Android 5.0 Lollipop Users Fume Over Bugs

When Google recently rolled out the new Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system, it touted the release as its biggest Android update yet, with an emphasis on delivering an integrated experience across multiple devices. However, early users are fuming mad over Lollipop, with bugs and problems souring the Lollipop experience.

What’s the problem? As one of our commenters wrote, “Where do I begin?” Batteries that drain too fast, Wi-Fi connection difficulties, and apps not working properly. Some have also reported trouble loading Lollipop’s new “material design” support library that is supposed to provide a consistent look and feel across devices, on everything from smartphones and tablets to TVs, wearables, and one day, even car electronics.

The first devices to feature Android 5.0 Lollipop are the Nexus 9 tablet, Nexus 6 “phablet” phone and Player. Google has said it expects to roll out Lollipop in stages to the Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10 and Google Play edition devices. However, based on our readers’ comments, stabilizing the new release has to be the first priority.

Users have already posted hundreds of entries related to Lollipop on the Android Open Source Project Issue Tracker, all very much in line with our own readers’ experiences.

Here’s just a taste of what’s souring our readers on the Lollipop release.

Slow, Shaky and Quite a Drain

Reader ‘cifigeek4life Nick’ wrote that he is having “mad problems” with his Nexus 6 phone. “It starts to run very slowly and animations start to jitter.” When listening to Pandora or another music player and then downloading an app or a podcast, the system starts to stutter and hiss, and the volume overall is too low. Sometimes the ringtone for incoming calls “sounds totally messed up and staticy/choppy.”

In addition, he shared, the sound “is totally messed up no matter what ringtone” he chooses and when he tries to answer the phone, “it starts to crackle bad through the speakers, even with headphones on. Speaking of more sound problems,” he adds, “popping and crackling sounds randomly happen when using Google Now or hitting the microphone to activate Google Now.”

Nick wrote that he had high hopes for the Nexus 6, but may have to return it if the daily problems aren’t fixed soon. “Battery drain is way insane on this phone, I barely use it and it’s eating up battery like mad, not sure from what.”

Back to the Drawing Board

Commenter William Dickson shared his complaints as well, writing that he is not at all pleased with Android’s latest upgrade and the many problems it has created with his Nexus 5 phone. Email access has become an issue, he wrote, as he is unable to access it the bulk of the time and unable to use Magic Jack. In addition, the Go app will not operate properly. (continued…)

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