Android 6.0 Marshmallow may have already been announced but considering its fresh debut, owners of older Android-powered devices may have to wait a bit until the official OTA update becomes available.
Judging by how things go, it may take a while. Hence, it would be best to go with the latest Android update available in the market: the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.
In a previous post, we did mention that it is highly advisable to apply the said patch to fend off vulnerabilities brought by a controversial bug known as Stagefright.
For those who are not familiar with the bug, the Stagefright bug is an exploit that allows hackers to intrude on your device and eventually control it. Usually, such is done through MMS or through media files like MP3 or MP4.
The Android 5.1.1. Lollipop update has been slowly rolling out for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S6. Now, another Samsung device is likewise receiving the update - the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo came out way back in February 2014, and the latest Android 5.1.1 update has started rolling out in Korea. It will be available via the usual OTA update or via KIES, which will be compatible with devices with model numbers SM-N750L, SM-N750K and SM-N750S.
Though the OS update comes a bit late for the said device, the new patch should address some concerns and provide fixes as well, the Stagefright bug of which is of course the main issue.
The update is estimated to be about 900 MB in size and carries a build date of October 12, 2015.
Among the features to expect from this latest Android update are the updated TouchWiz UI with Material Design, a new lock screen, new notifications bar, updated system apps and so on.
For those planning to do it manually, you can download the latest firmware here.
Aside from the Galaxy Note 3 Neo, the Galaxy S4 Mini can also be upgraded to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop using the SlimLP custom ROM.
For the ones planning to undergo this route, be advised that the whole process is a bit technical. Here are a few reminders before you apply the patch.
- Make sure that you do have a Galaxy S4 Mini LTE (GT- I9195) first.
- The device should be rooted.
- In installing the ROM, be warned that the process includes clearing your device's memory. Hence, make sure all your important data are backed up.
- Make sure your phone is properly charged, preferably by about 80%.
- Ensure that your PC is equipped with necessary USB drivers for proper recognition.
If none of the above is an issue, then you can proceed below.
- Download the SlimLP Android 5.1.1 Lollipop custom ROM from here.
- Connect your device via usual USB interface to the PC.
- Locate and copy the GPE Android 5.1.1 Lollipop custom ROM zip file and save to your phone's SD card root directory.
- Turn off and then disconnect your device from the PC.
- Go into recovery mode by holding down the volume (UP), Home and Power buttons.
- Once in Recovery Mode, clear the memory by pressing (wipe data/factory reset).
- Wipe the cache by pressing wipe cache partition.
- Go to ClockworkMod recovery, select advanced and tap on 'wipe dalvik cache'.
- Head back to the main recovery screen and tap on 'install zip from SD card'.
- Tap on choose zip from SD card and go to the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop ROM .zip file.
- Once finished, press 'Go Back' and restart the device using the reboot system, which is now an option.
To check if you were successful, go to settings and check the 'About Phone' to see if the installation was a success.
Again, the process is a bit tricky, so unless you don't mind ending up bricking your phone, it would be best to have someone with advanced technical expertise help you out.