If you want to try Android 5.0 on Pc, Mac or Linux you can now get the new android 5.0 SDK . During its Google I/O presentation, Google announced that the new Android 5.0 Lollipop would feature some mayor changes like the new Material Design, mayor security improvements, ART and much more. Manufacturers have announced that Android 5.0 Lollipop will become available on mainly flagship devices (full list of devices that will get Android 5.0 can be found here)
The Android 5.0 Lollipop SDK makes it possible to install the latest version of Android on your PC, Mac or Linux computer using an emulator. This will allow you to try out the latest version of Android without having to install it on your smartphone.
How to install Android 5.0 on PC, Mac or Linux
Android 5.0 SDK on PC
- First, lets download the SDK, you can do so here: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
- Once downloaded, run the executable and install it on your PC
- Once installed, go to the folder where you installed it and run the “SDK Manager” application.
- click on “Android SDK Tools” and make sure to select every option. From the “Tools” dropdown, select “Android SDK tools” and “Android SDK platform”
- Note: If you really only want to install the emulator, on the “Android SDK tools” dropdown you can only select the following ones: SDK Platform” and “ARM EABI v7a System Image since the rest aren’t needed.
- Once all the packages have been installed, go back to the download folder and this time run the “AVD Manager”
- AVD name should be Android Lollipop, Target should be Android 5.0, device Nexus 5. Use default value for “Max VM application heap”
- Once created, a window will pop up where a list of devices (if you have created any more) will show, select the one we just made (with Android 5.0) and click on “run”
- A window will pop up with launch options, you can leave everything the same and just click “Launch”
- The first time, it can take a long time to boot. Don’t worry if it does and simply let it run until you are at the familiar home screen.
Android 5.0 SDK on Mac and Linux
Follow the instructions mentioned above, they work the same for both Mac and Linux, no other options are required or different installation packages or folders.
