Before you start jumping for joy, no, this isn’t Android Lollipop for the Xperia Z3 and its predecessors. What Sony is announcing here instead is the availability of the source code and the pre-built software binaries for the Xperia flagship family all the way from the Xperia Z1. While it’s not exactly something that end users can use, it at least paves the way for custom ROMs to provide that experience as soon as possible.
It may be a bit of a downer for those more interested in the Android 5.0 update for the Xperia Z family, but for those developing and running on custom ROMs, this is Christmas come early. Showing how a good Android family member behaves, Sony is providing not just compiled binaries but source code and even instructions on how to build your own Xperia-based ROM. Pretty generous of them right? Well, almost.
Sony notes that there will be certain functionality that will be disabled if you go down this route. These are the very same issues users will encounter when unlocking bootloaders, because of the DRM involved in these components of the smartphone. While the lack of a camera might be something some users will be able to live with, the modem being disabled is probably too much of a sacrifice, considering that it means you won’t be able to make phone calls.
Still, for those who have a phone to spare or are willing to take the plunge, possibly for the sake of ROM development, the files are available from Sony’s developer website. These cover the Xperia Z1, Xperia Z1 Compact, Xperia Z2, Xperia Z3, and Xperia Z3 Compact. The video below shows the Xperia Z3 running Android 5.0 AOSP. Once again, note that this is not yet the OEM-flavored version, but it does hint that things have been set in motion for its official release.
SOURCE: Sony
