Android Lollipop for Google Play Edition HTC One (M8) and (M7) delayed until further notice

If there is one area where iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users can exercise their bragging rights, it is with the timely and consistent software updates received from Apple. Google’s rollout of Android Lollipop has been far less predictable, with only a portion of Nexus devices having received the update and owners of devices from other manufacturers like Samsung, LG and HTC still waiting.

HTC’s VP of product management Mo Versi originally tweeted that the Google Play Edition versions of both the flagship HTC One (M8) and last year’s HTC One (M7) were targeted to receive the Android Lollipop update as soon as this Friday. Just hours ago, however, Versi began tweeting out to several users to inform them that the update has been delayed until further notice.

[tweet https://twitter.com/moversi/status/535663187430211584 align=center]

The announcement magnifies the fragmentation that exists within the Android ecosystem between carriers, devices and smartphone manufacturers. Google would have fewer frustrated users if it were able to deliver Android Lollipop to a wider selection of devices at once, but software updates always seemed to get caught up in a series of loopholes year after year.

Earlier this week, leaked screenshots provided a first look at Android Lollipop and HTC Sense running on an HTC One (M8). The Taiwanese handset maker will be releasing Android Lollipop for the standard One (M8) and One (M7) in less than 90 days, meaning that the update should be available no later than February. That is, unless there are further delays.

Android Lollipop was unveiled at the Google I/O developers conference in June, with factory images and over-the-air software updates for the latest version slowly becoming available this month. Just days ago, several users began reporting that Android Lollipop was beginning to show up on the Nexus 4, 5, 7 and 10 as an over-the-air software update.