Android L 5.0 Lollipop Update Release Date: Motorola Lists Handsets
Fall is upon us, and while Apple has it's brand new iOS 8 roaming out and about, Google's next-generation mobile operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop, is still rearing to launch. The new OS will end up debuting with Google's new devices, the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9, but those using Motorola handsets shouldn't have to wait long either.
Motorola has officially released a list of handsets it will be upgrading to the latest and greatest Android. Motorola does not list a specific release date (which is understandable, considering Android 5.0 Lollipop is still under development). All in all, nine Motorola smartphones can expect Android 5.0 soon, and we'll tell you why.
The Motorola smartphones slated to receive Android 5.0 are the: Moto X (1st generation), Moto X (2nd generation), Moto G (1st generation), Moto G (2nd generation), Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx, Droid Mini, Moto G with 4G LTE and Moto E. If you're wondering, you're correct. No other OEM has officially announced Android 5.0 yet for that many devices.
Those wondering if their specific, carrier-tied model of a Motorola smartphone will receive the new Android 5.0 firmware can check with the official Motorola press release.
Despite there being no release date, owners of any of the nine above-mentioned smartphones can rest easy that the update will not take long to arrive. With the exception of the Droid series (a specific Verizon-based commission), Motorola has been in the game of making near-stock-running Android smartphones as of late.
This means that the version of Android running on Motorola phones is pretty darn close to the code released by Google. Android is an open source OS, meaning once Google releases the code to the public, anyone can manipulate it as they see fit. What this inevitably leads to, for many consumers, is long wait times to get the latest version of Android.
You see, once manufacturers like Samsung or HTC get their hands on a new Android source code, they often take up to months to tailor fit the operating system onto their specific devices. And this includes interfaces like TouchWiz (Samsung) and Blinkfeed (HTC). This means that the Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, and and HTC One M8 all require a separate development process that leaves consumers waiting for a new Android update.
Motorola, after being acquired (and subsequently sold) by Google, launched a series of handsets that stick pretty close to Google. Timely Android upgrades have been a priority for the company and it's handsets -- Android 5.0 should be no exception.
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