Monday, November 3, 2014

Candy with attention to detail: a review of Android 5.0 Lollipop – Russian Newspaper

November 3, Google began selling their new gadgets: smartphone from Motorola Nexus 6 and 9 Nexus tablet from HTC. It is on these devices officially debuts the final consumer version of Android 5.0 with the “sweet” in the name of Lollipop. Simultaneously, Google will begin distribution of updates for older models.

The announcement of the new version of Android 5.0 Lollipop took place in the summer, so that developers can get acquainted with the new features of the system, and to prepare their applications to the final release of the platform. It is with the pre-release version of Android 5.0 for developers, and we managed to meet. It gives quite a clear understanding of the changes that will soon smartphone users with a “pure” Android on board will see on their devices.

Platform and Applications

The new version of Android, in our opinion, went the right way. Lollipop – the basis for a large number of updated applications that are now distributed separately through Google Play.

Google Now, Google Fit (analogue Health Fitness Apps from Apple), Gmail / Inbox, Hangouts, YouTube – all of these applications updated versions separately from Android. So Google makes Android more flexible. Now, to add a new feature to the application that is responsible, for example, for sending SMS, simply update the application itself – a new version of the operating system, it does not need. So easy and fast to correct identified errors, enhance functional devices. For the end user it is also convenient – updates occur more often on the output device and the applications run more stable.

What is the difference between Android 5.0 from the previous version?

Appearance: Material Design

The appearance of the system has undergone significant changes – all the menus, all built-in applications are made in a new style, which Google calls Material Design (physical design). From a visual standpoint handled everything. New animation transitions, lock / unlock the screen, the new mapping choices made by touching the screen – all of this can be seen in the video we filmed specifically to demonstrate innovations in Android Lollipop. Everything works smoothly, animation pleases the eye. Android 5.0 interface is built on the interaction of simple objects – rectangles and circles.

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All the applications developed under the new version of Android, different Uniform style. Clearly observed color separation applications. Hangouts green, Google+ red, blue dialer, etc. Looks cool transition from one color scheme to another. Prompt notice when switching between applications is changing its color that matches the color design of the currently active application. Looks smart.

We can only wait to third-party developers “dokrutili” their applications and brought them into line with the new design idea Google (the experience of competitive platforms from Apple, to redesign the application takes a long time – until now only a few applications in the App Store in harmony with the style iOS7 / 8).

Multitasking

In Lollipop visually redesigned menus and switching between applications. Now this is a carousel of cards open programs. In this one running application can display multiple cards: for example, you view incoming messages and then went on to write a new message screen. In the multitasking menu will appear 2 cards for the same application-mails – from incoming messages and the new letter. Conveniently. And still looks impressive – animation turning cards running smoothly and quickly. The smartphone Nexus 6 manufacturer offers 3 gigabytes of RAM, but even 2 GB Nexus 5 allow to call a full multitasking (unlike iOS).

Notifications

The most profound changes in Android 5.0 came with the system notifications. Now, when the user receives notification from a particular application, it is displayed directly on the lock screen a separate card. Double-clicking on a notification launches the application itself (for example, opens Hangouts, if you had to SMS). It is necessary to carry out the notification from the top down, as the screen displays the possible actions with the message. For example, you can jump directly to the answer to e-mail or archive the message, if it received a letter on Gmail. Swipe right or left hides the notification itself.

If the notification comes on unlocked smartphone, it displays the card at the top of the screen, prompting the user to select one of the available actions. For example, during a game of Temple Run you receive an incoming call. Previously, in this case over your game would open the application “Phone” and about the record could have been forgotten. In Android 5.0 all is implemented slightly differently. When an incoming call in the top third of the screen will be notified with the number / name of the contact, as well as two buttons to answer the call and to reject it. The game will not be interrupted – you can safely continue the race to a new record. The same happens with other notices – for example on the received SMS message or in WhatsApp.

In this case all the notifications still grouped in the notification bar, which also supports the ability to instant action in the notification. Notifications from one program conveniently grouped – so lost in the web alerts difficult.

By the way the notification bar got modified shortcut menu – for example, the inclusion of Wi-Fi and a transition to its settings are now divided into 2 buttons, more obviously inexperienced users.

widened opportunities for setting up notifications. Appeared mode “do not disturb”, which disables all notifications (including alarms) at a user specified time. The “important” allows you to remain active, only those notifications that are required by the user in one time or another: for example, you can leave only notification of an incoming call from selected contacts – calls from the contacts list is “chosen” not to be accompanied by no vibration, no sound.

Convenient and useful features

In Android Lollipop appeared convenient feature that allows you to create a list of Bluetooth-enabled devices to which the device is trusted. From there, for example, from your home Bluetooth column, the device will not require a password to unlock the screen. It works with Bluetooth audio system in the car, with clever clock headsets. Trifle, but nice.

Another useful new feature is the addition of power-saving mode, which is when the user-specified values ​​of the battery (5% or 15%) automatically reduces the power of the processor disables the animation transitions that minimizes data transfer over mobile networks. Power-saving mode can be forced at any time (even at 100% charge). I like this feature and I made a shortcut to activate the desktop – with the mode smartphone is able to “live” more than a day (talking about the Nexus 5, which does not have a long battery life), that may be true if at hand for a long time no charge.

Well, for a snack Android 5.0 provides the ability to switch between user profiles – for example, the owner of a smartphone, rendering the gadget children can create a guest profile for each child, which will not have access to the data profile of the device owner ( Message / notebook / application). The first time you turn on a “guest” user sees “clean” smartphone that he can customize yourself. In this setting, “Administrator” will remain unchanged. This function stores in addition to wallpaper, ringtones, active accounts, and the list of applications such things as, for example, the brightness of the screen.

Conclusions

Before give a final assessment of the new version of Android 5.0, you need to wait for the official release of the user, which will be held today, November 3. But what Google showed developers before the official release – already the result of a rigorous and high-quality work.

It is a pity that not all Android smartphones will receive an upgrade to the fifth version of the system that sets a new standard for mobile operating systems. All children’s “illness” will be corrected within 1-2 months after release. And jokes about the instability of Android and poor battery life has long been obsolete. Unlikely to succeed to convince the faithful iPhone user that on Android you should pay attention. But if this happens, then Android 5.0 Lollipop just will not be disappointed.

The new version of the operating system in a few weeks should “fly through the air,” the owners of Nexus 4, Nexus and Nexus 7 5, and devices Google Play Edition (for example, HTC One M8 GPE).

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