Nexus 7 gets Android 5.0 Lollipop update

Nexus 7 tablets are among the first wave of Android devices to receive Android 5.0 Lollipop update. Asus has announced that upgrading to Android 5.0 Lollipop is free of charge and available immediately as an over-the-air (OTA) update for all Nexus 7 Wi-Fi-only models.

Nexus 7 notifications are also improved with Android 5.0 Lollipop. New ‘heads-up notifications’ enable users to respond to notifications without leaving the current app, speeding every interaction. Users are also given greater control over lock-screen notifications, including which notifications should be displayed on a secure lock screen.

Android 5.0 Lollipop also enables Bluetooth Smart, a low-energy Bluetooth mode that extends Nexus 7 battery life when scanning for and pairing with nearby devices. The latest version of Android even includes a new ‘personal unlocking’ feature. By designating locations such as home and work as ‘safe’, or by pairing the tablet with trusted nearby devices, Nexus 7 users are able to bypass the normal lock screen.

Upgrading to Android 5.0 Lollipop is both free and easy for Nexus 7 owners. From the home screen, users should tap Settings followed by ‘About tablet’ and then ‘System updates’. The update will be rolled out for Nexus 7 LTE/3G models around the beginning of December 2014.