A memory leak bug is hounding the first update to Google’s latest mobile operating system, Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, that had many of the devices running it increasingly agitated and frustrated.
According to a report by BGR, the bug prevents mobile devices running on Android 5.0.1 Lollipop to release RAM when it should. And because of this failure, the device’s memory gets maxed out easily, causing other Google apps to crash and reboot the device.
Android Authority further explained that when the memory leak reaches a critical point, Android tries to compensate for it by automatically closing apps to free up resources. What users don’t know is that it is the Android software itself that is leaking the memory and not the apps.
The memory leak happens when Android allocates a chunk of system memory for a particular task but does not release it again. This means that more and more memory are being allocated but nothing is given back in return. A device with a 2GB or 3GB RAM will eventually run out of memory sooner.
The bug is reportedly affecting most Nexus devices including the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, and the Nexus 6 smartphones and also the Nexus 7 tablet.
The serious bug problem on the first patch to Google’s latest mobile operating system is similar to the problem encountered by Apple when it launched its iOS 8.0.1 in November.
The iOS patch apparently contained major bugs that prevented many Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus from getting connected to a cellular network making them practically useless. As a result, Apple had to temporarily recall many iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets.
But Android’s problem is not as severe as that of the iOS, notes BGR. That’s in addition to the fact that there are more iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users compared to the number of consumers who are using Nexus devices.
Bug fix coming soon
The good news for Android 5.0.1 Lollipop users is that Google has been working hard to find a fix for the memory leak bug since it was discovered.
Initially, Google refused to admit that the memory leak is a bug but due to the seriousness of the complaints and its effects, it has finally relented.
Word has it that Google has fixed the source code of the so-called bug. But that still does not help users of Nexus devices already affected by the bug. It only protects those devices that have yet to install the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop.
Given that Google has already released Android 5.0.2 Lollipop less than two weeks ago, it is imperative for the company to release another patch likely to be called Android 5.0.3 Lollipop that shall have the fix for the memory leak bug among other fixes.
Nexus users are hoping that it should be soon because some are now contemplating of dropping their devices in favor of the latest iPhones.