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Ever since Google began releasing Android 5.1 OTAs last week, there has been a bit of confusion over build numbers. The first build to get released was LMY47D, which went out to international variants as well as US models with Sprint SIM cards. The next build to surface was LMY47E, which appears to be shipping on new devices sold by Verizon, who just launched Google's flagship in stores today. It now seems that T-Mobile USA is getting its own unique build, LYM47M.
As Nexus 6 owners well know, Android 5.1 / LMY47D just started rolling out to devices recently. It appears, however, that Motorola has an even more recent firmware available, build LMY47E. Further, the official filename has "VRZ" in the title, hinting that this newer build may ship on devices that are sold by Verizon. We won't know for sure until Big Red starts sending the devices out next week.
The Internet is in the midst of having a mini hemorrhage over something that, basically, doesn't matter. Shocking, right? It appears that a few people on XDA have noticed that their Nexus 6 had a couple of Verizon-specific APKs installed on the system partition after updating to Android 5.1. There are two issues at play here:
One of the more interesting behind-the-scenes additions in Android 5.1 is a new carrier provisioning API that provides functionality which likely benefits carriers and customers alike. Any time you join a carrier, you get services along with your account, whether it's Play Store billing, visual voicemail, premium subscription services billed to your account, or any number of other things. For as long as Android has existed, the methods used to provision these services on a customer's account have varied widely from carrier to carrier, and there was no standard way of doing it.
Of our many jobs here at Android Police, one is to make our readers' lives easier when we can. With that in mind, here's a roundup of every known Nexus Lollipop OTA. As new ones become available, this post will be updated accordingly.
It has now been over two months since the Lollipop OTA updates for Nexus devices began rolling out en masse. So far, every Nexus and Google Play Edition device has received the bump to Google's latest sweet treat...except the cellular Nexus 7s. If you own a 2012 3G or 2013 LTE model, you've been left out in the cold, remaining on KitKat unless you want to venture into the world of custom ROMs.
Update: After posting this, we heard from employees who work for authorized retailers, as well as customers who verified that this was not a freak thing. These Galaxy Tab S 8.4 LTE models for Verizon were, in-fact, sold in very limited quantities.
Update: Plenty of readers are saying that they've received 5.0.1 with AT&T SIM cards. The decision to publish this post was made after my testing and another AP team member saying that he had yet to receive 5.0.1 on his device as well. It's possible that the rollout to devices with AT&T SIMs is just moving at a much slower pace than for ones with other SIMs, but regardless, there is still something unique going on with AT&T. - Shawn
For most of us, making and receiving phone calls with our devices is something we simply take for granted. Unfortunately, Nexus 6 owners who use Sprint as their carrier are finding that it's not quite that simple.
If you're the owner of a Moto G GPE, your Lollipop update is here. Google and Motorola have begun rolling out the latest version of Android to the budget GPE device, but if you don't have it yet, we've got the direct download link for you at the bottom of this post.
If you own a Sharp Aquos Crystal on Sprint, you've got an update on the way. According to Sprint, there are quite a few bug fixes as well as some new bloatware added, such as Sprint's new premium caller ID service that lets you see a caller's name as well as their phone number, and integration with Yahoo's Communications Suite.
If you're a user of Samsung's WatchON service to get information on TV listings, movies, and the like, you may need to find a new app to satisfy that need. Samsung announced today that, on December 31, 2014, the company will shut down WatchON in all markets except the US and Korea.
If the mention of "Poland only" in the title didn't deter you, you'd probably like to know that, hot on the heels of the LG G3's Poland-only Lollipop update, Samsung has decided to begin its Lollipop update for the Galaxy S5 in that country as well. As for what's new, you obviously get all the new goodies that Google has included in the OS, as well as some fairly substantial visual changes to the look and feel of Touchwiz, including a material redesign of some core Samsung apps.
Some HTC One M7 variants appear to be getting a new OTA update. As for what's new, apparently not much. All we know is that it contains "important enhancements and bug fixes related to improving phone call experience," and that it isn't Lollipop.
The Galaxy S II Skyrocket, AT&T's first LTE phone, was released a little over three years ago. During its lifetime, it had pretty good support from Samsung regarding Android version updates. It launched with Gingerbread, and got subsequent bumps to Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean 4.1. That OTA to Jelly Bean was the last time the phone saw any kind of software update, and that was 19 months ago. With that in mind, AT&T apparently can't let its first LTE love go because, out of nowhere, Samsung has announced a new software update for the aging device. As for a changelog, all Samsung gave us was a nice, vague "Android OS Enhancements." That can pretty much mean anything.
Now that the Nexus 6 has launched on three of the five announced carriers, it's time to do a little comparison. Nexus hardcores like their device pure, unlocked, and free of all carrier intervention and bloatware. The problem is, Google Play and Motorola both only sell the device at full price, which starts at $649 USD for a 32 GB model. A lot of people will no-doubt find it difficult to come up with that kind of cash all at once.
If you're the owner of an AT&T-branded Nexus 6, and don't want to be, you're in luck. With root, a plastic fork, and a little bit of time, you can remove all of the assorted goodies that the carrier has added and make your Nexus 6 exactly like everyone else's.
Update: Motorola has announced that all Nexus 6 devices should be able to be activated on Sprint now. People are reporting successful activation of Motorola-purchased devices, and I was personally able to activate my AT&T Nexus 6 on Sprint by simply calling Sprint, giving them the MEID (IMEI minus the last digit) and the SIM card number I wanted to use. The device shows up under my account as a Nexus 6 and appears to be working beautifully. We have no verification on phones purchased from T-Mobile, so I can't say 100% whether that will work or not. If any of you try and have success, let us know! This is a good day to be a Nexus 6 owner. Carrier freedom is a good thing. - Shawn
After last night's news that the AT&T-sold Nexus 6 has the carrier's logo on the back of the device as well as the boot screen, you just knew there was more to come, right? Well, that time is upon us. It appears that the carrier's Nexus 6 variant is SIM-locked, won't let you tether without verifying your subscription status, and has AT&T's suite of ringtones as well.
I wish I was kidding, but I'm not. Thanks to posts from XDA forum members ald9351 and HCdroid, we now know that the picture AT&T posted with a globe on the back of the device was not just the work of an overzealous graphic artist. Here she is in all her glory misery.