Android’s Lollipop may be its sweetest operating system yet. It’s available as standard on new Android devices although most smartphone and tablet users will be able to upgrade to this system. These are just a couple of the reasons why Lollipop is worth installing on your favorite device.
Smart New Material Design
Image via Flickr by j0sh (www.pixael.com)
Designers and tech junkies are waxing lyrical about Lollipop’s new Material Design. The light, fresh look gives Lollipop a completely new feel and makes chic new phones like the LG G Flex2 look even better. The features Android devotees love are still there, but subtle design changes make all the difference. It’s so stylish and well organized that even ardent iPhone fans say they’re “casting sidelong glances Android’s way.”
Notifications on the Lock Screen
Say goodbye to swiping past your lock screen whenever you hear an alert. Lollipop’s lock screen displays those notifications too, so you can decide at a glance whether they’re worth your time. Then you can either swipe them away to delete them, double tap them to open the appropriate apps or swipe from the bottom to unlock your device. The change is impressive, but Android knows not everyone will warm to it. If you prefer an old school lock screen or only want to show selected notifications, simply adjust your settings.
Smart Battery-Saver Mode
A flat battery is the bane of every smartphone fan’s existence. Android comes to the rescue with Lollipop’s new battery-saver mode. It promises to extend battery life by up to 90 minutes, or several extra games of Candy Crush. You wouldn’t want to run the battery-saver all the time, as it reduces device performance and limits background data, but it’s a handy little feature for your daily commute and other occasions when you’re charger-less.
Search Settings
The new search bar in the settings menu is a small feature, but one that’s bound to make a big difference. It puts an end to time wasted searching for rarely used settings. Simply type in what you’re after and the search will find it for you. Too easy!
Create Multiple Profiles
Many spouses and young siblings share their cell phones, but they often don’t share friends or the same tastes. Now Android allows multiple users to create separate profiles within the same phone. The handy user accounts feature keeps personal apps, contacts, and photos separate to maintain the privacy of each person. You can create as many different user profiles as you like via the notification menu, including guest modes for casual users. That’s got to be better than risking your friends finding your library of selfies!
Try Screen Pinning
Screen pinning is a brand new feature that restricts phone access to just one app. Parents can use this feature to ensure their child sticks to an educational game, or that a friend doesn’t go snooping through text messages after checking emails. You can enable screen pinning via the security section of your device’s settings. After this, it takes just two taps to pin the app you’re currently using.
All these features work together to give Lollipop fans the sweetest user experience.