Looks like HTC has kept to its promise and certain owners of the flagship One M8 handset can now download Android 5.0.1 Lollipop.

HTC confirmed that unlocked and developer editions of the HTC One M8 would be receiving Android 5.0.1 Lollipop starting Tuesday night. Confirmations from users around the technosphere show the manufacturer did not disappoint. HTC has made it a habit as of late to promise a new Android version soon after Google releases the new firmware. The upgrade runs HTC's in-house interface Sense, version 6.

Android 5.0.1 is a step up from the November release of Android 5.0, which created many problems with the Nexus devices it was originally released through. It's not Android 5.0.2 (but then again, only the 2012 Wi-Fi Nexus 7 has that), but it's certainly better than getting Android 5.0, which is what rival Samsung is now rolling out to its flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone.

Sadly, it is important to note that this only applies to unlocked and developer editions. Those who purchased their HTC One M8 through a carrier such as Verizon or AT&T will have to wait. The reason for this lies in the Android development process, which results in industry-wide fragmentation.

Android is open source and developed by Google, which releases the code to the world after it's finished. Manufacturers like HTC or Samsung pick up the code and tailor it to their own devices, usually individually. This also means integrating it with their in-house interfaces like Sense or, in Samsung's case, TouchWiz. After this is done, unlocked variants (or developer editions, in this case) of the device will slowly get their fill of the new firmware. Carrier-tied variants, however, have to wait longer. Not only do carriers end up sneaking in their own bloatware, they also need to approve and test it for their specific networks. All of this can take months, if not longer, and many carrier-tied smartphones end up missing out on Android versions due to the backflow.

To that effect, there's never really a release date for a new Android update on a mobile device. It's hard to tell when U.S. carriers will release Android 5.0.1 Lollipop for the masses, but it shouldn't take too long. Consumer frustration has made updating a higher priority for most companies, but it wouldn't be out of the question for Android 5.1 to be out in the wild before carrier-tied HTC One M8s get their first taste of Android 5.0.1 Lollipop.