With the forthcoming release of the latest mobile operating system known as the Android M, many Android smartphone makers are already scampering to update to the latest firmware update of the Android 5.0 Lollipop to better position their handsets for a likely update on the next mobile OS from Google.
So in addition to updating to Android 5.1 Lollipop, many smartphone makers are also working round-the-clock to update their handsets to the latest and most likely the last firmware update, the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, before the arrival of the Android M.
Although no one knows for sure if Android 5.1.1 Lollipop is to be the last firmware update from Google because of the recent case with the Apple iOS. Everyone already thought that the iOS 8.4 is to be the last firmware update for the iOS before the American tech giant officially rolls out the iOS 9 in September. But on June 30, Apple still released the iOS 8.4.1 update much to the surprise of iOS device users, most especially the Apple iOS jailbreak community.
While it is one of the last smartphone makers to have taken on the Android 5.0 Lollipop update, Sony will definitely not bring up the rear for the updating of its smartphones to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and the Android M.
Sony Japan has announced that its Xperia Z2 and Xperia Z3 smartphones and other variants will be getting the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop updates over-the-air (OTA) by the end of this month, reports the International Business Times.
Improvements that come with the firmware update
Apparently, the firmware update will come with improvements on the Xperia smartphones including new options in the notifications menu for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In addition, the Settings menu shall also get refreshed icons as well as new animations.
In addition to the Xperia Z2 and the Xperia Z3, the Xperia Z2 Tablet and the Xperia Z3 Dual and Xperia Z3 Compact are also confirmed for the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update.
However, the rollout of the update will come in stages. It is expected that only a few of the listed Xperia devices will receive the update at first and once the release is proven successful, the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop will come to the rest of the smartphones and tablets on the list.
Typical with an OTA update, users will be able to see it through a notification so they can manually check the system updates of their respective devices in the Settings menu.
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop is a big update so those who plan to download it via mobile data will definitely incur huge cost so Sony is recommending that users should use a Wi-Fi connection to download the firmware update instead.
Meanwhile, Sony has also released the Android M developer preview build for 12 of its Xperia devices, which is consistent with its two-tiered approach to equip its devices with the latest mobile operating system from Google once it is officially released in a few months’ time.
Unlike in the release of the Android 5.0 Lollipop in November last year when Sony’s smartphones and tablets got it quite late, it will not be the case with the Android M as it is likely that the first 12 Xperia devices will be among the firsts to receive the latest mobile OS from Google.
Skipping Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and proceeding straight to Android M
While Sony may be working overtime to roll out the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop to many of its Xperia devices, Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC appears to be not in a rush to take on the firmware update for its flagship smartphones.
Accordingly, the current and previous flagship smartphones of the company, the HTC One M9 and the HTC One M8, respectively, have been confirmed to receive the new Android M mobile operating system when it officially rolls out later in the year and that is why the devices will be skipping the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop firmware updates, reports Yibada.