Android 5.0 L (for 'Lollipop') is Already Available Since November, But Adoption Among Users Now Still Very Low

Android 5.0, the most recent major update to Google's Android mobile operating system, was released on November 3, 2014. Dubbed 'Lollipop' consistent with the company's practice of naming its update after confectionary treats, Android 5.0 is the successor to KitKat (Android 4.4-4.4.4.), Jelly Bean (Android 4.1- 4.3.1), Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0-4.0.4), and so on.

Compared with previous versions, Lollipop features a redesigned user interface built around a responsive design language referred to as 'material design'. Other changes include improvements to the notifications, which can be accessed from the lockscreen and displayed within applications as top-of-the-screen banners. Furthermore, internal changes to the platform have also been introduced, with the Android Runtime (ART) officially replacing Dalvik for improved application performance and for improved and optimized battery usage. The complete source code for Android 5.0 was released on November 12, followed by some minor bug fixes on December 2 and December 19.

Google has begun rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop to its Nexus 4, Nexus 5, 7 and 10 as well its Google Play edition devices. It will also be shipped out of the box with the new Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet. For the other makes and brands of Android-powered smartphones and tablets, the schedule of updates would depend on the individual manufacturers. HTC for instance announced that "We will begin rolling out updates to the HTC One (M8) and HTC One (M7) in regions worldwide within 90 days of receiving final software from Google, followed shortly thereafter by other One family members and select devices." Samsung on the other hand announced on January 13 that Lollipop will be rolled out gradually to their Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Alpha and Galaxy Note Edge. Sony for its part said that it will be "bringing Android 5.0 Lollipop to the entire Xperia Z Series."

As of January 2015, the adoption of the Android 5.0 L is still too low that it did not appear on Google's January 2015 Android distribution chart, according to a report by Extreme Tech. Based on Google's data, says the site, the largest chunk of active Android devices this time is represented by Jelly Bean (all three versions collectively) at 46%, followed closely by KitKat at 39.1%. The oldest version still showing up in the data is Android 2.2 Froyo (0.4%), while Lollipop didn't even hit the 0.1% cutoff required to be represented in the data.