Android 5.0 under the code sweet name Lollipop became available to a simple user not so long ago. Jumping from place to place, I would like to immediately note that this is a qualitative and confident step forward in terms of performance, design and overall impression of use. Smartphones were the first to receive the new OS Nexus 6, Nexus 5, tablet computers Google Nexus 9 and HTC Nexus 9, Nexus 7 (2013 release), and HTC One M8 and Moto G.

The owners of Nexus 4, the same Nexus 7, only released in 2012, and Nexus 10, Galaxy S4, HTC One M7, Sony Xperia Z Ultra and LG G Pad 8.3. Manufacturers promise to update all their other priority models by January 2015, so it's time to find out the details and make a choice: whether to update?

Rethought design

"Material design" should allow users
anticipate interface behavior
A revolutionary and key feature in the design of Android 5 can be safely considered a rethought approach to the visual component of the platform, which eventually came to life under the code name "Material Design" ("Material Design").

Some will say that, they say, we could already partially observe this in phones on Windows Phone and iOS, but the keyword here is "partially". The uniqueness lies in the elegant and stylish "layers" of colours and textures, which interact perfectly with each other when working with the OS. A completely new design combines flat icons drawn in a new style.

All icons are unified for all Google products
The place of the usual control buttons was taken by trending geometric shapes for navigation, which slightly resemble the keys of the Playstation 4 joystick. But you don't have to relearn and get used to it again – everything is intuitive, especially since it looks simple and pretty. The dividing borders also disappeared, which added smoothness and integrity to all Lollipop elements.

It is worth saying that framing white and grey notification frames is not the best solution, but thanks to this you will definitely not miss anything important. Anyway, this design would have looked much less impressive if it had not been supported by bright animations – whether it was pressing the return button, flipping through the menu, all sorts of icon rotations or peculiar "waves" as a response to touching the screen.

Such notifications do not allow you to miss an important message

I am also pleased with the fact that the "material design" also applies to standard applications, each of which has its own personal colour. The Android 5 interface will not get bored and bored with a wide selection of abstract wallpapers from developers. But you won't be able to find new ringtones, but users have already managed to evaluate a selection of sound effects. All this is extremely well in harmony and combined with the elements of the OS.

Android Lollipop – this is a qualitative and confident step forward in terms of performance, design and overall impression of use

Working with Android 5

Additional screen with quick settings for the first time
will provide quick access to the flashlight

We see the first functional changes already on the lock screen, which, like iOS, immediately shows all notifications, notifying about what happened during your stay away from your smartphone. By the way, now each notification can be customized individually for your tasks, without plunging into the wilds of settings – all options can be called directly on the home screen.

By double-clicking on the notification, we can immediately get to the desired application, and the side swipe will simply clear the screen of the selected item. Also, from the lock screen, in addition to unlocking itself, you can quickly turn on the camera and access the call menu by making "slides" from left to right and from right to left.

An additional screen with quick settings, which is triggered by a top-down movement, will provide quick access to the flashlight for the first time. A trifle, but it's nice! There is also a new function "Transfer screen image", which will be useful if there are devices nearby to which you can connect a smartphone.

In general, once again remembering the updated notifications, we can say that they are not something cumbersome (even in the main menu of the phone). Windows are placed on top of the desktop elements, without taking all the space for themselves, as it was before. Unfortunately, no new widgets have been added, but the functionality of the smartphone modes has undergone changes.

The user can temporarily protect himself from notifications

Now the user will be able to protect himself from all kinds of notifications for a certain time. By calculating the duration of sleep, in this way, you can protect yourself from an unexpected incoming call. The menu allows you to make exceptions, filtering out important notifications that will come regardless of the mode.

It is not necessary to talk about the bad in the context of Android 5, but one of the shortcomings is the absence of a figure with the number of incoming updates on the application icon, just as it is done in Apple's OS. The "scrolling" has become even smoother, which, of course, depends on the smartphone model, but in general, the optimization of this operating system is performed at a very high level, qualitatively differing in the direction of performance (compared to the version 4.4.4 KitKat).

The incoming call message no longer occupies the entire window at once

Now, scrolling through Instagram, no one will be scared by a sudden huge incoming call window. The desire to talk to you will be reported by a small window that appears at the top of the screen – neatly and pleasantly.

When iPhone owners update the firmware of their device along with a lot of positive emotions, they usually get a very annoying bug: the device then discharges much faster. But the developers of Lollipop took into account a sensitive moment, and therefore the same Nexus 5, if it sins in this, it is quite moderately due to a special set of algorithms called Project Volta, which is designed to optimize the battery of the device for the new operating system. So the owners of other devices can count on the fact that Android 5 will allow you to charge your smartphone a little less often.The next indisputable advantage is the new application processing environment, which, thanks to its sophisticated mechanisms, will allow you to consume less energy. Here is such a move from the category of fiction.

The developers paid special attention to security issues

Due to recent events and massive leaks of personal information, this topic is a priority for the entire IT community. The developers of Android 5 did not stand aside and have already implemented encryption of personal data in their OS by default.

Security lovers will be delighted with the new feature, which is called SmartLock. Now a smartwatch on Android, for example LG G Watch, will be able to automatically offer to put a password on a phone that is away from you. Thus protecting against unauthorized leaks of photos and all other content that is in the smartphone.

Another step in this direction is the so-called "pin". When you press it, the person to whom you give your smartphone will be able to work exclusively in the application that is pinned with a "pin", and when trying to "fumble" in the phone, the curious user will be politely asked to enter a password. Very convenient.

And with all this, Android 5 also supports multiplayer mode. Now the smartphone OS, like a computer OS, can have multiple users with their own accounts. If something goes wrong, the improved recovery process will help to return the lost information and applications.

P.S. "Easter Egg" from the developers

To launch a hidden game, you need to tap on the inscription "Android 5.0" several times

Each OS, usually, has some kind of funny "Easter" entertainment. By going to the settings menu and the "About phone" section and "tapping" several times in a row on the inscription with the information "Android 5.0", you can call a hidden game from the developers, similar to Flappy Bird, only much more complex and exciting. Here is a message for "those who are in the subject", that is, now for all of us.

 
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