The first batch of the official Android 5.1 software update is now finding the over the airwaves for Google nexus 4 device owners who are subscribers to the T-Mobile phone carrier network. No other carriers who subscribe the nexus 4 are issuing the release this stage, but they will surely follow suit soon enough.
The original Android 5.0 Lollipop update came out with a bundle of features including new Quick Settings menu, material design UI, Flappy Bird Easter Egg, screen pinning, Android RunTime (ART), no more Dalvik system, material design in the app drawer, camera updates, lock screen notifications, new smart notifications Google security patches and still more.
The official Android 5.1 Lollipop update with build number LMY47D for your Nexus 4 will include all the same great features from the 5.0 update passed down, plus extras like Device protection, better stability and performance enhancements and a much smoother ROM. T-Mobile has also included a greater WiFi connection, notification enhancements, some minor adjustments to the Quick Settings menu, some added visual tweaks which aid in making the overall ROM perform better and even more.
The new Device protection feature is a modern way to stop people from stealing your devices. No matter what tough guy says to you they know how to steal mobile phones and use them, they’ll all have a difficult time cracking this new idea presented by Google. The Device Protection tool will stop people from performing a factory reset and create a new account to take over the phone. That’s if they manage to open the pass-code lock screen once and take control of the device. Now you can create the option to have to sign in to your Google account, so a factory reset will still show the Google account which needs signing in from the old owner.
Since there were so many new features in the original 5.0 Lollipop (still hundreds I didn’t mention above), there were also tons of system bugs that needed to be reduced. The 5.1 OTA is addressing those, plus adding some cool features like the Device protection. T-Mobile haven’t released any other information about what they’ve included in this one so we’ll have to wait and see.
We expect the same build to trickle down the range of other Google nexus devices such as the 7, 9, 5 and 10 within the coming days. In fact, we already know some of those devices have the official firmware file available for a manual installation. however, the Nexus 4 does not make that list. This is an OTA release, which means it’s rolling out automatically to all Nexus 4 devices under the T-Mobile name within the coming days ahead. Some people can already tap the ‘download’ and ‘install now’ options from the device display while others will continue waiting. The LMY47D build does eventually find everybody.
You should backup the smartphone from the Mountain View company first before accepting the LMY47D firmware file. You can do that by using third-party applications from Google Play or any other way you choose.