Although it will probably take a bit longer to get pushed out to most Android devices, we now know that Google plans to officially release Android 5.0 Lollipop on November 3rd. Android Police has flagged a new message sent out to Android developers informing them that they “can now publish apps that target Android 5.0 Lollipop,” which will be “available to consumers on November 3rd.” Google also recommends that these developers test out their apps right now to make sure they iron out any bugs before the software gets released next month.
LEARN MORE: The future of Android has arrived: Google announces Android 5.0 Lollipop release details
None of this means that your Android device will get Android 5.0 pushed out to it on November 3rd, of course, since Android’s well-known fragmentation issues stemming from OEM and carrier requirements mean Lollipop’s rollout will be staggered depending on the device you have. We expect that Google’s own Nexus devices will get the update pushed out to them first and that the most recent flagship phones from Samsung, HTC and LG will follow shortly after.
Android 5.0 Lollipop, which Google officially unveiled earlier this month, is notable primarily for the inclusion of Material Design, a new design interface that is notable for its flatter icons and its physics-based animations that will give both Android apps and the platform itself a smoother and more consistent user experience. Google has also added a new lock screen for Lollipop that comes with notifications that won’t force you to open up an app to take action on them, as well as support for 64-bit hardware and battery-saving features that stem from the company’s work in Project Volta.
