It's no secret that HTC will be updating its Sense custom user interface when it releases Android 5.0 Lollipop for its smartphones, but the first set of leaked screenshots has now appeared revealing what to expect when the update finally lands.
The images appeared online earlier this week courtesy of LlabTooFeR, source of several previous HTC-related leaks and custom ROM developer. The screenshots reportedly show Sense 6 running on an HTC One (m8), which makes sense; HTC confirmed its flagship handset would be the first in the range to get an update to Lollipop, and work may not have even begun on porting the update to other phones.
Exclusive screenshots of Android 5.0 and Sense 6.0 running on HTC One M8. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/OLqC3DtdT3
— LlabTooFeR (@LlabTooFeR) November 19, 2014
Sense 6 originally arrived on the M8 back in April, and Sense 7 is unlikely to arrive until its successor launches in 2015. Depending on how big the changes are between KitKat and Lollipop, HTC may decide to release the update as Sense 6.5, or it could stick with Sense 6 to avoid confusion.
Based on the screenshots, the most obvious change is the Recent Apps switcher; it has a lighter grey colour but otherwise looks very similar to the stock Android design. Quick Settings is more grey than black, with added space between each icon, and the lock screen has been updated to support Lollipop's Heads Up notifications system.
Otherwise, there don't appear to have been many changes; HTC appears to be keeping its custom app icons, wallpapers, and notification tray icons. The images don't show Blinkfeed, and although it will almost certainly be making a reappearance we'll just have to wait for the official release (or further leaks) to see if it has been upgraded with a Lollipop-inspired design as well.
HTC previously committed to a 90 day release window after receiving the Android Lollipop source code; that means HTC One M8 owners not tied to specific networks should get an OTA update by mid-January. Everyone else will have to wait for mobile carriers to approve the update before they can download it.
