New Android releases usually mean sadness for owners of older Android devices, even if they are flagships. Although Android 5.0 Lollipop is also aimed at lower-end phones as it is supposed to improve their performance, most users depend on their manufacturers and carriers to make an upgrade with many of them never even getting the newest versions. Some manufacturers have been changing this aspect and Sony is one keeping their older devices up to date. If you own any older model Sony phones like the Xperia Z1, Z Ultra or Z1 Compact, there is some good news for your device. After releasing Android 5.1 Lollipop in June, the company has just made available an update for Android 5.1.1, the latest version of Lollipop, with the build number 14.6.A.0.368. The most important feature is a full fix for the Stagefright exploit and it also offers small UI tweaks to improve the overall usability.
Sony made improvements to Volume and Silent Mode control, also giving it a simplified and enhanced design. The Camera app got improvements in focus, accuracy and Superior Auto mode, and now it is possible to use the Sony SmartWatch 3 as a remote shutter button for taking photos. Both Calendar and Contact apps now have LinkedIn integration. The Calendar, again, got some other tweaks: upcoming events can be checked inside the Email app, and you can now create and share smart events directly from any email. Wi-fi and Bluetooth toggles received additional options in the menu, and, finally, there are also new Xperia themes and new Settings menu icons.
The update is already available as an over-the-air (OTA) update and you should be able to get it in the coming days, as they are being rolled out slowly for different regions. To check if it is already available for your device, just go to Settings, scroll all the way to the bottom, then hit About/Software Update and you should see it there. If you are in a hurry to try out the new firmware, Xperia Blog released FTF firmware links for download so you can flash it manually – check them out in the source link below. If you are going to update now, remember to have your phone with a decent amount of battery and plugged to a charger to avoid any problem with it shutting down and/or running out of power during the process.