Google first unveiled Android Lollipop
back in the Summer at its Google I/O conference. At the time it was simply
"Android L", but has since been given its confectionary-based,
alphabetic moniker, as well as version number 5.0. As usual, the software was
debuted on a signature Google Nexus device, well two actually, the Nexus 6
phablet made by Motorola, and a Nexus 9 tablet made by HTC.
Other manufacturers take a little
longer to get new Android builds onto their latests devices, partly due to
testing it on their hardware, but partly due to their need to add their own
flavour via UI overlays while integrating new system features and designs.
Several manufacturers, including Samsung, HTC, and LG, have either declared
their intention to update lead devices already, or we've seen leaked software
builds pictured online.
Will your
device make the cut? If so, when will it arrive? These are the questions we're
aiming to answer with this information hub.
Android
5.0 Lollipop introduces an entirely new Material Design language, so you can
expect the latest update to your device to look pretty different from before.
It'll also add Google Now card-style notifications, built-in Android Beam
features for streaming to other devices, and a package of software
optimisations designed to give you the best battery life possible. However,
don't expect to get stock Android 5.0 on anything other than Google's Nexus
range and some of Motorola's devices.
Google has now begun rolling out
Android Lollipop to its Nexus handsets and tablets, meaning if you own a Nexus
5, Nexus 7 or Nexus 10 the update should be hitting your device anytime soon.
There are
some mitigating circumstances, however, as noted by Google: “The update is
rolling out over-the-air to Google’s main line-up of Nexus devices, including
the Nexus 5, 7 (both generations, but not LTE/3G versions yet), and 10, while rollout
for LTE/3G models of the Nexus 7 as well as the Nexus 4 will be coming at some
point in the near future.”
