The Android 5.1.1 update for the Google Nexus 10 brought a series of significant changes and improvements to the tablet, focusing on enhanced user control, power optimization, security updates, and API refinements. While this update is no longer the latest available for Android devices, understanding its features provides valuable insight into the evolution of the Android operating system. This article delves into the key aspects of the Android 5.1.1 update as it pertains to the Google Nexus 10, examining the changes it introduced and their implications for users and developers.
Runtime Permissions: Taking Control of Your App Access
One of the most impactful changes introduced in Android 5.1.1 was the introduction of a new runtime permissions model. Prior to this, users granted all permissions to an application during installation. With runtime permissions, users gained the ability to grant or revoke specific permissions to apps after they had been installed. This provided a granular level of control that was previously unavailable.
Imagine downloading a photo editing app. Previously, you would have to grant it access to your camera, microphone, location, and contacts all at once during installation. With runtime permissions, the app could ask for camera access when you first tried to take a photo, microphone access when you tried to record audio, and so on. You could choose to grant or deny each permission individually.
This change had a significant impact on app developers. Apps targeting Android 6.0 (API level 23) and higher were required to implement runtime permission requests. This involved checking if a permission was already granted using the checkSelfPermission() method and requesting the permission using the requestPermissions() method.
Even for apps not specifically targeting Android 6.0, it was crucial to test them under the new permissions model. This ensured that the app behaved gracefully if a user revoked a permission that the app relied on. It encouraged developers to design their apps to handle permission denials gracefully, providing alternative functionality or informing the user about the consequences of not granting a particular permission.
You can find detailed information about implementing runtime permissions in the Android documentation under "Working with System Permissions" and "Permissions Best Practices". These resources provide guidance on how to properly request permissions, handle denials, and provide a positive user experience.
Doze and App Standby: Power-Saving Optimizations
The Android 5.1.1 update included significant power-saving optimizations designed to extend battery life on the Google Nexus 10. These features, known as Doze and App Standby, were designed to reduce power consumption when the device was idle.
Doze mode activates when a device is unplugged, stationary, and the screen is off for a certain period of time. In Doze mode, the system restricts background activity, such as network access and syncs, to conserve battery life. Periodic maintenance windows allow apps to perform essential tasks.
App Standby works at the app level. If a user hasn’t actively used an app for a certain period, the system puts the app into App Standby. In this state, the app’s network access is restricted, syncs are deferred, and background jobs are less frequent.
These features affected all apps, regardless of their target SDK version. Therefore, it was crucial for developers to test their apps under these new power-saving modes to ensure they continued to function correctly. They needed to optimize their apps to minimize battery usage and to handle periods of inactivity gracefully.
To learn more about optimizing apps for Doze and App Standby, refer to the Android documentation on "Optimizing for Doze and App Standby".
Apache HTTP Client Removal
A more technical change in the Android 5.1.1 release was the removal of support for the Apache HTTP client. Apps targeting Android 2.3 (API level 9) or higher that were using this client were advised to switch to the HttpURLConnection class.
The HttpURLConnection class was considered a more efficient alternative because it offered transparent compression and response caching, which reduced network usage and minimized power consumption.
For developers who needed to continue using the Apache HTTP APIs, they could declare the following compile-time dependency in their build.gradle file:
android {
useLibrary 'org.apache.http.legacy'
}This dependency would include the legacy Apache HTTP client library in their app.
Security Enhancements: BoringSSL
Android transitioned from OpenSSL to the BoringSSL library for cryptographic functions. This change was primarily relevant to developers using the Android NDK (Native Development Kit).
Developers were advised not to link against cryptographic libraries that were not part of the NDK API, such as libcrypto.so and libssl.so. These libraries were considered private APIs and were subject to change or removal without notice. Linking against them could introduce security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues.
Instead, developers were encouraged to modify their native code to call the Java cryptography APIs via JNI (Java Native Interface) or to statically link against a cryptography library of their choice.
Privacy Improvements: Access to Hardware Identifiers
Android 5.1.1 introduced privacy enhancements related to hardware identifiers. To provide users with greater data protection, programmatic access to the device’s local hardware identifier (MAC address) for apps using the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth APIs was restricted. The WifiInfo.getMacAddress() and BluetoothAdapter.getAddress() methods now returned a constant value of 02:00:00:00:00:00.
To access the hardware identifiers of nearby external devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi scans, apps now required the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION or ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permissions. This ensured that users were aware that an app was accessing location-related information.
It’s important to note that when a device running Android 6.0 (API level 23) or higher initiated a background Wi-Fi or Bluetooth scan, the operation was visible to external devices as originating from a randomized MAC address.
Notification API Changes
The Android 5.1.1 update deprecated the Notification.setLatestEventInfo() method. Developers were instructed to use the Notification.Builder class instead to construct notifications. To update a notification repeatedly, developers should reuse the Notification.Builder instance and call the build() method to get updated Notification instances.
Additionally, the adb shell dumpsys notification command no longer printed out notification text by default. The adb shell dumpsys notification --noredact command was required to print out the text in a notification object.
Audio Management Refinements
The Android 5.1.1 release deprecated methods for directly setting the volume or muting specific streams via the AudioManager class. The setStreamSolo() method was deprecated in favor of the requestAudioFocus() method. Similarly, the setStreamMute() method was deprecated, and developers were advised to call the adjustStreamVolume() method and pass in the direction value ADJUST_MUTE or ADJUST_UNMUTE instead.
Text Selection Enhancements
When users selected text in an app, Android 5.1.1 introduced the ability to display text selection actions such as Cut, Copy, and Paste in a floating toolbar. The implementation was similar to that for the contextual action bar.
Conclusion: Google Nexus 10 Android Update 5.1.1 and Its Legacy
The Google Nexus 10 Android Update 5.1.1 was a significant release that brought numerous improvements to the tablet. From enhanced user control over app permissions to power-saving optimizations and security enhancements, the update aimed to provide a better and more secure user experience. While subsequent Android versions have introduced further advancements, understanding the changes introduced in Google Nexus 10 Android Update 5.1.1 provides valuable insight into the evolution of the Android operating system. Even though the Google Nexus 10 is no longer receiving official updates, the concepts and changes introduced in this update remain relevant to modern Android development and usage. Many of these concepts are still prevalent today, albeit in more refined forms. For those still using the Google Nexus 10, knowing these updates may improve the user experience. The Google Nexus 10 Android Update 5.1.1 was a key step in Android’s development.
Unfortunately, finding a direct driver download link for the Google Nexus 10 Android Update 5.1.1 is difficult due to the age of the device and update. However, here are some resources that might be helpful:
Original Driver (Potentially included in Android SDK):
The drivers for the Nexus 10 would generally be included with the Android SDK. You would need to download the Android SDK from the official Android Developers website.
Alternative Download Link (Third-Party Website – Use with Caution):
https://androidmtk.com/download-google-usb-drivers
Disclaimer: Always exercise caution when downloading files from third-party websites. Ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date and scan any downloaded files before installation. I am not responsible for any issues that may arise from using these links.