This means there will be no more official updates, as the Lollipop-running devices account for less than one percent of the total.
  • Google will discontinue official support for Android Lollipop OS, which debuted with Nexus 6.
  • Also known as Android 5.0, it was widely popular for introducing Material You to Android devices.
  • The said OS will no longer receive Google Play Updates, citing that less than one percent of active devices are running it.
  • 0x0@programming.dev
    71·
    4 months ago

    less than one percent of active devices are running it.

    Are there any other sources for this number? 'Cos most devices i deal with are in the jelly bean - lollipop range.

    Even if, a company such as Google could perfectly well keep maintaining older devices, but then they wouldn’t be able to sell Pixels and boast how eco-friendly they are.

    • huginn
      3·
      4 months ago

      Yeah but also vulnerabilities in older android remain unpatchable.

      EG: Strandhogg 2.0 can’t be patched - you just have to set min SDK 28.

      • 0x0@programming.dev
        2·
        4 months ago

        I’m sorry, what? Setting min SDK is, itself, a patch. I’m sure Google could backport that patch if they so desired. It’s not Spectre, it’s a software vulnerability.

        There’s no technical reason not to provide security backports to software. This is intentional.

        • huginn
          2·
          4 months ago

          You can’t modify activity intent apis on older versions of Android to fix intentjacking is my understanding. It fundamentally breaks the versions.

          In theory they could’ve supported down to sdk26 afaik. Android Sec is ancillary to my main day to day.