Google has recently rolled out its newest Android version named Lollipop which has left the world amazed with its millennial- centric looks and features. The only sad part is that the update is not made available to all android users yet, as it is available to Moto G, Moto X and Nexus 4/5/6/9 users only. Following is the list of features that has updated the smart phone experience indeed and is making many drool over it as they cannot have Lollipop on their devices:
-
Fit App
The Fit app is built to help you maintain your fitness quotient. It measures activity that you are indulged in throughout the day and allows you to set goals for yourself to follow a better routine. Your activity data is recorded and stored by the app and the activity analysis is displayed through graphs and charts.
The app can collect data for following activities:
- Walking
- Running
- Biking
- Also allows adding “Other” activities different from the default 3. In this case the time spent on the activity needs to be added separately.
The app then summarizes the total days activity and compares the same with set goals and suggests time that would be needed to attain them.
- Advanced Security Features-
This feature allows users to add multiple devices to a trusted list. Doing this will automatically unlock your phone when it comes in range of these devices, saving you from the hassles of unlocking the phone time and again. The trusted devices could be a Bluetooth watch, a car’s Bluetooth system or an NFC sticker on a phone dock, another mobile with Bluetooth or NFC, etc.
This security feature lets your device unlock only after detecting your face or other configured faces which it deems trusted. This may sound like a better safety tool than other security features but Google itself recommends using rest of tools like security patterns and passwords.
It shows a message at the first screen stating that with this security feature your phone could be unlocked by someone who carries looks similar to that of the saved facial features and recommends using other security tools for better safety. It also mentions that the data used to recognize your face is saved on your set privately and is not shared anywhere else.
Anyhow, this feature surely creates interest and is worth trying.
Another feature that’s adding to Android 5.0 Lollipop’s popularity is the screen pinning. With it, you can give your device to anyone without fearing of intrusion on your privacy. This advanced security feature allows you to restrict your device to single view/feature/app that you want one to use. He will neither be able to move out of screened section nor use any other app or feature of your phone.
Having this feature you need not be watchful while giving your phone to kids for playing games or to some stranger who wishes to make a call from your phone.
To pin a screen on your Lollipop device, turn on Screen Pinning from Phone Settings–> security–> Advanced and click ‘on’. Then go to the overview section (the square icon on the bottom phone navigation) —> select a screen or app that you wish to pin. Click on the pin circle icon on the bottom right of the screen.
To Unpin, touch and hold ‘Back’ and ‘Overview’ at the same time and you would be able to unpin the screen.
-
Enhanced Notifications
The new Lollipop carries some eye catching changes when it comes to notifications. Locked screen notification is an added feature where the locked scene allows you to have a glimpse of the unattended notifications. The best thing is that you can see your notifications on locked screen without seeing the inside-content. To keep your data private it shows this ‘content hidden’ message along with each notification. You can only figure out who sent what, an email or a hangout message but not the actual content.
Also the new android has a new way to manage sound notifications from the device. Control priority notifications via your device’s volume button so that only certain people & notifications get through.
It also allows making the notifications go completely silent so that you are not disturbed when you are busy with some other important task. This feature is the smarter way to manage your priorities and focus on the more important tasks at a given time.
Also, the new notifications view on top of the screen is no less a treat. This does not interfere in the work you are doing on the device and allows you to accept or dismiss a call while staying at the same screen.
-
Media Gallery Vanished
Another change implemented by Google, which might make some people feel a bit uncomfortable is that the new android does not show a phone gallery- separately. All the images and videos on the phone are now displayed through Google Photos and give an option to backup your data with your Google account.
-
Smarter Gmail
Android Lollipop comes loaded with the new Gmail. This updated e-mail app allows users to synchronize all or any email accounts at one place, i.e. you would not need a separate Yahoo e-mail app to view your yahoo account mails or Hotmail or any other for that matter. This app will allow you to connect with any email account from the same place making it easy to manage your mails and app space.
-
Guest Mode:
Ever thought of giving your phone to someone else for a day? This might be little inconvenient for you mainly due to the personal data on your device as you don’t like it to be accessed or explored by anyone else except you. Solving the same issue, Android Lollipop has come up with a Microsoft Windows feature in your phone called the Guest mode.
To switch to the guest mode simply bring down the quick navigation bar (using double fingers) -> Click on your tiny device image at the right top corner -> Click on “Guest” in the menu below. Once you click on “Guest” icon the phone switches to a fresh profile with factory settings and does not show any data from your personal profile (Just like windows guest profile). Lollipop also gives the option to add another user account in the phone if you plan to share your device with someone else.
-
Magnification Gesture
This feature helps you turn on temporary magnification on your screen. Simply turn on Magnification gesture from Settings > Accessibility and tap the screen thrice to magnify a particular section. You can also pan the screen by dragging 2 or more fingers across the screen or adjust zoom level by pinching in and out, 2 or more figures together. To return to the normal state just lift your fingers from the screen and the phone will return to the normal screen.
-
UI and UX Enhancements
Last but not the least, Google has done some magnificent work on the UI and UX of the android making it look smooth and beautiful. Some of the changes that would make you love using your phone are listed here: (With Screen Shorts)
- New colorful and highly responsive UI design with highly enhanced visual elements like ripple effect on buttons.
- Quick setting allowing handy system controls to be used with just two finger scroll down from the top of the screen.
- Easy toggling for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Location, flashlight, hotspot, screen rotation and cast screen.
- Improved battery life and performance with the new android ART runtime.
- Improved audio, video, graphics and camera.
- 68 + language support
- Fast device setup.
- Big screen print preview experience.
- Cloud printing
- Smarter and easily manageable calendar.
- Easier and faster data sharing through Andriod Beam that lets you share media with a light tap to the other NFS enabled device.
All- in – all, Google has made the android experience enhance in many ways and has successfully integrated computing ease to your mobile devices. But, all these perks and treats come with a risk of losing all to Google. With Android 5.0 Lollipop, Google has found another way to control all data in your device. All apps and features are integrated to one account and that belongs to GOOGLE.
Hope you enjoy reading the list and exploring your new android.
What features or apps did you like in your new android-Lollipop? Share your favorites with us and other android lovers.
