Out of the blue Google has confirmed the release of Android 5.1 Lollipop, despite making no formal announcement.
An update to the company’s official Android One website (which promotes cheap, stock Android phones) declares each new device “Runs the latest and fastest version of Android (5.1 Lollipop)”.
Many initially thought this was a typo, but Android Police has since confirmed the update with photography of the new Lollipop version number on Android One phones (image below).
Android Pit has also scoured its servers to detect Nexus-specific Android 5.1 build numbers:
- Android 5.1; Nexus 5 Build/LMY29C
- Android 5.1; Nexus 9 Build/LMY22E
- Android 5.1; Nexus 6 Build/LMY22E
Read more - Best And Worst Things About Android 5.0 Lollipop
Android 5.1 Changes
No changelog has been announced for the 5.1 update, but its timing does match a leak Android Pit obtained in late December. It claimed Android 5.1 would launch in February and disclosed the following changes:
- 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 [sic] by certain devices fixed
- Other improvements and changes
- Changes in the Material Design color palette (after users complaints, possibly for a higher version though)
Now Android 5.1 has been announced I would expect Google to release an official changelog in the very near future. So what to say about Android 5.1?
Primarily that it continues a disturbing trend of Google being very weird…
Google’s Bizarre Silence
While Android 5.1 cannot come soon enough, it continues the pattern of Google’s strange behaviour ever since the initial launch of Android 5.0 on 5 November.
That launch coincided with the release of the controversial Nexus 6 which, like Android 5.1, was launched without warning. Since then Google’s approach to the OS can only be described as slap dash with different Nexus devices currently sitting on different versions. As it stands:
- Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 - Android 5.0.1
- Nexus 6 - Android 5.0
- Nexus 7 and Nexus 9 - Android 5.0.2
Read more - iOS 8 vs Android 5.0 Lollipop Review: Material Difference
Aside from the odd roll-out, numerous users have also reported that the memory bugs which hit performance and battery life and delayed the initial Lollipop 5.0 release have not been fully squashed. My long term review of the Nexus 6 backs this up.
It is also no coincidence that statements by HTC, Motorola and OnePlus all confirmed they would miss their initial 90 day Lollipop upgrade window, though some updates are now starting to appear.
Consequently hopes will be high that Android 5.1 not only fixes these ongoing glitches, but also unifies the higgledy piggledy Android version numbers on Nexus devices and provides third party Android handset makers with a more solid foundation for their roll-outs. After all there is a revolutionary OS under all this and one I personally prefer to iOS 8.
That said come on Google, all this radio silence before and after launches needs to stop. It’s not good business practice and, more than that, it's plain creepy.
Read more - Nexus 6 Review Long Term: A Big, Brilliant Mistake
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