We’ve been eagerly waiting for Google to make Android L official, and it’s finally here. The OS is version 5.0 and will be called Lollipop, so Google is sticking with their dessert naming conventions. The update includes Google’s new Material Design language throughout the operating system, and there are plenty of new features that look like they’ll make Android significantly better to use. This is the biggest update Android has seen in years, and there’s a lot to get excited about.
Material Design is the most obvious change with Android 5.0. While navigating around a device, content is more reactive (like what we’ve seen in some newer Google app updates) and transitions are fluid and actually enjoyable to watch. Up until now, Google has put functionality ahead of design and polish, and Material Design looks like a step towards putting the user experience in the front seat.
Under the hood, Lollipop comes with a slew of enhancements, too. Content is seamlessly synced between devices, including things like photos, music, and search history. The notification system is getting a major overhaul like what we saw at Google I/O earlier this year, so you’ll be able to answer notifications directly from the lock screen, plus set up a “do not disturb” mode so you won’t get bugged by people in the middle of the night. Getting a phone call or other notification won’t interrupt whatever you’re currently doing, either. You can simply ignore or answer calls while remaining in another app.
Android 5.0 also implements its own power-saving mode. Other manufacturers add this in to their devices in their own ways, but now it will be a standard Android feature. The battery usage stats will also be more detailed, and you’ll get estimations on how much longer your device will last as well as how long it’ll take to fully charge up your device.
Quick Settings, a very popular feature of Android, are getting some new tweaks and improvements. You’ll still be able to swipe down with two fingers to get to your Quick Settings, and from here you can toggle things like a flashlight, mobile hotspot, or turn quick casting on or off. Adjusting settings like WiFi and Bluetooth is also easier.
Security is also a major focus with Lollipop. Device encryption will be turned on by default for all devices, and there are new ways to lock and secure your device. The trusted device method of security actually keeps your phone locked unless it’s near another trusted Bluetooth device like your Android Wear watch.
As far as performance goes, Lollipop uses ART for its runtime, which has come a long way since it was introduced in previous Android versions. It features a pretty significant bump in performance, especially within the UI. 64-bit processing is also included natively in Android 5.0 which will be great for memory-intensive applications. Smaller tweaks like better audio and visual processing have also been added, so everything from listening to music to playing simple games should also perform better and more efficiently.
Of course, Android 5.0 wasn’t just designed for phones and tablets. Google plans on making this the underlying software for all of their devices going forward, including Android TV players. Native support for different devices is built right into the operating system, which you obviously won’t see on a Nexus 9. It does make it much easier for devices to communicate and share information, though, and that’s the goal Google is aiming for with Lollipop.
Now the big question is if your particular device will get the update to Android 5.0. Motorola has already announced plans to bring many of its devices up to speed, and Google is planning on bringing the update to the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10. We should hear a little more about update availability in the next few days.
Google has updated their Android page, so if you want to look over the full changelog, you can find it at the link below.
source: Android
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