Yesterday, Google unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Nexus 5, and as expected the handset will ship running 4.4 KitKat, Android’s brand new version of software when it leaves the warehouse. In an effort to make life a little bit easier for developers Google has uploaded the official Android 4.4 factory images to its website so they can tinker with the Nexus 5’s ROM till their heart’s content prior to receiving the handset.

The factory images are not your standard JPG or PNG. They are in fact images which allow you to directly update and wipe your device, effectively installing the newly released operating system from scratch.

The factory images are not your standard JPG or PNG. They are, in fact, images which allow you to directly update and wipe your device, effectively installing the newly released operating system from scratch.

Android 4.4 brings a completely redesigned multitasking system which optimizes memory usage in every major component, “meaning users can run more of their favourite apps and switch between them faster than ever.”

In addition, the latest version of the open-source OS takes caller ID to a whole new level; when users receive a call from a telephone number that’s not in their contacts, their phone will search Google to look for matches from businesses with a local listing from Google Maps.

If you have already or are going to order the Nexus 5 and wish to download the factory images – just click the source link below.

• SourceGoogle Developers Blog