With carriers and devices OEMs all having a big say in when and how an Android update is rolled out, many millions of users rocking devices running Google’s mobile software are made to play the predictable, cumbersome waiting game. Having been wooed by the impressive, layered Material Design throughout the unveiling, Android 5.0 Lollipop could still take months to reach some consumers, but if you own a Nexus device running on top of stock firmware, then you’ll be pleased to hear that the factory images for the Nexus 5, 10 and Nexus 7 (Wi-Fi) are now rolling out.
One of the key benefits of grabbing a Nexus device (or a Google Play Edition of a select number of top-end handsets), is that you get the major and minor software updates in a timely manner. Aside from all that bloatware that you avoid, you get a completely unadulterated Android experience, and one that doesn’t leave you in limbo when the moment for updates arrives.
The Big G has made a number of key updates to its core range of apps during the past week or so, and each time, we’ve seen remnants of this transition towards Android Lollipop. Gmail, for example, is a clear beneficiary of the new design initiative, and the layered functionality seems ideal for an email client. Similarly, a new Messenger app for Android was also released just a short while ago, featuring the bold color layout that, hopefully soon, the vast majority of compliant smartphones and tablets will be able to enjoy on a device-wide basis.
The new factory images aren’t over-the-air (OTA) updates, but will instead offer a fresh install of Android Lollipop 5.0 on your device. If you do proceed, you will, of course, need to back your device up in advance, and if you don’t want to get into flashing firmware, you can always wait for the OTA.
Sure, the OTA may take days or weeks, as it has also been started rolling out, but even so, you should probably count yourself lucky up against the majority of rather stranded Android users.
Anyway, without further ado, here’s a list of compatible devices, along with direct links to the factory images provided on Google’s servers:
If you do flash the images, then share your experience of Android 5.0 Lollipop with us.
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