Google Nexus Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Update Confirmed

A Nexus Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update is now confirmed for select devices and it appears that the update will start rolling out to Nexus users in the near future as Google attempts to tackle some of the initial Android 5.0 Lollipop problems that have plagued Nexus users since the start of the Lollipop roll out several weeks ago.

In October, Google confirmed a series of Android 5.0 Lollipop updates for arrival including roll outs for the Nexus 5, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Google Play Edition devices. The company did not offer specific release dates for these updates though Nexus users did not have to wait too long for their move up from Android 4.4 KitKat.

In mid-November, Google started pushing out several of its key Android 5.0 Lollipop updates including upgrades for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Nexus 5. These updates delivered new features and enhancements but as we learned, they also delivered a series of Android 5.0 Lollipop problems that hampered a great number of Nexus users.

Android 5.0 Lollipop problems have been swirling for several weeks now and while temporary fixes have been found, Nexus users were hopeful that the Google would roll out one of its patent bug fix updates before the end of the year. Historically, Google’s pushed out a bug fix update to tackle initial problems just a few weeks after the first update.

It appears that Google plans to do just that as the company has confirmed an Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update for arrival, an update that’s expected to deliver bug fixes for Android Lollipop issues. The update was pushed into the AOSP last night and the company also pushed forth a few factory images including images for the Nexus 9, Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi only and the Nexus 10. The arrival of these factory images means that an OTA is probably close, at least for the three devices involved.

We have yet to see factory images posted for key devices like the Nexus 5, Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 2012 though we suspect that we’ll see movement here later on today or later on this week as Google gears up for another major Android 5.0 Lollipop release for Nexus devices.

The exact nature of Google’s brand new Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update for these devices remains to be seen but there’s a very good chance that it will be related to the Android 5.0 bugs that are infesting Google’s new software at the moment. A full change log for the update will almost certainly be revealed in the near future as Google’s Android 5.0.1 roll out moves into the later stages.

Google’s turnaround here is impressive though its quick bug fix updates never fix everything. Android 4.4.2 KitKat, for instance, allowed Android 4.4 bugs to linger and delivered some bugs of its own. Those bugs were eventually fixed by Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat, Google’s latest two KitKat updates that pushed out in the summer.

It’s not clear if other manufacturers will follow suit. Last year, we saw most Android manufacturers shift to Android 4.4.2 KitKat after its arrival so there’s a chance that some lagging updates, like the updates for Samsung’s Galaxy series of smartphones and tablets, will shift to the newer version of Android 5.0 Lollipop. That, of course, remains unconfirmed.

Google also still plans to roll out several more Lollipop updates to its Google Play Edition devices including updates for the HTC One M8, HTC One M7 and Samsung Galaxy S4 GPe. It’s not clear if the company will push Android 5.0.1 Lollipop to these devices or if they will get Android 5.0 Lollipop. The HTC updates are expected to arrive in the imminent future, barring a setback, so users should have their answer before the end of the month.