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Android 5.1 Lollipop Update: 5 Things You Need to Know

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Yesterday, Google quietly announced the arrival of a brand new Android Lollipop update dubbed Android 5.1 Lollipop. The Android 5.1 Lollipop follows the company’s Android 5.0.2 Lollipop release and it could deliver some key changes to Google’s stable of Nexus smartphones and tablets. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know right now about Android 5.1 Lollipop.

In November, Google finally started rolling out its Android 5.0 Lollipop update to Nexus smartphones and Nexus tablets. The update delivered enhancements, bug fixes and new features to owners of devices like the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7. It also brought a number of problems along with it, something that lead to a series of complaints from Nexus users.

Slowly but surely, Google’s corrected some of these initial Android 5.0 Lollipop problems. First with an Android 5.0.1 Lollipop update and then a newer Android 5.0.2 Lollipop update. Those two updates remain the most current versions of Android available to Nexus smartphone and Nexus tablet users though it appears that another update is on the way.

Nexus6-lollipop

It appears that that update is Android 5.1 Lollipop, a mysterious revision to the Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system, and one that’s certainly piqued the interest of Nexus users, and other Android users around the world.

Android 5.1 Lollipop burst onto the scene yesterday with a flurry of details. The Android 5.1 Lollipop update is confirmed and it delivers at least one new feature. It’s also said to be coming to some of Google’s Nexus devices. There are also a number of blanks left for Google to fill in. We’re not sure when it plans on doing that so for now, Android users are going to have to be patient.

Today, we want to take a look at everything we know right now about Android 5.1 Lollipop. This primer will get you caught up with the latest details and prepare you for Google’s eventual roll out.

Android 5.1 Lollipop Confirmed

The first thing you need to know is that this isn’t some sick joke or a prank. Android 5.1 Lollipop is very real. Google’s way of announcing the update was extremely unorthodox but it’s clear that this update is very real and that it will be rolling out to at least one set of Android devices in the near future.

Android-5.1

Android 5.1 Lollipop was confirmed yesterday via Google’s Indonesian website. Oddly enough, the website no longer says “Android 5.1” (it looks like someone jumped the gun) but it’s clear that the update is on the way. How do we know this? Android Police managed to grab a screenshot of an Android One device running Android 5.1. Evidently, Android One devices are shipping with the new software on board.

Android 5.1 Lollipop Release Limited

Yes, Android 5.1 Lollipop is limited to Android One devices in Indonesia and it’s only appeared on devices that were recently purchased. Android 5.1 Lollipop does not appear to be rolling out to Android One devices in Indonesia or in any other regions where the devices are sold.

Google Indonesia scrubbed all of the Android 5.1 references and the spec sheets for these Android One devices now reads “Android Lollipop (and gets the new version soon after it’s released).” Sure sounds like an Android 5.1 Lollipop roll out is imminent, at least for Android One devices in Indonesia.

Nexus Android 5.1 Lollipop Update

Now here’s where things really start to get interesting. Android Police claims that it’s tracked down a series of references from its site data that hint at an upcoming release for Nexus smartphones and tablets. While these could certainly be spoofed, it’s probably not a coincidence. All of them are running the correct builds and all of them are running Android 5.1.

  • Android 5.1; Nexus 5 – Build LMY29C
  • Android 5.1; Nexus 6 – Build LMY29C
  • Android 5.1; Nexus 6 – Build LMY29D
  • Android 5.1; Nexus 9 – Build LMY22E
  • Android 5.1; Nexus 6 – Build LMY22E

If Google does roll out this Android 5.1 update, and it is a bug fixer, we doubt that it will keep it limited to three devices. There are still some system-wide bugs that need to be fixed and we sincerely doubt that Google will leave devices like the Nexus 7 2013 behind.

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to say when the Android 5.1 Lollipop release might be for these devices though we could certainly be close. If Android One devices are set to get Android 5.1, Nexus devices shouldn’t be too far behind.

Nexus 4 Android 5.0.1 Update Review Early -   4

If and when Google does decide to push Android 5.1 Lollipop for its Nexus devices, the update will show up in factory image form at Google’s Android Open Source Project. And once an update shows up there, the OTA shouldn’t be too far behind. Keep an eye out.

Android 5.1 Lollipop Feature

Android 5.1 remains very mysterious though we did hear about one feature change from Android 5.0 Lollipop. That change is the ability to change Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections from the Quick Settings menu.

It may not seem like much but this new addition to the Lollipop change log will allow Android users to quickly change settings without leaving an application. In other words, it’s not going to jump into a full-screen view. It’s far more convenient, especially for Android users who are constantly shuffling between connections on a phone or tablet.

This, for the moment, is the only confirmed change on the Android 5.1 Lollipop update which leads us to believe that this is going to be a monster bug fixer for Android 5.0 Lollipop problems.

Android 5.1 Lollipop Change Log (Rumored)

There is a rumored Android 5.1 Lollipop change log though. The change log, which comes from AndroidPIT, leaked out several weeks ago and it details a number of fixes that are supposedly on board the new upgrade.

Nexus9-11-620x4121

Here is a full list of the rumored changes. It’s not clear if these will make it on board the final version of Android 5.1.

  • Silent mode added after missing on Android 5.0
  • General improvements in system stability
  • Improved RAM management
  • Fixes for sudden app closures
  • Improved battery management
  • Excessive consumption of network devices when used Wi-Fi fixed
  • Issues with wireless connections fixed
  • Problems with Okay Google function solved
  • Notifications problems solved
  • Some sound problems experience by certain devices fixed
  • Other improvements and changes

Here’s something else you need to know about. Nexus users have reported app crashes after upgrading to Android 5.0 Lollipop. According to Google’s Issue Tracker, the issue is being caused by a memory leak on board the operating system. The bug, it seems, prevents the operating system from clearing memory as intended.

This unfortunately has lead to a number of app crashes on Android 5.0, Android 5.0.1 and Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. We’ve heard that the problem is affecting Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 users though we haven’t seen the problem ourselves. We have seen the problem occur on the Nexus 6 though. Now here’s the interesting part.

Google, at the time, said that a fix will be coming in a future Android update though the company failed to confirm that update. Maybe the update is Android 5.1 Lollipop. We’re hopeful that it is.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Manuel Cataño

    02/13/2015 at 9:55 pm

    Hey guys, i was wondering if this Update wil come to Moto g 2014 and Mot x devices. Guess they must receive but… Not sure. Do you know something about this??? Thnks..!

    • sayed Nadeem

      03/01/2015 at 5:25 am

      I updated it in Jan 2015
      By updating moto updater then a pop up came after a week for upgrade & 326 mb update was done by keeping battery & net up to Mark

  2. david

    03/29/2015 at 11:03 pm

    i can’t update. it stuck on my micromax canvas a1. anyone pliz help me

  3. Dig

    04/29/2015 at 11:47 am

    I have Verizon LG G3 just updated last week. Battery life easily cut in half maybe even 75%. What use to take 2 hours to fully charge, takes 6-8 hours. If you are using phone while charging, maybe 1% for every 10 minutes. Have not experienced the WiFi problems that some have had. The G3 was a very good phone, but after the update, I’d almost go back to my Droid Bionic.

    No response from Verizon (their support on this is a joke)

  4. Junior

    03/16/2016 at 2:10 pm

    I tried to update my lg g3 d722. After d update it said invalid software update. What can i do please?

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