Android 5.0 L Update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10: When to expect it

Android 5.0 L Update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10

The release date of the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and other supported devices is getting closer. Even though Google didn’t announce the exact date at which they will be making Android 5.0 L available for the public, we will hopefully be able to estimate its release date based on the company’s previous releases.

There’s no question that Android 5.0 L is the biggest update Google’s mobile operating system has seen since its launch back in 2008. It’s even bigger than the jump from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich. This is why we must have a look at the main features of Android 5.0 L before talking about its expected release.

The Android 5.0 L has received major changes in terms of interface courtesy of the new Material Design philosophy. You will be able to notice that the UI now has more colors and animations, while the 3D effects and shadows come in help when it comes to making the interface more intuitive. You should also know that Android 5.0 L has support for 64-bit processors and that the Dalvik runtime has been replaced by ART. The new update also arrives with performance improvements and the users who got to test Android L Developer Preview have reported better battery life.

Both the notifications bar and the lock screen have received major improvements in Android 5.0 L. The notification bar has a new color scheme and the Quick Settings button is gone. In order to be able to access Quick Settings you will have to pull down once to get to the notifications bar, then swipe down once more to reveal Quick Settings. There are also a couple of new toggles in Quick Settings. Besides WiFi, Mobile Network, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Sound, and Location, you will also find toggles for Rotation Lock and Do Not Disturb Mode. The Auto Brightness button is no represented by a slider and it’s called Adaptive Brightness. On the other hand, the lock screen now displays your notifications and even allows you to interact with them. The lockscreen notifications are prioritized based on the frequency you interact with them. In the main Settings menu, you will now be able to easily find the options you are looking for using the new search button.

One of the most appreciated changes brought by Android 5.0 L is the new Dynamic Status bar. Even though you won’t be able to notice any changes in the lock and home screens (it’s still transparent), you will definitely be able to see that the new status bar is capable of changing its color to match the action bar of the app running on the screen. While all the native Android 5.0 L apps will bring this functionality as default, the third-party developers will have to change their apps in order to provide a unified visual experience.

The recents (multitasking) screen looks and behaves differently in Android 5.0 L, too. The recent applications are now displayed as cards stacked one over another, while apps like Chrome are able to show multiple cards in the recents, one for each opened tab.

Let’s have a chat about the official name of the latest Android iteration. As you may know, each Android version has a unique version number and a dessert-inspired nickname. Given the high amount of changes it brings, the new Android update will no doubt arrive with version number 5.0. As for the dessert, we’ve heard rumors of Lolliop or Licorice. Anyway, the latest reports seem to suggest that Google have chosen Lemon Meringue Pie to be the name of their L release. Therefore, it might be called Android 5.0 Lemon Meringue Pie.

How about the Android 5.0 L release date? I’m glad you’ve asked. It’s fairly easy to notice that, so far, Google released two major Android versions each year: one in the summer (usually a month after their annual I/O conference) and one mid-to-late fall (usually around Halloween). Anyway, Google changed its approach for Android L, opting for an approach that is a reminiscent of Apple’s iOS launches.

Why Apple? Because the Cupertino-based company is presenting new iOS versions in the summer (during their annual WWDC event) then releases them to developers for a few months of beta testing. Finally, new iOS versions are made available for the public in the fall, when a new iPhone is also announced. How is Google’s Android L release strategy similar? Well, Android L was introduced in the summer at Google’s annual conference (I/O), then it was made available for testing as Developer Preview (you can also try the latest Android L Developer Preview builds for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 here). Google will most likely release Android 5.0 L in the fall, around Halloween, synchronized with the debut of new Nexus devices.

Even though previous rumors have suggested that the Nexus family of devices will be replaced by a new Google program called Android Silver, it seems that the Nexus devices are here to stay. The confirmation comes from a Google representative who denied the rumors that said the Nexus line-up will be discontinued. Soon after that, the first details of new Nexus devices started to hit the web. An HTC-made tablet codenamed Flounder is reportedly the new Nexus 9. If the reports are to be believed, the Nexus 9 will arrive with an 8.9-inch screen with 4:3 aspect ratio, 4 GB of RAM, 64-bit-enabled Tegra K1 CPU, 8 MP primary shooter, and “aluminium zero-gap construction.” The rumor mill also talks about a Nexus smartphone,unofficially dubbed Nexus 6. It looks like the said device is made by Motorola, that it’s codenamed Shamu, and that it arrives with a 5.2-inch screen with Quad HD (1440 x 2560) resolution, Snapdragon 805 CPU, 3 GB RAM, and a 13 MP main camera. Because there’s no way to confirm the reports, we are advising you to take them with a pinch of salt. Anyway, we are confident that both devices will come pre-loaded with Android 5.0 L.

We are also confident that the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 will be the first one to be made available for the public. Next in line will be the Google Play Experience devices, followed shortly after by Motorola’s smartphones. You should also know that HTC was one of the first manufacturers to reveal their plans to bring Android 5.0 L on their flagships. The Taiwan-based phone maker promised both One M7 and One M8 will get updated to Android 5.0 L within 90 days after the final version is released. The other big players of the smartphone market (Samsung, Sony, and LG) will most likely release the new update for their supported devices sometime late 2014 or early 2015.

Did you have the occasion to play with Android L Developer Preview? Do you have any favorite features? Please let us know in the comments section below.