Android 5.1 Lollipop may be heading its way to Nexus devices in the very near future, according to the founder of Android news website Android Police, Artem Russakovskii.
Rusakovskii posted on his Google+ account that Google is preparing to push out Android 5.1 Lollipop to the first Nexus devices, with the estimated timeframe of as soon as this week.
"The Lollipop MR1 (Android 5.1) will start rolling out to Nexus devices starting with the N7 (probably 2013) this week, barring anything unexpected," Rusakovskii wrote.
Rusakovskii is referring to the second-generation Nexus 7, which could be among the first devices to officially receive the update for the Android operating system.
The rumor for the Android 5.1 Lollipop launch, Rusakovskii said, comes from trusted sources.
While there is no official detail on what advantages Android 5.1 Lollipop will have over the previous version, Rusakovskii said that the update will make the operating system run "buttery smooth" once again. Specifically, Android 5.1 Lollipop could improve the battery life that has dissatisfied users, along with provide for a smoother overall experience.
Last month, HTC VP of product management Mo Versi revealed that Google has scheduled a maintenance release update for Android this month, which could be referring to the release of Android 5.1 Lollipop.
However, the new operating system has reportedly already been seen installed in certain Android One smartphones across several Asian countries including the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Google has already previously confirmed the Android 5.1 Lollipop is going to be released, but has not disclosed any official announcement or details regarding the new operating system. Images taken of the Android One smartphones running Android 5.1 Lollipop, however, reveal changes that include new quick setting toggles and quick settings options.
Among the changes rumored to be coming with Android 5.1 Lollipop is the return of Silent Mode, which was inexplicably removed when Android 5.0 Lollipop was launched, general stability and RAM improvements, and fixes for a variety of issues including the sudden shutdown of apps, notifications problems and wireless connection flaws.
Hopefully, the rumor referred to by Rusakovskii is true and that Android 5.1 Lollipop begins to be pushed out to Nexus devices, which would once and for all prove or disprove the rumors surrounding the new operating system.
The Android 5.1 Lollipop release is looking like it will be as significant as Android 4.4.3 KitKat, which like the upcoming version of the operating system, resolves several major problems.
Photo: Kai Hendry | Flickr
