Google Announces Android 5 Also Known As Lollipop

Yesterday saw the release of Android 5.0 Lollipop and becomes the 13^th major release for Android. However, it is the first one to be fully developed under Sundar Pichai, the Google senior vice president and confidant of Chief Executive Officer Larry Page. Pichai took over the OS Operation last year.

Android 5.0 Lollipop release date schedule

Nexus

Google announced that updates to Android 5.0 would happen in the coming weeks for the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. Updates for the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 will occur in early November. Even older models like the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 will benefit from Android 5.0.

HTC

HTC previously announced that it would begin the rollout of Android 5.0 worldwide to the HTC One M8 and HTC One M7 “within 90 days of receiving final software from Google”.

Motorola

Motorola announced yesterday that their Android 5.0 update will happen on the first and second generation Moto X and Moto G. In addition, Moto G with 4G LTE, Moto E, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx and Droid Mini will also receive the update, which is expected to happen later this year.

Samsung, LG and Sony

All three companies are yet to reveal revealed their plans for the rollout of Android 5.0.

Samsung has a poor reputation for delivering timely updates; however, the likely devices will be Samsung’s 2014 portfolio and possibly the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.

The LG G3 and G2 Pro and possibly the G2 and original G Pro devices will receive the Android 5.0 update.

For Sony it is expected that the Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 V and Xperia Z3 compact will receive the update.

Lollipop’s New Features

Google has dubbed the most obvious new features for Android 5.0 as Material Design. It includes visual enhancements and user interface changes. Android 5.0 has more fluid animations, a bolder color palette and revamped multitasking menu. In addition the platform also has new notification controls and a new battery saver mode will allow you to get an additional 90 minutes between charges.

Android 5.0 also includes a feature called Factory Reset Protection or ‘kill switch’. What this means is that a phone with Lollipop will require a password before it can be reset.

Android 5.0 is the biggest visual update to Android since 2011 when it released 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Google is pushing for Android to be on every device that we interact with and Lollipop is expected to set this plan in motion.

photo credit: Birdies100 via photopin cc