Google releases Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK, Nexus 5 & 7 Preview images
After officially releasing Android 5.0 Lollipop last week, Google has made the Developer Preview Images for the newest Android OS available ahead of a global rollout in November. The images so far have been released for the Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2013) as well as a full release of the 5.0 Lollipop SDK and final APIs.
The images have been made available for download on the Android Developers page and list the build number 'LPX13D'.
These images are meant for developers to get a hang of the OS and test apps on them before Lollipop finally makes a mass release for consumers. The interim period will give developers time to tune their existing apps to the updated Android platform.
Users will be able to roll back to the final Android Lollipop factory image. Google has also provided the Android emulator and the updated developer images for ADT-1.
This final Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK release is important since it gives developers access to 5,000 new APIs that they can now use for their existing apps following several changes in the SDK from the previous version which was the Android L developer preview, made available earlier this year. Google notes that users should make sure to delete all existing preview packages through the SDK manager before installing the final SDK.
Google also announced that the Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and the Nexus Player will be the first set of devices to run the OS and will come out in November along with a global Android 5.0Lollipop rollout for other Nexus and Google Play Edition devices.
