The latest update of the most popular system in the world on smartphones was Android 5.0 Lollipop, released in November. To date, more than three months later, statistics say that less than 3% of Android devices, cell phones and tablets, have received the update.
It is clear that something is wrong and that there are strong limitations in the possibility of updating Android.
Those who still have older versions may wonder why their smartphone does not update to the latest version of the operating system, why one model is updated and another not and what can be done to force this update and always have the latest version of Android .
The big problem and defect of this operating system, so open, flexible and customizable, is the fragmentation of the versions installed on the numerous devices that adopt it.
Android is a free system (while iOS can only be installed on the iPhone) adopted by almost all major mobile phone manufacturers (Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola and all Chinese brands), which is adapted for most smartphone and tablet models different.
It so happens that when Google releases the new version, this must then be revised by the various manufacturers, who only after making the necessary changes can release it for the various models.
It is therefore obvious that the manufacturers will work to update Android only on the most popular devices, leaving aside the older and less sold ones.
Despite being officially available in November, Android 5 Lollipop has been released as an automatic update only on Nexus devices, which are sold by Google itself.
To understand why Android does not update on all smartphones, let's take an example.
Let's say that three friends go to buy the same kit of LEGO pieces that each one uses to make a different and unique construction.
A few months later, LEGO put on sale a new set of pieces that the three friends go to buy to improve their construction.
Since these constructions are different, even if made with the same pieces, it will take a different amount of work and time to improve it with the new kit that will have to be adapted.
So it is for Android: Google, like Lego, develops and works on the next versions of Android.
When they announce a new version, which happens 6/12 months, Google provides the system's source code (pieces) publicly on its website, so that manufacturers and manufacturers of phones can use it to update their devices. .
Once the source code is available, manufacturers need to prepare it for their customers.
We have seen in another article which are the fastest manufacturers to release Android updates between HTC, LG, Samsung and Motorola .
Who owns an Android smartphone can only wait patiently for the release of the update.
Those who have an inexpensive phone, old or produced by a small and semi-unknown company like the many Chinese who are there, can also put their souls in peace because it will be difficult to update Android.
To put a patch on the problem, Google has divided the Android system into a series of independent applications that can be installed and updated from the Google Play Store.
Among these, the most important is Google Play Services to update Android and protect the mobile phone .
Thanks to the installation of different applications and the enormous native flexibility of Android, we have also seen how to have the Lollipop style on all phones
Let's now see how to update Android .
Regular Android updates are released on smartphones with a notification .
You can also check for an update by going to Settings - Info on the phone .
Checking for updates is however automatic and is done every day by Android so there is absolutely no need to do the manual verification.
We have seen how it is possible to update or install Android on Nexus from the PC manually, privileged devices being Google brand.
For everyone else, the only way is to install a custom ROM.
Basically, without waiting for the manufacturer, you can turn to independent developers freer and less tied to the bureaucratic procedures of large companies, which develop Android versions compatible with many various smartphone models.
We have seen, for example, how to install CyanogenMod, the best Android ROM, the most popular one, of which there are versions for many mobiles.
