as some attempted to connect to the theory.

The second prospective release date is Oct. 23, which was derived from a recently released commercial for the 2013 Nexus 7. In the commercial, the date on the tablet clearly reads "Wednesday Oct. 23," which many have taken as a clue that the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 will be unveiled on that date. In addition, Apple notably announced its press event for the iPad 5 and iPad mini 2 for Oct. 22. Some believe Google may attempt to crash Apple’s party by unveiling its own new products around the same time. The Cuperinto, Calif., company is infamous for doing the same, Gotta Be Mobile notes. Most recently, Apple sent out press invites for its iPhone event the day before the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was announced.

The third prospective release date is Oct. 31, which has been derived from Google’s ever-present-but-still-elusive Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. Some believe Google will continue to milk its candy theme with a Halloween unveiling. As Android KitKat is notably a significant marketing collaboration between Google and Nestle, it wouldn’t be surprising for this Halloween to be filled with advertisements from both companies.

It is very possible that Google could announce an event within the next few days, which would keep in step with it October tradition. However, as we previously mentioned, Google appears to announce its press events at least one week in advance, which makes the Oct. 18 date unlikely, while the Oct. 23 and Oct. 31 dates are more plausible (but obviously unconfirmed).

Could Google Continue To Troll Us?

We should also keep in mind the epic bait and switch Google pulled off with the name of Android 4.4 KitKat. The name was notably decided on since November 2012; however, the Mountain View, Calif., company continued to refer to the operating system as Key Lime Pie internally, throwing fans and pundits alike off the scent of the true identity of Android 4.4. Google even went so far as to tease Key Lime Pie at its I/O conference in May. Who’s to say Google won’t do something similar with its unveiling of the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat, especially since it has kept quiet about its plans thus far? The element of surprise may continue to be Google’s secret weapon in this unveiling. It already knows we will be waiting.

Do you think the Nexus 5 and Android 4.4 KitKat unveiling is near? Let us know in the comments below.

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