Update Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 To Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Finally, Samsung Galaxy S4 start receiving ota update Android 4.4.2 KitKat in some countries. Since Galaxy S4 model GT-I9500 is unbranded, users from any other countries that not yet receive ota update can manually update by flashing firmware with odin. Below is the firmware details and flashing instructions.

Firmware Details 
Device Model: Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500
Firmware Version: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Build date: 13 February, 2014
Product Code: SER (Russia)
PDA: I9500XXUFNB3
CSC: I9500SERFNB3
MODEM: I9500XXUFNA6

Fireware: SER-I9500XXUFNB3-20140220172446.zip
Odin: Odin v3.09

Instruction:
- Extract (unzip) the firmware file
- Extract Odin zip-file
- Reboot phone in Download Mode (press and hold Home + Power + Volume Down buttons)
- Open Odin v3.09
- Connect phone and wait until you get a blue sign in Odin
- Click on AP and select the extracted firmware.
- Make sure re-partition is NOT ticked
- Click the start button, sit back and wait a few minutes

Please note that updating your phone with the new firmware will upgrade its bootloader, and so you will not be able to downgrade your device to Android 4.3.

Read More

Root Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Samsung Galaxy S4 model GT-I9500 started receiving official android 4.4.2 KitKat in Mid-February 2014 If you haven't received ota update and wish to manually update your phone to the latest Android version you can follow instruction here "Update Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 To Android 4.4.2 KitKat". In this post is the guide to root your Galaxy S4 device working with both Android Jellybean 4.3 and KitKat 4.4.2. If you're ready please continue reading the steps below.

Required files: Samsung USB Driver | Odin+Root File

- Download Samsung USB Driver and Install It
- Download Odin+Root File and and extract it to a folder
- Turn Off Your Phone
- Put your phone into download mode (Hold Volume Down + Home Button + Power Putton together, then when you see a warning prompt press Volume Up to continue)
- Connect your phone to computer and wait the Windows install the phone driver complete.
- Open Odin+Root File Folder and run Odin3-v1.85.exe as Administrator.
- On Odin windows make sure that your phone is connected properly by seeing a Highlight Yellow box inder ID:COM

- Press on PDA and choose CF-Auto-Root-ja3g-ja3gxx-gti9500.tar.md5

- Now click on Start and wait a few seconds your phone will restart. Now check to see if there is a new app nameSuperSu installed on your phone.
- Your phone is now Rooted.

(Please do it with your own risk)

Read More