A number of new Nexus devices can now count themselves among the lucky recipients of Google's latest Android update, Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.

Google released factory Android 5.1.1 Lollipop images for the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, and LTE Nexus 9. There's still no word on when the update will roll out over the air, but those who are looking to snag the latest firmware straight from Google can do so by heading over the developers page. Once there, all you have to do is locate your device and click on the download link listed for the version of Android you are looking to upgrade to. Be sure to read flashing instructions carefully, and if you're unsure, it's always best to wait for the OTA rollout so you don't end up bricking your device.

The new releases expand the number of Nexus devices with access to Android 5.1.1 to almost the entire lineup. The new adds join the Nexus 9 (Wi-Fi-only version), Nexus 10, and Nexus Player set-top box with an Android 5.1.1 update. Surprisingly, the latest Nexus smartphone, the Nexus 6, doesn't have an Android 5.1.1 firmware -- it does Android 5.1, however.

The Andorid 5.1.1 update weighs in at 25MB and isn't much of a game-changer. It mostly contains stability improvements and critical bug fixes, an issue that Google has consistently faced since the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop.

Android 5.0, which released late last year, was plagued by a number of issues during its initial weeks. Many users reported that their device had become unusable, and Google has been slowly fixing many of the issues with incremental Android Lollipop updates.

If you're wondering why there's such a time gap in when different Android devices receive their updates to the newest version, it has to do with the entire development process. Google initially develops a new Android, and soon after pushes it out to Nexus devices that run stock Android. Other manufacturers with handsets or tablets that run vanilla or close-to-vanilla Android interfaces are next to follow. Many flagships, however, run in-house interfaces such as Samsung's TouchWiz or HTC's Sense, meaning the manufacturers then have to tailor the Android firmware further. Last, but not least, carrier-tied variants are usually tweaked to work better on certain networks. All in all, it's basically a free-for-all as soon as Google releases the source code.

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