5 Sweet Features on Android Lollipop

Launched June 2014 at the Google I/O, Android 5.0 Lollipop or Android L has been installed on most major devices with the Google’s stock Android operating system. The most notable improvement with this Android is the Android Runtime (ART) that has displaced Dalvik as the application runtime environment.

What ART does is simply convert codes into running apps… then again, let’s leave out the geeky stuff for the real nerds. So what are new features available on Android 5.0 that you won’t find on Android 4.4, 4.3, 4.2, 4.1…2.0?

Material Design

As Google blog puts it, “Now content responds to your touch…and transitions between tasks are more fluid.” This is probably the biggest feature on Android L that distinctly distinguishes it from the earlier versions. This feature gives users a more interactive and responsive interface; with better motion, transition, color and response.

Android’s three mail utility keys have now been given geometrical shapes: a triangle – back button, a circle – home button and a square recent activity. The keyboard too has been transformed to now appear more flattened. Buttons and grids now respond better to every touch, and every app now pops out of somewhere.

Improved Battery Performance

A lot of people were concerned about their devices’ battery being able to power the new mobile operating system effectively. Most devices had this concern except for the Nexus 6, which off course came out of the box with Android L already pre-loaded. Google has put all these concerns to rest through Project Volta – a slick new feature that comes with a battery saver mode and claims to be able to extend your battery life by a minimum of 90 minutes, when the battery saver mode is activated.

When your device’s battery level hits below 15 percent, the system will automatically alert you. You can also choose to let battery saver mode to kick in automatically when power levels reaches below 15 percent. During battery saver mode, your device’s screen becomes encapsulated in an orange background. The flip side of it is that your animations gets jittery, but given the extra 90 minutes on your low battery, this is something most users can’t complain about.

Improved Lockscreen Features and Notifications

Android L comes with a new lockscreen experience. Notifications are now accessible right from the lockscreen, and the lockscreen display remains transparent when you are checking your notifications. It also has a one-touch button that will dismiss all of the notifications. The notification panel now looks more brilliant. Equipped with more features than in the earlier version of Android, such as a flashlight (without 3rd party apps), auto-rotate and cast-screen options.

Another impressive feature with Android L is the option to receive incoming calls even without exiting your current app. For instance say you are working on any app on your phone, then a call comes in, the call appears at the top and does not overlap your current app.

With Android L, you can also wake up your devices even without having to unlock the screen. Just like you would on Moto X. The “Ok Google” hotword response has been taken a notch higher.

Recent Apps appear as cards

The feature for showing Recent Apps has been replaced by a system that displays them as a stack of cards. Any app that you open will line up in the stack of cards, giving a smooth look and feel.

New Easter Eggs

With every Android update, comes a new better egg with more fun. Just like the Flappy Bird that became an overnight hit earlier this year. Although, you can’t find it in App Store or Google Play Store anymore, you can find a version of it in Android L.

Now that we’ve explored the sweet features on Android Lollipop, we can now look at some of the misses of the new OS. First, it has no Silent mode you will have to suffice with vibration at most. It also has taken away the Gallery apps, all of your pictures can now be found under the Photos app. Most users will need some time in order to find their way around the Photo apps since it categorizes albums in a different way.