Android 5.0 Lollipop Update for HTC One M7 is Now Rolling out in Europe

If you live in Europe and you happen to own a HTC One M7, then we have great news for you. The HTC One M7 Android 5.0 update is now rolling out, complete with HTC Sense 6 tweaks and Lollipop-specific goodies.

The announcement was made on Twitter by Jeff Gordon, Senior Global Online Communications Manager at HTC. Furthermore, Twitter user@rage06 has confirmed the roll out and provided a screenshot of the system update notification. 

Note that the HTC One M7 Android 5.0 Lollipop update has software number 7.19.401.2 and a size of around 805 MB, so don’t forget to connect to a Wi-Fi network while downloading the update.

Of course, the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for HTC One M7 is being rolled out in phases, meaning that some users will have to wait a bit longer until the update hits their devices. If your One M7 is in the first batch of devices updated to Lollipop, you should be able to notice a system update message in the notifications bar. Tap on it, choose ‘Download’, wait until the download is completed, then select ‘Install now’. Your smartphone should reboot and install the new firmware update. You can also check for the update manually under Settings > About phone > Software update > Check now.

The new software update arrives with a slightly tweaked Sense 6 UI that is more suited for Material Design, Android Runtime, multi-user support for phones, better battery statistics, Screen Pinning, Smart Lock, and dynamic status bar, revamped notifications bar and quick settings. HTC’s system update notification highlights the new Lock Screen notifications, Recent apps, and Search function within settings, as the main features of the Lollipop update.

T-Mobile Posts Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Status for HTC One M7, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Edge

Back in October 2014, Google officially announced Android 5.0 Lollipop and as of November 2014, the new software update is being pushed to various devices. As usual, the Nexus smartphones and tablets were first, followed by the Google Play Edition devices, and by Motorola’s flagships. The unlocked models are usually the first in line to receive new software updates, with the carrier-locked variants trailing behind.

The US-based carriers are working around the clock to bring the Lollipop update to their supported devices and many of the said devices already got updated to Android 5.0. In the meantime, the folks at T-Mobile have posted a support page to help customers track the status of the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013), HTC One M7, HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge, and Samsung Galaxy S5. Here’s the page if you want to take a peek.

The Android 5.0 Lollipop update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, and Nexus 7 2013 is listed as completed. This means that the software update has been approved to launch and that is now rolling out to users.

The status for the HTC One M7 Android 5.0 Lollipop is labeled as “T-Mobile testing,” meaning that the software update has been released by the OEM to the carrier and that T-Mobile’s engineers are still testing it to see whether it’s ready for prime-time. On the other hand, the HTC One M8 Android 5.0 Lollipop update is labeled as “Completed” since it has already been pushed to users.

The Android 5.0 Lollipop update for both Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge is still under “Manufacturer Development,” as Samsung is still working on the update and hasn’t offered it to T-Mobile for the final tests. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Lollipop update is in the “T-Mobile Testing” phases (which means that the roll out is imminent), while the Galaxy S5 is the only Samsung smartphone carried by T-Mobile that received the Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

I remind you that, just like any software updates, the Android 5.0 Lollipop update will be released by T-Mobile in stages, meaning that not all customers will get it in the same time. Usually, when your device is ready to receive the OTA update, you should see a system update notification popping out. Just tap on it and follow the on-screen instructions. You can also perform a manual check on Settings > About phone > Software updates > Check for updates (may vary with device).

As you may already know, you are dealing with a major software update, so expect lots of changes and improvements. The most notable change is the new Material Design philosophy which relies on realistic 3D effects and shadows and vivid colors to improve the user experience system-wide. The update also brings performance boosts, support for 64-bit processors, and ART (Android Runtime) instead of Dalvik.

The Overview menu is now called Recent and it has a card-based interface with document-centric multitasking, so select apps can show more than one card in the Recent menu. The update also brings a redesigned notifications bar and better-organized Quick Settings with new toggles for Flashlight and Screen Cast. You will also be able to easily find specific settings sections, courtesy of the new search bar within the Settings app.

One of the most appreciated features of Android 5.0 Lollipop is the support for Lock Screen notifications. You can even select the priority and privacy level for each app that shows notifications in the lock screen, or even block apps from showing lock screen notifications. You might also like the multi-user accounts for phones and the new Screen Pinning. Lollipop also introduced Smart Lock, a feature that can remove any layer of lock screen security when you are in a Trusted Place or connected to a Trusted Device.

Lollipop also boasts about better battery statistics and the new Battery Saver Mode. It now shows how much time do you have left until the battery is fully charged (when the device is plugged in) or how long it’s left until you have to recharge it again. Battery Saver Mode can be automatically turned on when the battery level reaches 15% or 5%.

HTC One M7 Android 5.0.1 Lollipop Update Released Today for Sprint Users

Sprint is rolling out the official Android 5.0.1 Lollipop OTA Update for the HTC One M7 smartphone today. Keep an eye on your device or use the ‘System Update’ menu in order to upgrade your device with a brand new OS today.

Android 5.0.1 Lollipop OTA Update has been pushed out today by Sprint and it is one of the biggest upgrades ever for the original HTC One phone. It comes with a whole new Material Design UI that will make the HTC Sense interface much more functional than it ever was.

The official Android 5.0.1 OTA Update roll out has been confirmed by Mo Versi, VP of Product Management at HTC via Twitter. His tweet was posted yesterday, but there are numerous HTC One M7 users confirming that the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop OS Update notification has been already displayed on their devices.

Android 5.0.1 Lollipop comes with Material Design UI, Sense improvements, Lock screen and Notifications improvements that offer better control over your whole device, recent apps multitasking feature tweaks, search function for Settings, fully integrated Android Runtime (ART) that replaces the old Dalvik used for KitKat and older OS version, new Quick Settings toggles and many other functions.

Sprint has released the Android 5.0.1 Lollipop for HTC One M7 and Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphones on the same day. The original HTC One M7 gets this new Lollipop build before the 2nd Gen HTC One M8 on Sprint, which is something that still has to happen for those owners.

If you own an HTC One M7 on Sprint then you should expect the new Android 5.0.1 Lollipop OTA Update to arrive starting today. However, note that this update is being rolled out in phases which mean that not all users are going to receive the new firmware in the same way, but all One M7 users will get it before the end of this month. Remember that these updates are usually released only for HTC One M7 Sprint devices running 100% stock Android firmware. You won’t get the new Lollipop OS in case you’re running a customized ROM on your One M7 phone.

HTC One M7 & One M8 Android 5.0 Lollipop Update Delayed

There is some sad news for some of you HTC One M7 & One M8 owners out there. HTC has officially confirmed that it will not be able to live up to its promise of releasing the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for the smartphones within 90 days of the latest version’s release from Google.

In a blog post by HTC’s Senior Vice President of product management, Mo Versi, HTC has claimed that the update has been delayed as some issues with Android 5.0 Lollipop need to be addressed before the update can be rolled out to customers. HTC is said to including a number of fixes to the issues with Lollipop and thus it expects that certain carrier versions of the One M7 and One M8 smartphones will not be receiving the Android Lollipop update within the 90 day timeframe that it had promised last year. HTC was in fact the first major Android OEM to detail its Lollipop update plans last year, and claimed that its flagship smartphones will receive the Lollipop update within 90 days of its release by Google.

This doesn’t affect the unlocked units though. Unlocked HTC One M8 owners in Canada and Europe have started receiving the Android 5.0 Lollipop update and we expect the update to roll out in more regions in the next few days. In Canada, most carrier variants of the One M8 have also started receiving the Lollipop update. Developer Edition of the One M8 has also been updated to Android 5.0 already. Owners of the HTC One M7 unlocked model can expect to receive the Android Lollipop soon as well, although it does look like the unlocked One M7 may have to wait longer than the 90 days promised by HTC earlier as the 90-day deadline ends on February 1.

Ever since HTC announced delays when releasing the Android Lollipop update to the Google Play Edition models of the One M7 and One M8 last year, we were worried that the same may happen with update for the regular variants. Unfortunately, that is exactly what is happening now.

HTC hasn’t provided a new timeframe now so we cannot be sure when the update will roll out now for the owners of carrier variants of the One M7 and One M8 smartphone. Update delays for carrier variants is nothing new at the same is the case with most smartphones. Since the carriers need to test a software update themselves for a few weeks before they release it to their customers, the update rollout is delayed for the carrier variants.

However, if you do not wish to wait and want to enjoy Android 5.0 Lollipop on your One M7 or One M8, you do have the option of flashing one of the many functional CM12 ports available on XDA. However, you will require an unlocked Bootloader for it, so if you have a locked Bootloader, you will need to wait until HTC releases the official update in the next few weeks.

Android 5.0 Lollipop Update for HTC One M7 GPE to Arrive By the End of the Week

The Android 5.0 Lollipop update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 is already out in the wild, and, as usual, the Google Play Edition devices are coming up next. The HTC One M7 Android 5.0 Lollipop update for Google Play Edition was supposed to roll out early this week, but it got delayed. According to @moversi the new firmware will hit the first devices by the end of the week.

Mo Versi announced on Twitter, in a response to a follower, that the HTC One M7 GPE Android 5.0 Lollipop update will be out this Friday. The release has been delayed over unknown reasons, but HTC’s VP of Product Management said that they are “working aggressively to get it out as soon as possible.”

There’s no doubt that the Android 5.0 Lollipop update for HTC One M7 GPE will be rolled out in phases, meaning that some of you might have to wait longer than others. You probably know already that once your device becomes eligible to receive the new firmware update you should be able to notice a system update message in the notifications bar. Tap on it, choose ‘Download now’, wait until the download is completed, then select ‘Install now’. Your smartphone should reboot and install the new software. In case the system update notification failed to appear, you would also want to perform a manual check under Settings > About phone > System updates > Check now.

Since the One M7 GPE is running an unaltered version of Android, you should expect the 5.0 update to bring all the Lollipop specific goodies such as multi-user support, smart lock, revamped navigation bar and quick settings, Material Design, lockscreen notifications, battery saver, or better battery statistics. The new update also arrives with Android Runtime (ART) instead of Dalvik and support for 64-bit processors, OpenGL 3.0, and USB Audio.

The HTC One M7 GPE Android 5.0 Lollipop update might have a size of over 600 MB; therefore we are recommending you to use a Wi-Fi network to download the update file. You know, just to avoid unwanted data charges.

New HTC One M7 Android 4.4.2 OTA Update Rolls Out for Sprint Users

The HTC One M7 device on Sprint has received earlier today a brand new Android 4.4.2 KitKat update with firmware version set at 5.05.651.2. Check your device’s notification panel starting today and see if there are any new files available for download and installation.

Android 4.4.2 KitKat firmware version 5.05.651.2 adds a Google Security tweaks, fixes bugs and improves the overall performance of your device. The download size of this new update build is 325.18 MB, so you should be able to complete the installation even with your device’s mobile data connection.

These security changes added by the new update should’ve been released with Android 4.4.4 KitKat, but it seems like HTC and Sprint have decided to skip it and instead implement all tweaks in an Android 4.4.2 update. In case the new update notification doesn’t show up in the Notifications panel, then you can go to All Apps > Settings> System Updates> HTC Software Update and hit the ‘Check Now’ button. If there is any new file available for download, then you should confirm the process and your device will automatically complete installation.

Make sure that your Sprint HTC One M7 device has at least 40% power left in it before you start the update process. If the new update doesn’t show up in the Notifications panel, then you can always choose to install the new Android 4.4.2 5.05.651.2 KitKat firmware manually by following the instructions listed at HTC support web page here.

This 5.05.651.2 firmware of Android 4.4.2 will probably be the final KitKat release that we will see for the One M7 Sprint device, as Google has launched the official Android 5.0 Lollipop and HTC will begin to work on implementing the new OS version for all their smartphones.

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

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

It’s no longer a mystery that the folks at Google will be releasing the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 later this year. Even though the Mountain View-based giant didn’t reveal when the new Android update will be released for the public, we strongly believe we can make a fairly accurate estimation of its release date based on the company’s previous launches

I guess that most of you know that, so far, Google had the habit of releasing two major Android updates per year: one in the summer, about a month after their annual Google I/O tech conference, and the other one mid-to-late fall. Even though it was rumored that everybody will get to enjoy a new Android update this summer, the search engine giant decided it’s time to change their approach regarding their Android releases. As far as it looks, Google will do the Android L launch Apple-style.

Why Apple-style? Because the Cupertino-based company is usually introducing new iOS versions in the summer, during WWDC, makes them available for beta testing for a few months, then releases them in the fall, when a new iPhone is launched. As you may know, Google previewed Android L at Google I/O back in June, made it available for download as Developer Preview for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 for testing purposes and they will probably release it late-October or early-November, synchronized with the debut of new Nexus hardware.

It was reported a couple of months ago that Google is reading a new program called Android Silver that will replace the Nexus family of devices. Many believed that this will be the end of the Nexus line-up, but a Google employee recently dismissed the rumors. Soon after, rumors of new Nexus hardware started to hit the web. First, we’ve heard of a new 8.9-inch Nexus tablet. The device is reportedly manufactured by HTC and it’s known internally as Volantis. If the reports are to be believed the new Nexus 9 will sport 64-bit processor, 3 GB RAM, 8 MP primary shooter, and aluminum zero-gap construction. The rumor mill also talks about a new Nexus Smartphone, unofficially dubbed Nexus 6. The handset codenamed Shamu is made by Motorola and its technical specifications include a 5.2-inch Quad HD (1440 x 2560 pixels) display, quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3 GB RAM, and 13 MP rear-facing shooter with OIS. There’s no doubt that both the Nexus 9 and the Nexus 6 will run Android 5.0 L out of the box.

As you may know, Google introduced the new release as Android L, but this will definitely not be the final name. Each major Android release has a unique version number and a dessert-inspired nick name. Given the high amount of changes it brings (the update is even bigger than the jump from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich), Android L will surely have version number 5.0. Regarding the dessert name, so far we’ve heard about Lollipop or Licorice. There are even some reports of Lemon Meringue Pie.

The first thing you’ll notice about Android 5.0 L is the new Material Design philosophy. The interface is more colorful and more animated, while the system as a whole is more intuitive courtesy of 3D effects and shadows. The performance will also get a boost and the introduction of ART runtime (replaces Dalvik) and support for 64-bit processors will definitely help. Furthermore, many of the users who got to install Android L Developer Preview on their smartphones and tablets are reporting battery life improvements.

The Android 5.0 L lock screen and the notification bar received noteworthy improvements, as well. The former one now displays notifications and allows you to interact with them. Furthermore, the lock screen notifications are prioritized based on the frequency you interact with them. The notifications bar looks and behaves different in Android 5.0 L. Besides receiving a new color scheme, the notifications bar has also ditched the Quick Settings button. The Quick Settings menu itself is still there, but you will access it differently. In order to get to the Quick Settings toggles you will have to swipe down once to open the notifications bar, then swipe once more. Once there, you will find toggles for Wi-Fi, Mobile Network, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Sound, Location, Do Not Disturb, and Rotation Lock. As you can see, the Do Not Disturb and Rotation Lock toggles are completely new. The Adaptive Brightness replaces Auto Brightness and the Brightness button is now a slider. In the main Settings menu you will be able to enjoy the new search bar that allows you to easily find certain options.

The Android 5.0 L update also brings changes to the status bar. Even though you won’t be able to notice the changes in the home and lock screens, where the status bar is still transparent, you will be able to see that it changes color when you open an app. The status bar is capable of matching the color of the action bar of the app running on the screen in order to bring a unified visual experience. Of course, the devs will have to update their apps in order to take advantage of the new feature.

On the other hand, the multitasking has received a makeover. The recents are now displayed as cards, in a way similar to how Chrome’s recents tabs are displayed. Furthermore, certain apps can show multiple cards in the multitasking menu. Chrome is one of them, being capable of showing a different card for each opened tab.

The Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 will be the first one to be publicly released. The Google Play Edition devices will also be among the first to receive the new firmware update, along with Motorola’s supported devices. HTC was one of the first Android OEMs to promise they will be bringing the Android 5.0 L update on their flagships. According to them, both One M7 and One M8 will get the update within 90 days after Google releases the final code. The other big Android Smartphone makers, Samsung, Sony, and LG, will probably release Android 5.0 L for their supported devices sometimes late 2014 or early 2015.