Addressing The Forking And Version Diversity Issue On Android: Motorola Releases The Android Lollipop 5.1.1. Update For The Motorola X 2013 Edition

The new year is upon us, and exciting things are on the horizon. More phones are rolling out with bigger, better, even sturdier features, and better optimization with Android Marshmallow. As Android grapples with the issue of “forking,” though, one thing makes it worse: The relatively slow update time frames for Android Lollipop 5.1.1.

The flagship devices have generally been covered, however, and this time, the OEMs and the mobile carriers are working on sending out the upgrades for older devices. It seems like Android and the OEMs that use the software are working hand in hand to solve the OS version diversity and OS forking issues, which makes it more difficult to release security and enhancement patches. Take for example, the Stagefright bug issue: It’s difficult to develop effective patches to deal with the Stagefright bug when the users on Lollipop are only at around 18%, with Android users on KitKat are at 39% and the rest of the Android users are still on the even earlier versions of the Android. This diversity presents a multi-threaded problem for coders, because they have to develop the code for each version of the Android.

To demonstrate the problem further, the Android M is radically different from all previous versions of the Android. With the Android M already out, and most older phones just being upgraded to the Lollipop, this diversity poses a massive problem that Google, Android, the OEMs, the carriers and even the developers who code forks of Android need to face.

That being said, at best, Motorola is working on moving its devices to the latest version that their hardware can manage.

As of Nov 15, the Motorola X, 2013 edition, finally gets the much-needed Android Lollipop 5.1.1 update.

To date, here are the Motorola devices that stand to receive the Lollipop 5.1.1 Upgrade, according to Android Pit:

-Moto X (2014)

-Moto X

-Moto G (2014)

-Moto G

-Moto E

And these are the Motorola devices that stand to receive the Lollipop 5.1 Upgrade, according to Android Pit:

-Moto X (2014)

-Moto X

-Moto G (2014)

-Moto G

-Moto Maxx

-Moto E

-Moto E 2015

-Droid Turbo

While these are the Motorola devices that are now on Lollipop 5.0, according to Gotta Be Mobile:

-Moto X (1st & 2nd Gen)

-Moto G (1st and 2nd Gen)

-Moto G 4G LTE

-DROID Turbo

-Moto E

-DROID Ultra

-DROID Maxx

-DROID Mini

Take note that as an end-user, when the device is updated to the latest possible software, the user can receive the full benefits of the latest security patches released for the Android. Check this space for more news on Android Lollipop 5.1.1., Android Marshmallow 6.0 and future software upgrades.

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Android 5.1.1 Upgrades on Droid Report: https://www.droidreport.com/taxonomy/term/23111

Android Lollipop Update sheet on Android Pit: https://www.androidpit.com/android-5-0-lollipop-phone-update-news

Motorola Android 5.1 Lollipop Update Breakdown on Gotta Be Mobile: https://www.gottabemobile.com/2015/05/29/motorola-android-5-1-lollipop-update-release-breakdown/

Statistics for Android devices and the versions they use by Android Central: https://www.androidcentral.com/lollipop-now-running-181-percent-active-android-devices

Phone Arena on Android Forking: https://www.phonearena.com/news/Android-forks-are-now-20-of-the-ecosystem.-What-is-Googles-plan_id59003

Droid Report on Android Forking: https://www.droidreport.com/android-lollipop-only-18-market-pundits-say-forking-blame-10665