Google released Android 5.0 Lollipop back in November of 2014 with a complete UI revamp and a number of cool new features like Smart Lock and priority notifications. After an initial burst of device updates, things slowed to a crawl as a number of bugs popped up that needed attention. Now Google has announced Android 5.1 Lollipop with a handful of notable features and (presumably) important bug fixes. You probably won’t see it on your device for a long time, though.
Android 5.1 was previously only available on Android One devices in The Philippines and a few other emerging markets. Its existence was kind of an open secret, as Google refused to officially acknowledge the new version existed — even going to far as to scrub any mention of it from the Android One website. Now that the rollout is underway, Google is coughing up the details on what’s new.
Android 5.1 will include three significant new features — dual-SIM support, native HD voice, and Device Protection. The dual-SIM features pertain mostly to Android One phones, all of which have two SIM slots. There were dual-SIM phones before, of course, but the software support for that was always a custom job by the OEM. HD voice support means all Android 5.1 devices will support the voice features of VoLTE going forward as well. This opens the door for Verizon to finally start selling the Nexus 6 in its stores.
The new Device Protection feature is an interesting one. According to Google, Device Protection will be able to lock down your phone or tablet in the event that it’s lost or stolen. The only way to unlock it is to use your Google account password. This goes beyond existing tools like the Android Device Manager, because Device Protection works even if someone resets a stolen device to factory defaults. This is probably a reaction to laws being passed in a number of US states that require a “kill switch” in mobile devices to deter theft. Share your views in the comments section below