The release of Android 5.0 Lollipop was announced last year by Google on June 25th 2014. It was launched on the 12th of November 2014 with numerous improvements and features for selected devices like Google Nexus, Sony Droid Phones, and Samsungs. In this review, we speak about the 10 newest features which you must try after you’ve upgraded or installed Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The Guest
This guest is not Dan Stevens, and will not harm your data. The new Guest Mode makes it easier for you to share your devices with your friends and family, without them having access to your personal data. You must check this feature out. It can be turned on from notifications by tapping on your account avatar and selecting “Add Guest”.
Pin Apps
The pin app feature is a cool sharing system, it lets you pin apps to your account and restrict access to guests. This feature can be turned on from the settings.
Improved Battery
This one is the best improvement, Google has put in efforts to actually improve the battery life for your device. With this feature, you get the counters that will tell you the time left to complete charge and the time remaining before you charge again. Get into settings -> battery to see the time left until your battery dies. The battery-saver mode if turned on can increase battery life by 90 minutes, ideal when you are roaming around without a charger. You can turn this feature on from the menu button.
Tap & Go
Tap & Go is usually used for near field communication devices. It helps you set up your new phone by simplying tapping it to your old phone. It will automatically sync apps from Google Play along with all the configuration and settings.
Setup Priority
Lollipop lets you set the priority of notifications. Priority mode will stop alerts based on settings of your choice, and will allow only the most important alerts or notifications from important applicationss. Priority mode is similar to Silent Mode. To turn on Priority mode, click your device’s volume button so only specific notifications come to your device.
Material design
Lollipop uses the Material Design interface across devices it runs on, and you will see that once you update to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Google’s “Material Design” brings shades, rich colors and a responsive user interface to Android devices. New colors, edge-to-edge improvement, light and shadows make the UI easy to use.
Add trusted devices
Users can set their device to “Trusted Device” via Bluetooth or NFC. The device will automatically turn off the security pattern on your Android device when it’s nearby. This means you don’t have to unlock the device when you’re driving car or at home. To turn it on go to Settings, select Security then Smart Lock and Trusted Devices. Smart Lock is only be available once you set the pattern or passcode for your device.
Quick Settings
With the Lollipop update the Quick Settings menu is also improved. The Quick Settings slider allows you to control the flashlight, adjust the brightness, WiFi, Bluetooth and screen rotation.
Overview of Apps
This feature is adapted from Apple iOS. In older Android versions all your open apps disappear once you switch off your device. Now, Lollipop allows you to start where you left off. Apps will be available on the Overview screen, so you can quickly get access to your work, songs, photos, and even recent searches.
Google Fit
Google Fit is a health kit API for Android device that launched about the same time as Lollipop, but supports Android 4.0 and above. Google Fit is a competitor to Apple’s Healtkit, sensing data about the user’s fitness from a mobile device or smart watch. It will keep a record of physical activities like cycling, running or walking.
Additional features added in Android Lollipop
- Added 15 new additional languages and now supports 68 languages.
- Enhanced colour-blind capabilities.
- ART improvement for faster and easy use.
- Improved keyboard for support several languages.
- Nexus device feedback.
- Improved graphics, video and camera capabilities.
- Play Flappy Bird clone on new Android version as an Easter egg App.