NEW YORK: Apparently out of nowhere Android is jumping up to version 5.1 and heading out the door Google’s Indonesian Android One page is full of lists the latest and fastest version of Android at 5.1 and touted the update via Twitter.
Indonesia is the latest launch country for Google’s Android One effort, which is already underway in India.
There is no specific changelog listed on the site or on any of Android’s developer pages. Android Police already found a tweak to how you connect to Wi-fi networks and Bluetooth devices in the Quick Settings menu
Google has added an arrow at the bottom of those settings, allowing you to toggle which device or network you want to connect to without needing to jump into the full settings menu. Hopefully this will show up here soon, as it looks like a nice time saver.
This update creates an oddity, however: disjointed updates amongst Google’s own stock devices. The Nexus 4, 5, and 6 phones are on Android 5.0.1, while the Nexus 7 and 10 tablets are on 5.0.2.
Perhaps Google is using Indonesia’s Android One phones as a giant test market before bringing it stateside. Either way, it’s a little perplexing to see the latest and greatest of Android going overseas first. Typically these updates come to Nexus devices first before hitting the rest of the ecosystem.
However, this has been a pretty wonky Android update cycle, with the usual always-late-to-the-party Verizon shipping out Lollipop to the Galaxy S5 and the typically reliable HTC backing off its pledge to get the newest Android updates out to its HTC One models.
The story behind the story: With Android One, Google is partnering with regional carriers in India, Indonesia, and other so-called “emerging markets” to build stock Android phones at a low cost. It’s a case of enlightened self-interest: many buyers can finally afford their first smartphone, and Google wants their data flowing through Google services. Unlike in the U.S. where most Android phones go through a circuitous path, Android One phones get software updates directly from Google.
