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How to experience Android 5.0’s gorgeous Material Design on your phone right now

Published Oct 20th, 2014 10:34AM EDT
Android 5.0 Lollipop App Download
Image: Google Inc.

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Google on Friday issued to developers the full release of the Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK, updating Lollipop builds for the Nexus 5 and 2013 Nexus 7 in the process, with the actual release of Android 5.0 set to follow next month. While developers can easily install these Lollipop builds on supported devices and enjoy all the new features, other Android users will still have to wait until their devices get Google’s latest OS and its gorgeous Material Design. However, until that happens, they can already download some of the Lollipop apps and resources thanks to the joint effort of various xda-developers members.

FROM EARLIER: How to make your Android phone (sort of) look like Android 5.0 Lollipop right now

Users can download and install Lollipop’s Google Now Launcher, Google Keyboard, Google Play Store and Google Play Services apps, but also wallpapers, fonts, boot animation and media audio files.

As always with unofficial downloads, BGR reminds you that such procedures aren’t recommended, and could cause certain problems — before trying out unofficial software, users should also make sure they back up their devices and follow available instructions (see source link for download details for these Lollipop files).

The first devices to run Android 5.0 in early November will be the brand new Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player. The update should be rolled out to Nexus 4, 5, 7, 10 and Google Play edition devices “in the same timeframe,” according to Google.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.