Android 5.1 Lollipop Finally Rolls Out on Nexus Devices

Google has finally rolled out the Android 5.1 Lollipop on March 9 on its Nexus devices. While initial reports that it would happen at the earliest on March 6, the firmware update to the highly touted but otherwise problematic Android 5.0 Lollipop finally arrived.

It may be no coincident that it actually came out simultaneous to the Apple event launching the American tech company’s new smartwatch and its new MacBook.

As reported last week, at least four Nexus devices would receive first the over-the-air (OTA) updates to Android 5.1 Lollipop including the Nexus 4, the Nexus 5, the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 7, reports CNet.

Google announced that the latest flavor to its Android Lollipop is now rolling nicely to the Nexus 4 smartphone, the Nexus 5 smartphone and the 2013 edition of the Nexus 7 tablet through carrier T-Mobile.

T-Mobile, in its website, said that OTA installation on the three devices has began since Monday and users can do so through Wi-Fi connection. The carrier also said that the Android 5.1 Lollipop OTA via cellular connection will come at a later date.

Meanwhile, it is carrier Sprint who is paving the way for the OTA roll out of Android 5.1 Lollipop to the Nexus 6 phablet.

However, the carrier’s website announced that the updates may be released in stages. So owners of Nexus 6 with Sprint as its carrier will have to wait for a couple more days before the OTA update is completed. Sprint is said to be unravelling the firmware update on Nexus 5 smartphones as well.

A totally new Lollipop

As previously reported, the major update to Android’s latest mobile operating system has restored the silent mode that the Android 5.0 Lollipop has done away with.

Because of the problems brought about by the highly-touted Android 5.0 Lollipop, many Android users were expecting a totally new Lollipop with the firmware update, and based on how the mobile operating system is working on the Nexus devices, it looks as if Google has lived up to its promise this time around.

Android 5.1 Lollipop now comes with other features including tweaked quick settings for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, an additional arrow sign that further opens up a list while still in the quick settings, among several more new features.

The firmware update is also bringing along major fixes for system availability, improved RAM and battery management, wireless issues, addressing the excessive consumption of network devices when connected to Wi-Fi, and of course bug fixes.

One feature that is new to the Android 5.1 Lollipop is its tighter security for lost or stolen devices. Even if the device is reset back to factory conditions, a user will still need to sign in with the original Google account, thus protecting a stolen device from being used by others.

This feature will be highlighted initially on the Nexus 6 and the Nexus 9 but will eventually become available to all devices that shall operate with Android 5.1 Lollipop.