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Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop Update: What to Expect Now

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Google’s Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop release is making progress but the job still isn’t finished. With Android 5.0 Lollipop problems swirling and select Nexus users looking for guidance, we want to take a look at what we expect now from the Android 5.0 Lollipop update and release for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 10, Nexus 7, Nexus 9, and Nexus 6.

Last month, Google announced a slew of new products including a Nexus 6 smartphone, a Nexus 9 tablet, and an Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, and Nexus 5. It also confirmed Android 5.0 Lollipop for its stable of Google Play Edition devices. While Google detailed its Android 5.0 Lollipop update for Nexus users, it did not go into detail about the release date.

Nexus9-7

Earlier this month, Google’s Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop release date finally arrived for select Nexus users including owners of the Nexus 5, Nexus 4, Nexus 10 and Nexus 7. The update, one of the biggest in the history of the Android operating system, takes Nexus users from Android 4.4.4 KitKat to Android 5.0 Lollipop and delivers a number of new features including the Lollipop update’s new Material Design.

The company’s made substantial progress over the past few weeks though there are still updates left to roll out and bugs left to squash. Google’s Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop release is certainly slowing down but there is work yet to be done. With that in mind, we want to make some bold predictions about the Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop release going forward. Our goal is to help set expectations for those of you without the Android 5.0 update and for those of you that are currently dealing with Android 5.0 Lollipop problems on the Nexus 4, Nexus 10, Nexus 7, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, and or Nexus 9.

Here’s what we expect now from Google’s Android 5.0 Lollipop release, a release that will almost certainly stretch into next year for owners of its Nexus smartphones and tablets.

Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop OTAs to Finish Soon

We fully expect the active Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop OTAs, some of which have been rolling since November 12th, to finish up in the near future. We’re still hearing from people who say that they’ve set to get the Nexus 5, Nexus 7 or Nexus 4 Android 5.0 Lollipop update from Google. We ourselves have yet to see the OTA update for the Nexus 7 2012 or Nexus 7 2013. Both are stock and both are Wi-Fi only. It’s strange to say the least.

Nexus 4 Android L System Image MIA

We haven’t heard anything about Google pausing the OTA upgrades for any of these devices in the U.S. so we expect the remaining Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop updates to roll out in the near future as Google works to deliver its largest update ever to millions of Nexus devices around the world. We still recommend checking a few times a day through settings.

We also recommend taking a look at our last minute tips for Nexus users. These tips will help you formulate a pre-release plan for the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for your Nexus device or devices.

Nexus 7 Android 5.0 Lollipop Releases Without Warning

Google still hasn’t announced or pushed out the Nexus 7 HSPA+ or Nexus 7 LTE Android 5.0 Lollipop updates. The delay doesn’t come as much of a surprise given that Google was extremely late with the Nexus 7 LTE Android 4.4.3 KitKat and Android 4.4.4 KitKat updates but it now looks like the immediate Android 5.0 roll out will drag on into the month of December.

We don’t expect it to drag on much longer than that. We’ve seen Nexus roll outs lag but we’d be extremely surprised if Google let this roll out drag into 2015. We’ve never see a major Android release stretch that far into the future. If Google isn’t holding out to release these updates as an Android 5.0.1 bug fixer, we’d expect Android 5.0 itself to roll sometime before the end of the year, before Android engineers go on vacation.

Nexus-7-LTE-Review-2013-Verizon-3

We also expect them to roll out without much warning. Google typically does not give a heads up about Nexus Android releases, the Nexus 4 Android 5.0 Lollipop update is a prime example, so we sincerely doubt it will make a big deal out of the two releases.

We would also expect them to roll out in and around the same time as each other. If anything, we could see the Nexus 7 LTE Android 5.0 Lollipop lag a bit given its history but we’d be surprised if these two updates missed each other.

New Android 5.0 Lollipop Problems

We expect Nexus Android 5.0 Lollipop problems to continue to emerge as more and more Nexus users bump their devices up to Android 5.0 Lollipop. We’ve already seen a significant number of Android 5.0 issues emerge in recent weeks and expect that number to grow as time goes on. We expect most of those issues to be minor, isolated issues with specific Nexus devices. We do not expect many major, experience-altering bugs to be discovered in the weeks ahead.

Bug Fix Update Within Weeks

Google typically doesn’t announce new roll outs and it’s impossible to say when a bug fix update might roll out but given the amount of Android 5.0 Lollipop problems we’ve seen emerge on the Nexus 6 and given the complaints about issues on older Nexus devices, we can’t help but think that Google is going to follow in the footsteps of its previous Android roll outs.

Nexus6-11

Historically, Google’s pushed out bug fixers a few weeks after the initial release. Last year’s Android 4.4.1 and Android 4.4.2 updates, for instance, rolled out just days after Android 4.4 KitKat. That wasn’t the first time that happened and we don’t think it will be the last. With so many problems swirling, we’d be surprised if Google held off on an Android 5.0.1 update.

We fully expect the company to deliver a bug fixer sometime in the near future that fixes some of the more obvious and most annoying bugs on Nexus smartphones and tablets. We don’t expect Google’s first update to fix every single issues and we’d expect it to bring some problems of its own. Android 4.4.2 KitKat certainly did.

Roll Out to Stretch Into 2015

Finally, we expect Google to stretch the Android 5.0 Lollipop update release for Nexus devices into 2015. That is to say that we’ll probably see at least one update push out next year. We’d expect Google to stick to its usual formula with the update which means that we expect an initial bug fix release in the form of Android 5.0.1 or Android 5.1 and then another bug fixer later in the roll out to tie up any loose ends.

Nexus6-2

Android 4.4.3 KitKat Android 4.4.4 KitKat both rolled out in June and they were massive, and necessary, bug fixers for Android 4.4.2 KitKat. We expect to see at least two Android 5.0 Lollipop bug fixers deliver fixes and enhancements to Google’s Nexus devices. Don’t sit around waiting for an announcement though. Again, Google rarely tips anything ahead of time.

34 Comments

34 Comments

  1. AG

    11/28/2014 at 7:08 pm

    I have no issue with certain apps being unusable during the beginning periods of an update. But.
    YouTube, play store and gmail have serious issues. I mean these are google apps. They’re useless. Its horrendous. This is a nightmare.
    I hope to see an update soon. The battery drain is the least of my worries. I still get wifi albeit slow. At the moment I’m having more issues with google apps as I stated before and issues with the phone glitching and slowing down. This is literally the worst update in a while. Its pretty and I can’t wait for it to be fixed

  2. Irene

    11/28/2014 at 7:23 pm

    I am having major crash issues with my nexus 7 (2012). WiFi is extremely slow if it works at all. My apps just shut down in the. Middle of playing/using them…so frustrating!!!

  3. Marcia

    11/29/2014 at 12:54 am

    I hate lollipop! Nexus force closes. FB force clises. Everything grossly slow. Games don’t work. My tablet is nearly useless. DO SOMETHING!

  4. BernyMc

    11/29/2014 at 12:59 am

    I also have the same problem with my nexus 7 2012. Frustrating as hell hope it resolved soon.

  5. Andrew James

    11/29/2014 at 2:42 am

    Stupidly I upgraded my nexus 4. What a disaster. The battery life has plummeted, the default phone app displays ‘All Contacts’ rather than being able to display those with phone numbers (that’s why I have a phone!!). It takes significantly more space so that on an 8 gb phone I can’t install any more apps etc. etc. etc. I had been an android fan as I thought that this would be an open O/S but in lollipop Google are locking you into them (must have learnt this from Apple). Windows phone here I come!!!

  6. Garren

    11/29/2014 at 4:39 am

    Where do we submit our issues to Google about the update?? My wife and I both have the same Nexus 7 first generation tablet. Her’s got forced update and mine still has not. Her’s has slowed down tremendously and the touch screen does not respond very well at all with the update. She is very frustrated with the update. I’d like to get this info to Google if possible.

  7. sbs

    11/29/2014 at 4:41 am

    Plus material design is ugly. Might as well get a windows phone if I wanted ugly

  8. Louie

    11/29/2014 at 5:29 am

    Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013) and Nexus 9 owner here and Lollipop has been nothing but great . I always clear cache and wipe the device after an update so maybe that helps. Hope everyone’s issues get ironed out soon.

  9. Siobhan

    11/29/2014 at 5:38 am

    Also experiencing major issues since the ota update on my Nexus 7 (believe its first generation) which was almost 2 weeks ago now! The device is completely unusable at times, and barely use able at best. It freezes constantly – completely shutting down several times now. It seems to have issues in Facebook dealing with pictures, and as for videos I haven’t even attempted that. It just keeps shutting facebook down. When a new email is coming in to gmail, the device freezes and/or is extremely slow to respond. Chrome freezes constantly too – I’ve lost count of error reports I’ve sent. But chrome is ‘working’ better than Firefox or Dolphin browser which have been extremely badly affected by the update. I wouldn’t say I push my device to the limit, but I’ve tried to go in to settings and switch off any running apps often, I’ve cleared caches and removed apps I don’t use that much. None of it has made any difference. Two weeks is an awful long time to be waiting on bug fixes – especially since I am travelling and this is my contact method. Very very frustrated. Looking to windows now.

    • ChrisA

      11/29/2014 at 9:29 am

      That just about sums it up for me, my 1st Gen Nexus 7 is just the same, freezing, restarting, losing information and next to unusable most of the time. I too have cleared cache, stripped away unnecessary files and apps but to no avail. Two weeks is way too long to wait for a fix! My problems became apparent immediately after restarting, so makes me wonder just how much testing was done before Lollipop was rolled out?

  10. adgraham1

    11/29/2014 at 6:58 am

    Like others my Nexus 7 was rendered unusable. The suggested wiping of cache did nothing. I did a hard reset yesterday and things have greatly improved and at least the thing approaches what I had before. Still freezes up and sluggish at times. Will look forward to bug fix(es).

  11. Danari

    11/29/2014 at 8:38 am

    There is no excuse for Google’s lack of testing. My tablet has become unusable, but google doesn’t care because they know I won’t bother hiring a lawyer to sue them for the cost of one Nexus 7. But I will never buy another Google product. I’m sure they’re already thinking of ways to blame me for allowing a google update on a google device without doing the research and testing that they should have done. I’m sure they think I will forget about this fiasco. But I’m done with them, and I will not forget.

  12. Bill

    11/29/2014 at 9:56 am

    I agree with UGLY. Looks like they hired the person who did the graphics for WIndows 1.0. What’s next, linux commands on a black screen. No, with their artsy graphics people, it would probably be pastel pink with green text. Almost as ugly as WIndows phone now. But it is running great on my Nexus 5.

    • Gil Gardner

      11/29/2014 at 10:40 am

      Yep. Same here. Nexus 7 2012 model and OTA update.I knew something was wrong right after install. Mine is the 2012 WiFi only model and after it rebooted, I had a cell meter in the right top menu. I am wondering if they pushed the wrong image to our units. Anyway.. Did a factory reset and it got rid of the cell icon however I still have a “phone” program launching from within the OS somewhere”. With the reset it was a little better but after a few mins, the tablet would freeze and reboot. Using a memory watching program “smart booster” I was able to watch the memory go from 500 mb free to almost 0 then reboot. With some effort I was finally able to restart in recovery mode and wipe the cache. It helped tremendously but the thing is still sluggish, locks up at random and reboots like it is a bad memory leak in the OS. Games dont want to play right and in family guy the quest for stuff for example, every action after a click takes at least 10 sec to complete if not more. Clicking more than 2 or 3 things locks the game down for almost 30 seconds. Check your running programs and services and see if you also have one called “phone” running. I have spotted it running a few times in the background when using smart booster. It is not malware, its the phone dialer installed from the OS like it thinks the nexus 7 wifi is a cellphone. I really think the pushed the wrong update to our Nexus 7 devices. It is a tablet, not a cellphone. It should not have this service installed.

      • Marcia

        11/29/2014 at 12:49 pm

        Thank You Gil this was a very helpful post. I’m not sure but I think that also may be happening to me on my Nexus 7 tablet. Where do I go to turn off the phone launch? I guess that Google just wasn’t thinking. Because they have certainly put a black stain on their products by making all our lives so difficult. Thye need to remember that the customer is king and no one is too big to fail.

        • gil gardner

          11/29/2014 at 1:00 pm

          goto apps then slide over to running or processes (its the third one over if i remember correctly). Under there you will find 2 entries that have the little phone icon next to them. Mobile Data and Mobile Network configuation. Since the Nexus 7 2012 wifi doesnt have a cell mode, you can Force Stop these 2 processes. It doesnt effect the wifi in any way. Seems to keep it a bit more stable but you will have to do this every time it restarts until they issue an OTA fix. I did some reaearch this morning and it looks like Android 5.0.1 will be popping up OTA sometime in December, prob late in the month. Hope this helps.

          • Marcia

            11/29/2014 at 2:30 pm

            Thank You Gill! You are the best. Happy holidays to you.

  13. Tyler Bang

    11/29/2014 at 11:22 am

    WTF. I own the Nexus 7 (2013 WiFi only) and I’m still stuck on 4.4.4 KitKat. Though 5.0 Lollipop has issues, 4.4.4 KitKat has the BroadAnyWhere virus, which scares me to death. Please Google, send the update to my device! I don’t want it to be bricked by this so-called BroadAnyWhere virus!

  14. kris

    11/29/2014 at 12:36 pm

    Hate my tablet now its updated nexus 7 apps shutting down/forces shut down nothing seems to work.

  15. Chad Weber

    11/29/2014 at 1:08 pm

    I can repeat everyone’s comments. My tablet is so extremely slow, apps close, all awful. Hope bug fixes are coming soon.

  16. ber

    11/29/2014 at 3:51 pm

    Nexus 7 2012 here. Lather, rinse repeat. Basically I have a brick! Come the f on Google!

  17. Sean Crosse (@seancrosse)

    11/30/2014 at 3:21 am

    One of the advantages of Android is you can just revert back to KitKat…

    • Marcia

      11/30/2014 at 8:00 am

      How would I do that Sean?
      Thank you

      • dhi

        12/01/2014 at 12:22 am

        use the wugfresh tool Google it or watch some video tutorial on YouTube.I downgrade mine from 5.0 to 4.4.4 KitKat.

  18. Alex

    11/30/2014 at 4:57 am

    I was having all the same issues with my Nexus 7 2012 that everyone here is experiencing. I feel your pain for sure. One of the main reasons I bought my Nexus was for reading and Nook didn’t bother to check to see if their app was compatible with this update. It’s not so Nook wouldn’t work. This in addition to everything else that was going on(sluggishness, crashes, freezes etc.) was the last straw for me. I did some research online and decided the best course of action until Google fixes it was to flash my tablet back to 4.4.4.

    It took me about 5 hours, which was mostly research on what programs and files I needed and how to use them correctly but I did it. Now that I’ve figured it out, it’s actually a really simple process and took less than 15 mins to complete. I will warn you that doing this does wipe your tablet back to factory so you will need to save everything you can off of it, but it was totally worth it. My tablet runs as well as it ever has and I’m very pleased.

    If anyone wants help doing this I can find the links I used for the stuff you will need. Hope this helps some folks

    • Phyllis Rowe

      11/30/2014 at 7:30 am

      Please send me the links you mentioned to reset. Also I’m not clear on how to save my data on the tablet. Any suggestions as to doing this would be appreciated.
      Thanks
      Phyllis in Florida
      Forgot to mention, mine is a Nexis 7

  19. Arlo

    11/30/2014 at 5:56 am

    What a bunch of scew ups at Google. You should NOT have to go through cache clearing and complete reset exercises for an update. So sick of the losers at Google. Bye bye Android.

  20. Arcendus

    11/30/2014 at 6:45 am

    Typical. 1% “news” (which is actually 100% speculation), 99% regurgitated history on everything related to the topic.

  21. Dave

    11/30/2014 at 9:50 am

    Same problems as most posts on my Nexus7. Many of my subscription apps no longer work. This is a joke that they would release this upgrade without proper testing. Oddly enough, one silver lining, my next issue subscription seems to be working better than it was with kitkat.

  22. Sonja-77

    12/01/2014 at 10:43 am

    I am having same problems. The worst is connecting to websites. The circle goes round and round just like my microsoft desktop on Vista! Facebook kept crashing and not possible to play games. I have deleted Facebook and many of downloaded apps which has improved somewhat but my Nexus 7 is still slow. Reluctant to go back to factory settings just yet and will wait for google to fix these bugs. Let’s hope it’s soon!

  23. Chris Blevins

    12/02/2014 at 8:43 am

    My Nexus7 is almost impossible to use after this update as every thing is so slow and everything crashes continuously. Please get it fixed ASAP

  24. Angel Rodriguez

    12/02/2014 at 2:15 pm

    I have Nexus 7 2013 WiFi Only
    No Android Update 5.0 Lollipop to be found
    I live in US in Texas
    Any ideas when I’ll get the update?

    • Marcia

      12/02/2014 at 7:46 pm

      Hi Angel my suggestion is to wait until Google fixes all the problems with lollipop. It has proved to be such a fiasco that many people are swearing to leave Android and go to another operating system. My Nexus 7 2012 is slow, constantly force closes, facebook won’t stay open, and many of my games and apps no longer work. as you can see by many of the posts here people are really ticked off. So if you can wait till you start seeing more positive feedback on the Google site before you download I believe you will be much happier. Some people have said that their tablets are no longer usable. Good luck.

  25. Dawn

    03/14/2015 at 5:58 am

    I can’t believe I am looking at the dates on these complaints and they are all from last year in November thru to the first part of the year and the company knowing all the issues with this update still rolled it out at the beginning of March so that now my Galaxy 5 is rendered totally useless…. so frustrated right now I seriously unplugged my phone from the charger 5 minutes ago with 100% charge and I am now at 79%….. My apps shut down on me all the time…. just close REALLY???? Why would you continue to roll out the updates before you fixed the problems??? Hate this crap why don’t we as consumers have the right to choose if we want to update? Why is it forced on us? If it works why fix it???

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