Lollipop thread (Android 5.0)

[kpkp]

All the Nexus factory images are out now.

https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

Not all, Nexus 7 LTE variants missing and the Nexus 4.

 

[Eug]

OK, corrected to say "Most".

 

[JimKiler]

Most of the Nexus factory images are out now.

https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

Does this mean i can use the system update to download as well?

 

[Megatomic]

Here'a pretty random question but I need to know: if app loading stays the same, will my Moto X with Lollipop have less storage space available for my use than it does with Kitkat?

i.e. - I currently have 3.70GB free with Kitkat and the apps I want to use installed. When Lollipop finally hits will I have more or less than 3.70GB free?

 

[Eug]

JimKiler:

No, because I have been checking and my Nexus 7 says it's already up to date even though it only has 4.4.4 and the factory image for 5 is already out.

 

[kpkp]

Here'a pretty random question but I need to know: if app loading stays the same, will my Moto X with Lollipop have less storage space available for my use than it does with Kitkat?

i.e. - I currently have 3.70GB free with Kitkat and the apps I want to use installed. When Lollipop finally hits will I have more or less than 3.70GB free?

Less, ART makes apps "installs" bigger.

 

[Megatomic]

Less, ART makes apps "installs" bigger.

I should have specified, but I already have ART enabled in the developer options.

 

[Crow550]

I should have specified, but I already have ART enabled in the developer options.

Don't think it will make a difference then?

 

[stlc8tr]

Does this mean i can use the system update to download as well?

Sort of.

It depends on how lucky you are. As with the KitKat rollout, it's a staggered release. First 1% then on to 25%/50%/100%. More details here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1r1dz4/44_kitkat_has_started_rolling_out_on_the_n4/cdiwt6f

 

[lopri]

Google launches Messenger app for SMS/MMS, separate from Hangouts

 

[poofyhairguy]

However, to install it, it requires installing the SDK and unlocking the bootloader, and wiping the tablet in the process. Ain't nobody got time for that.

I just did it for my Nexus 7 2013 because I want some Lollipop bad and everything on that little 16gb device is backed up to some cloud somewhere.

So far it's been a major major change for me. I never ran a preview, and all the whooshing is nice. I like the lighter colors, the keyboard and the notification bar. It overall feels like a perfect upgrade to Android. Refreshing but not too different.

This is awesome too because I got a G Watch today so it's kinda like Android day for me.

 

[cronos]

Google launches Messenger app for SMS/MMS, separate from Hangouts

lol wth. make up your mind, Google! :biggrin:

 

[Sid59]

lol wth. make up your mind, Google! :biggrin:

it's actually not that bad. coworker went from iPhone5s to Note4. by default has the Samsung Messaging App and Hangouts, she never uses Hangouts, so we downloaded the messenger app and she liked it.

I just unlocked my bootloader and installed Android 5 (lost data, but not biggie). I couldn't wait for an OTA. If anyone's been falling the previews and such, the setup is exactly like the articles/videos. It wants to redownload the apps you had previous and just goes and has gray place holders.

Loving it so far .. it makes holo look dark and dated, i imagine the people who prefer black/blue holo and dark theme everything will hate it.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Loving it so far .. it makes holo look dark and dated, i imagine the people who prefer black/blue holo and dark theme everything will hate it.

I will say that the lack of darkness stood out to me. Android went light right when Nexus went back to SAMOLED. Go figure.

 

[basslover1]

However, to install it, it requires installing the SDK and unlocking the bootloader, and wiping the tablet in the process. Ain't nobody got time for that.

Meh, I wiped both my N5 and N7 to flash stock Lollipop. I've had both for over a year so I figured a fresh install isn't going to hurt. I do it on my PCs every few years so why not my mobile devices?

Oh, and yea it's pretty awesome that L will automatically restore all of your home screens.

 

[Red Storm]

it's actually not that bad. coworker went from iPhone5s to Note4. by default has the Samsung Messaging App and Hangouts, she never uses Hangouts, so we downloaded the messenger app and she liked it.

I just unlocked my bootloader and installed Android 5 (lost data, but not biggie). I couldn't wait for an OTA. If anyone's been falling the previews and such, the setup is exactly like the articles/videos. It wants to redownload the apps you had previous and just goes and has gray place holders.

Loving it so far .. it makes holo look dark and dated, i imagine the people who prefer black/blue holo and dark theme everything will hate it.

I agree. Not everybody wants to use hangouts or other chat apps, some people just want SMS so for those people Google has an option as well.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

I require my GPe Rom.

 

[Eug]

Meh, I wiped both my N5 and N7 to flash stock Lollipop. I've had both for over a year so I figured a fresh install isn't going to hurt. I do it on my PCs every few years so why not my mobile devices?

Oh, and yea it's pretty awesome that L will automatically restore all of your home screens.

I'm tempted now. It looks like I wasn't in the 1% in the first 24 hours, and I'm probably not in the next 25% batch either. Still up-to-date with 4.4.4. Hmmm...

I agree. Not everybody wants to use hangouts or other chat apps, some people just want SMS so for those people Google has an option as well.

I wish iOS separated SMS/MMS from iMessage. I hate them being integrated. Or at least I wish they allowed all the SMS/MMS features to be used without iMessage being turned on. SMS/MMS continuity is a nice feature, but I can't use it because it requires iMessage, which is stupid.

 

[Megatomic]

Don't think it will make a difference then?

So the install size of Lollipop is the same as Kitkat then? I was expecting it to be bigger as it is in iOS.

 

[SpacemanSpiffVT]

new keyboard looks pretty great

 

[Sid59]

Here's a minor inconvenience.
Lock Screen > Swipe right (regardless of where on the screen) to unlock = Phone Dialer
Lock Screen > Swipe left (regardless of where on the screen) to unlock = Camera
Lock Screen > Swipe up to unlock = Unlock
Lock Screen > Swipe down to unlock = Expand Notifications

I'm just used to swiping anything, anywhere on 4.4.4 and unlocking

 

[Eug]

Should have gone with my initial decision not to try to flash to 5.0. The Nexus Root Toolkit is as annoying as ever. File dependency download fails every time, with a failed hashcheck. And four pages of driver setup requirements? Thanks. What a friggin' waste of time.

Feels like trying to install Linux on a desktop in 2004.

 

[sweenish]

adb on its own is much simpler than the toolkits.

Just do make sure to get the naked driver from xda, as Google's driver blows chunks. If you've already installed Google drivers, they will have to be fully removed for the naked driver to install.

I'll even throw in a tutorial, assuming you got the naked driver installed and the android sdk downloaded. I'm on Windows.

I will assume the platform-tools folder is NOT in your path, since it's not added automatically.

- Enable USB debugging on your android device.
- Plug device into computer.
- Allow your computer to connect for USB debugging on the device.
- If OTA, rename to something simple like update.zip and put in same directory as adb and fastboot.
- If factory image, extract until the flash-all.bat and the other folders/files are in the same directory as adb and fastboot (basically once you unzip and get a folder, the contents of that folder go where adb and fastboot are).
- Open a command prompt in your directory, (Shift + right click, open command window here)
- make sure your device is recognized (type adb devices, you should get some feedback and see a device ID
- If you're installing a factory image, you still have to check that fastboot will recognize your device.
- type adb reboot bootloader
- Once in your bootloader, type fastboot devices.
- You should get a similar output like you did with adb devices
FOR OTA:
- Get into your recovery, easy way is adb reboot recovery once your phone is plugged in
- Press volume up to get the menu
- Use volume keys to select apply update from adb, press power
- Type adb sideload "filename"
- Reboot to system when done

FOR FACTORY IMAGE:
- Get to bootloader, easy way is adb reboot bootloader once your device is plugged in.
- Type fastboot devices to make sure your device is still recognized
- Type flash-all.bat, and let it go

Tookits still have to go through all the same setup required to just use adb and fastboot yourself. Hence your headaches.

Better to do it yourself and know what's going on.

The naked driver is better than Google's because you'll have to manually edit Google's driver to get it to recognize your device in fastboot mode. The naked driver also works for hundreds of android devices.

And it's a lot to do the first time. After set-up is done, it's as simple as download, plug in, and flash.

 

[Dulanic]

Should have gone with my initial decision not to try to flash to 5.0. The Nexus Root Toolkit is as annoying as ever. File dependency download fails every time, with a failed hashcheck. And four pages of driver setup requirements? Thanks. What a friggin' waste of time.

Feels like trying to install Linux on a desktop in 2004.

As someone else said, the google driver isn't the best /w adb and fastboot. I had to use... #2 or #3, can't recall. It's not really the devs fault that there are driver issues etc...

http://www.wugfresh.com/faqs/adb-fasboot-device-not-found/

 

[poofyhairguy]

Feels like trying to install Linux on a desktop in 2004.

Sweet sweet memories.

I will be honest it is a pain to get to work. Here are the directions I used:

Download android sdk and factory images from above link

Just copy these files from android sdk into the extracted tar file:
adb.exe
AdbWinApi.dll
AdbWinUsbApi.dll
fastboot.exe

Shift right click anywhere inside extracted folder and press open command window.
Type: adb reboot bootloader

Let it go into bootloader
After this, just double press flashall.bat and you're good to go

I will note that my device was unlocked beforehand, but the Google site has the directions for that.

I really like the new lock screen (which I usually disable on my tablet) and all the many changes to the Google Experience Launcher. I would love to hear how it works on a Nexus 7 2012.