According to the latest reports, Google next version of its mobile operating system, Android 5.0, aka Lollipop, will roll out to various devices beginning on Novermber 3rd. Android Police reported earlier this week that a message between app programmers revealed that the SDK (software development kit) for Android 5.0 is currently available for developers and that consumers who own certain Android devices will start receiving over-the-air updates (OTA) which will install the new OS beginning the first week of next month.
And that date makes sense when you consider that the new Nexus 9 tablet begins shipping on November 3rd and also that the Nexus 6 will be available for purchase shortly thereafter. Both of those devices will be the first from Google to ship with Android 5.0 onboard. The Nexus 9 is Google's first attempt at a nine-inch tablet, and the Nexus 6 is their firts foray into the 'phablet' market.
The big question regarding the rollout of Android Lollipop is which devices will be eligible for the update and which ones will not? According to Google, the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 will all receive the OTA update to Android 5.0.
Certain mobile manufacturers, like HTC and Motorola, have already stated that they will be pushing out the update to some of their devices in the coming weeks and months. HTC is committed to updated both the HTC One M7 and M8 to Android 5.0 "within 90 days of receiving final software from Google." Motorola says both models of the Moto X and the Moto G will get the update before the end of 2014.
Back at its annual developers conference last June, Google first officially previewed the new version of Android, then dubbed 'Android L.' The key new design philosophy governing 'Lollipop' is what Google is calling 'Material Design,' a design aesthetic that emphasizes digital texture as a means of communicating the features of and app through how it appears.
Google has also included a new power-saving feature within Lollipop called Project Volta, which is intended to extend battery life for users by a significant amount.
