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Android Cellphones Google Handhelds Operating Systems Upgrades

Google Releases Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK and Nexus Preview Images 77

An anonymous reader writes: As promised, Google today released the full Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK, along with updated developer images for Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013), ADT-1, and the Android emulator. The latest version of Android isn't available just yet, but the company is giving developers a head start (about two weeks), so they can test their apps on the new platform. To get the latest Android 5.0 SDK, fire up Android SDK Manager and head to the Tools section, followed by latest SDK Tools, SDK Platform-tools, and SDK Build-tools. Select everything under the Android 5.0 section, hit "Install packages...", accept the licensing agreement, and finally click Install. Google also rolled out updated resources for their Material Design guidelines.
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Google Releases Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK and Nexus Preview Images

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  • Just make it fast (Score:5, Insightful)

    by danbob999 ( 2490674 ) on Friday October 17, 2014 @03:41PM (#48172165)
    Android didn't need a new design overhaul. I just hope the new OS is fast and functional.
    • by DaHat ( 247651 )

      How fast can any OS (or person) run with a stick up ones rear the way the Lollipop mascot seems to ?

      • by rtb61 ( 674572 )

        It should have been named 'Lamington' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L... [wikipedia.org] then Google could have held global 'lamington' bake sales. So instead of a stick in the butt or a very long penis that touches the ground, we could have a chocolate and coconut covered bugdroid.

    • by Anonymous Coward

      They did need a design overhaul. Windows Phone with it's tile layout was way superior.

    • This please. My tablet becoming unusable while automatic updates get installed is mind-boggling.
      • I had the same issue with my Note 3. With it deciding that 10 apps needed to be updated at the same time I was using my phone for navigation or transferring money to my spending account.

        I decided to just shut off all automatic updates from the google play store, and I've been much happier since. I still get notifications when apps need updating, which is fine since I can decide to update when it makes sense for me. I wouldn't mind the auto updates if it didn't make the phone damn near unusable while it w
    • Re:Just make it fast (Score:4, Informative)

      by rwa2 ( 4391 ) * on Saturday October 18, 2014 @01:42AM (#48174689) Homepage Journal

      Yes it's faster, since they're migrating from the Dalvik JIT runtime to the new ART precompiled app runtime.
      But actually, you don't really have to wait for Android 5 to hit your device, it's been buried in the developer options dialog since 4.2.2 http://www.cultofandroid.com/5... [cultofandroid.com]

      Hit our Nexus 4 and 5 with this yesterday after reading about it in an arstechnica comment... they're much snappier opening and switching between apps now.

    • One of the drivers behind Android L was improving performance on low to mid range Android devices. Google is interested in improving the Android experience for those customers with the 1 cent contract phones, and other flotsam at the bottom of the product menu.

      Android L allegedly will perform smoothly, even on devices with 512mb RAM. Which should be a win for those customers with 1gb and 2gb handsets made within the last 2-3 years, as they will be lightning fast.

  • Android (Score:1, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward

    Android 5.0? What about helping your current user base? There's still a lot of users stuck with lower versions of Android.

    It's been over 300 days since the release of Kit Kat but only 25% of the devices run it [modmyi.com].

    • Android (Score:5, Insightful)

      by kick6 ( 1081615 ) on Friday October 17, 2014 @03:51PM (#48172239) Homepage
      That's not google's problem, that's handset manufacturer's problem. That's like saying Dell should "just give everyone win8" because, you know, potato.
      • If it's anything like the rest of Android development, if you haven't used it in a few months, it's most likely completely changed from the way you did it last time.
        • by AmiMoJo ( 196126 ) *

          So kinda like iOS 7 or Windows 7 then.

          Actually the SDK has been pretty stable for years, and the OS itself has been pretty stable since 4.0 a few years back.

      • Sounds perfectly cromulent to me...

      • by Ichijo ( 607641 )

        There's still a lot of users stuck with lower versions of Android.

        That's not google's problem, that's handset manufacturer's problem.

        It's also Google's problem if they don't want a lot of users stuck on older versions of Android.

      • It WAS the OEM's problem that's why they began locking their sh!t down. They couldn't have you upgrading the software on your device and not need the newest shiny. How would they stay in business if they let you do that. I bought the original Nook Color. Arguably the most hacker friendly android device ever made. I am running KitKat 4.4.4 on it ATM and it runs faster than when it was new. B&N realized to their horror they had not locked consumers into the B&N ecosystem and future devices were consid
      • by Rob Y. ( 110975 )

        It's not quite the same, since any Dell machine can be upgraded by its owner. The problem with Android devices and upgrades is that the devices tend to be locked down so that only the manufacturer can provide updates. And because of all the modifications they make, it's not that easy to do. Plus, in the US at least, planned obsolescence is the standard. Only now is the competition becoming stiff enough that timely upgrades are a possible selling point.

        it seems to me that there are 3 viable models.
        1. Sti

    • by radl33t ( 900691 )
      Running kitkat on my 3.5 year old galaxy s2 for about 9 months. phone is awesome as hell.
  • news for nerds? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ganjadude ( 952775 ) on Friday October 17, 2014 @03:53PM (#48172261) Homepage

    To get the latest Android 5.0 SDK, fire up Android SDK Manager and head to the Tools section, followed by latest SDK Tools, SDK Platform-tools, and SDK Build-tools. Select everything under the Android 5.0 section, hit "Install packages...", accept the licensing agreement, and finally click Install.

    or their grandparents???? Thanks, I think If I am a developer, I know how to update my toolset just fine

    • I think If I am a developer, I know how to update my toolset just fine

      I know developers who could not install the text editor that they edit PHP with. I'm not joking, and I have to deal with them regularly.

  • [joke]Announcing the new version of android for 2018. we have moved the entire userland to the 'popular' SystemD userland with the option of user choosing either plain linux kernel and the newly renovated linuxD kernel.[/joke]

  • From the sound of things, Android 5.0 would probably make a good OS for an HTPC because the user experience puts Windows based HTPCs to shame, and has a lot more application support than e.g. Mythbuntu or anything similar. Have any developers done any work towards running it on an ordinary x86 desktop/nuc PC?

  • I kind of thought Google might finally get around to supporting their own vp9 video codec and opus for audio, but they seem to be dragging their feet on this. Still.
  • There's only one feature that Android desperately needs, and it's one I doubt that will ever happen.

    Google needs to copy iOS's control over app behaviour. The unfortunate fact is, most developers are no where near as good as they think they are (regardless of platform), and there are way too many apps that will obliterate your battery even when they're only running in the background.

    This is inexcusable for a mobile operating system that, by definition, runs on devices with limited battery life. It's even

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