Samsung has released an update for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi version that upgrades the tablet's operating system to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.
Samsung has previously been very slow compared to other original equipment manufacturers in rolling out newer versions of the Android mobile operating system to its devices. That has largely not been the case with Google's latest version for Android, Android 5.0 Lollipop, for the company's latest flagship mobile smartphones, but is still holding true for Samsung's tablets.
Compared to its mobile phones, Samsung has been slower in pushing out Android 5.0 Lollipop to its tablet computers, with the company only recently rolling out Android 5.1 Lollipop updates to its tablet devices.
The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi version is the latest of Samsung's tablets to be upgraded from the outdated Android KitKat to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop.
Similar to all the other devices manufactured by Samsung, there is no significant change to the aesthetics of the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi version once it has been updated to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop. This is because Samsung's version of the Android operating system, TouchWiz, hides most of the visual improvements that Google made under the company's new Material Design language.
Despite no visible aesthetic improvements, there are a lot more changes that users will be able to notice.
One of these changes with the update to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop is the introduction of a new menu for multitasking, an improved system for notifications, and several improvements to the operating system's performance and speed when compared to the Android KitKat operating system.
However, one major downside with the update to Android 5.0.2 Lollipop is the many bugs being associated to the operating system, which includes depleted battery lives and performance issues. These issues are being addressed with the release of Android 5.1 Lollipop, and with the rate that Samsung is going, it might be a while before that version of the Android operating system is rolled out to the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi version.
The over-the-air update for the tablet has started to roll out in certain regions, but it will take an unspecified amount of time before the Android 5.0.2 Lollipop reaches all Galaxy Tab S 8.4 Wi-Fi version devices.
Users of the tablet that are not willing to wait for the over-the-air update to be pushed out to their devices can try using the Samsung Kies support software, as perhaps the update can be downloaded and installed through the program.
