Android Lollipop 5.1 update arrives
The Android Lollipop 5.1 update has arrived. With absolutely no fanfare, the latest update to the newest Android OS is here and will be downloaded onto devices over the next few weeks.
Sources report that new Android One devices are already appearing with Android Lollipop 5.1 loaded. This isn’t an update, they left the factory with the new update already on board.
So what does this mean for us Android users? For now, not much as it will take a few weeks for the trickle-down effect to take hold. If the update is already out in the wild, it means it’s ready to go. Once packaged and made available, it will find its way to your device of choice whenever you allow data or connect to Wi-Fi.
Google haven’t actually announced the update or told us what’s in it. What we do know is from a change log published back in December.
- Silent mode added after going 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 experienced by certain devices fixed
- Other improvements and changes
- Changes in the Material Design colour palette
Android Lollipop was a great update but it did bring with it some problems. Many of which are mentioned in the above change log. If this is indeed what is included in the 5.1 update then there are going to be a few million very happy Android users throughout February.
Despite being a big leap forward in terms of performance, features and usability, Android Lollipop is something of a slow starter. According to Google, Lollipop is only on around 2% of Android devices. Compare that to the 73% percent uptake of iOS 8 by Apple users and there is a considerable difference between the two camps.
While Google is more dependent on manufacturers than Apple, it’s still a slow start for what is a great mobile OS. Let’s hope that with this update and the squashing of many of the more annoying bugs that uptake increases.
