Tip by Dominick Viëtor , | Our final rating for this product: 9 / 10 | 5 comments
Android 5.0 is a major advancement for the operating system and a good step to keep Google at the top of the smartphone market. Google has some very good features added and brought the design back all the time.
Pros
- Material design
- Lock Screen notifications
- Many useful minor updates
- Very strong ecosystem
- Good adaptable by both user and manufacturer
Negatives
- Makes poor use of large screens
- No ‘continuity -concurrent
- Stability is still not strong point
Lollipop is probably the biggest update to Android now and then a new tune, 5.0, inherited. In this review we look at the system
. “Material design: more colors, more animations and more depth.”
A whole new design, significantly improved functionality and the arrival of Android to wearables TVs, cars and. Google had this year at Google I / O a lot in store for his fans. The first two are related to the new phone version of Android, Android 5.0 Lollipop. The fifth major Android version in its six years of existence.
The most important innovation is the appearance, for the first time since 2011 clearly is renewed. Material design, Google calls it. More colors, more animations and more depth. That material design in a nutshell. Remarkably Google is therefore a side other than Apple, that makes everything just flatter. On At least, the individual interface elements at Google even flatter, but they had all their depth level. There’s him the difference.
“Functional means Lollipop also a leap forward.”
There is under the hood the one and Another changed. The Dalvik virtual machine is replaced by the Android Runtime, known as ART. That should bring a significant performance boost. Volta Project should ensure that the battery life.
Functional Lollipop means a leap. Google uses a nice mix of features that some manufacturers have added a long time and new features. Among the new features are among other lockscreen notifications, support for multiple users and a priority mode for notifications. Are numerous small roles will also be added or improved.
Android 5.0 is all in all a very successful update, Google released the Nexus Nexus 6 and 9 which we will discuss shortly. The new Android version will come to quite a few devices as an update, starting with the Nexus devices and the Motorola Moto G. Actually he has been since November 3 officially available on Nexus devices, but the update was some delay. Meanwhile, it is so far and our Nexus 5 with the new OS. Time for a review so.
Release Notes
Android Lollipop was released on the Google Nexus Nexus 6 and 9, all running the new version immediately. The Nexus 9 is already available in the Netherlands, the Nexus 6 coming this year. For older Nexus Devices to the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (both versions) and Nexus 10, exactly the ROM now been published by Google. At the time of writing is rolling out the OTA updates working for those devices.
As always with Android is at version 5.0 roll-out quite a sore point for many manufacturers. The situation has improved compared to a while ago, many manufacturers have already indicated to update their most major appliances and most are faster than usual started with those updates. The Moto G 2014 Motorola, for example, already being updated and the update for the rest of the Moto-line is very soon expected. Like that of the LG G3.
“As always with Android is at version 5.0 roll-out quite a sore point for many manufacturers.”
HTC has announced both the One and the One M7 M8 update within two months. Furthermore, there are updates for both One minis and the One Max in planning, along with a number of other devices. Samsung is at least the Galaxy Note 3, 4 and Galaxy Note Galaxy S5 update. But the Alpha Galaxy, Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S4 and S5 mini mini get at least the turn, along with a number of tablets. LG provides, alongside the G2 G3 also at least an update and Sony has promised to give all the Z-line Android Lollipop with it.
The list above is incidentally not a complete overview and drips on increasing devices update information inside. If you see your phone not be answered here, you should just Googling if you’re going to get the update.
As for the new devices is to be expected that every high-endtelefoon now announced on Lollipop features. is Midrange and low-endtoestellen will remain so come to market with KitKat. It is not so many of those devices are running on Jelly Bean long ago. When all the new phones will get Lollipop is difficult to predict, but it is certainly positive that Google in this area increasingly demands on manufacturers. It would have us not be surprised if we see at the Mobile World Congress 2015 in February certainly no new devices with KitKat more.
What’s New
” Probably the most important novelty is material design. “
The introduction of this review we discussed some of the new features in Android 5.0. Probably the most important is therefore the new material design. It is everywhere in the interface and the Google apps intertwined and now also recorded by Google in its new design guidelines. So please, but from that more and more applications style elements of the material design will take over.
That style elements include mainly the use of more color, different depth levels for interface elements and extensive animations. These animations are sure that everything is clear where it comes from. Directed For example, the menu is now a kind of map that pops up from the menu when you tap it. First he just appeared out of nowhere. Although there are a lot of animations, they are all pretty subtle and they are certainly not in the way. On the Nexus 5 they run at least fluent, how it is on some cheaper devices will become clear in the future. The whole looks nice and is in our view a clear improvement. Sometimes it makes the operation of the interface in understanding, but it makes it especially all a bit more dynamic and fun to work with.
“ART improves performance, Project Volta saves battery power. “
Another important point is that the application runtime is completely renewed. That was many years and is now the Android Dalvik Runtime or ART. That theoretically creates a significant performance boost apps. Where Dalvik compiles applications as they are needed, compiles ART applications as soon as they are installed. That saves overhead during startup apps. And run Also, garbage collection, removing unnecessary information from memory, is a lot more efficient with ART.
Project Volta ‘is also new in Android Lollipop. It is a project of Google what the battery usage of Android should reduce hand that happens on the developer side. App developers get better with tools to optimize the battery consumption of their apps. In addition, Android 5.0 is smarter with background data so that there is less energy to be lost. Is a battery-saving mode Finally, there was added. The latter is indeed nothing to get excited about almost every Android phone had that feature already inherited from his manufacturer. The addition of that mode you will mainly be in the Nexus line brands.
How much profit you really Volta Project will therefore have partly depends on app developers. Unfortunately, we do the changes on our test model, the Nexus 5 may not test well because we have no device with an older Android version to compare it to. In any case, it is clear that the changes are not huge: the battery of the Nexus 5 remains under Android Lollipop pretty bad
“Notifications are now also on your lockscreen go.. “
The rest of the changes are smaller, but will still be more apparent to many people. A very useful new feature we find the lock screen notifications. All notifications that you receive are not only in the notification center, but also on your lockscreen go. By double tapping such notification you immediately go to the corresponding app. Holding it down allows you to enter additional settings, for example, or that app is allowed to give lockscreen notifications. If you rub it Notified here too in your notification center and as long as you do not have in your notification center treated him, he will continue to stand on your lockscreen. He does not disappear like iOS, after one of your lockscreen. We find pleasant, but we can very well imagine that you just find that annoying.
canif you want all your notifications on the lock screen, to hide messages with personalized content or lockscreen To turn off -notificaties all. In addition, there are three modes notification come, which are independent of the system noise. You can choose from any notifications, no notifications on only important notifications. It is also easier and more comprehensive become to set which apps notifications can give and which do not.
Another important addition is the ability to add multiple user accounts. That was already in the tablet version of Android, but is now also possible on phones. Very useful if you just want to lend your phone but do not want just anyone can with your personal content. Or if you share the phone with someone, although that is less likely to happen with a smartphone. This works just like on a computer. Your user account includes your entire collection of apps, layout of your homescreen and install and you can instant switch between several such profiles. By default, there is also a guest account with a clean Android installation.
Another security measure that loaning your phone makes more accessible screen pinning, which you can fix a given screen, an app or tab. Then you can set a PIN that you must enter to leaving.
In terms of security is also good to know that there is now an improved protection against reset so that your smartphone is less attractive to thieves . You can link your smartphone via smart lock security to devices like your smart watch or your car. Is your PIN or password if one of those devices connected over beaten. The encryption of your phone is now enabled by default.
is a large number of smaller AffairsFinally, added or changed. Now you can tell from any point in the interface ‘ok google “to activate voice control. If you attach your phone to the charger can that even without being unlocked. In multimedia is the optimized, and standard connectivity options are also optimized. Important additions multimedia field include access to external apps to RAW images and the ability to use USB audio devices.
While you set your device you can now choose which old devices interfaced is to your Google account you want to restore a backup. With a feature called ‘tap & amp; you can attach go ‘via NFC your old phone with your new settings are then taken from the old set. You in the battery menu now find an estimate of how long your phone has enough power for current use or how long he has to charge. Lets you access the menu to adjust colors or invert. And there are still many smaller additions.
“You can tell from any point in the interface ‘ok google” to activate voice control. “
Notable is the lack of a real competitor to Apple’s continuity. Communication between different devices is becoming increasingly important, and Android is also available. For more devices The ability to share data easily and to continue operations on other devices in that light would be a logical step. Incidentally Android OEMs as well doing, as Samsung recently presented Flow.
Interface
“Another significant change in how you work lies m with Android 5.0 in multitasking. “
The addition of lock screen notifications have ensured that your premise has become very different in the interface. Use widget or notification center open most times you pick up your phone out of your pocket and you turn not start at your home screen and from there select an app. Using your phone now will often begin with one of the notifications on the lock screen. Just double tap opens it and it works very convenient.
Another significant change in how you work with Android 5.0 lies in multitasking. The graphical implementation is changed, but that of course makes little difference. A major difference is that you now stand in the multi-task list within one app. More cases For Chrome are the tabs that you have open, but you can also, for example think of several documents that you can put up next to each other. You had to always used to switch within your office program and that is a nice improvement. In the case of the browser we are not always happy with this option because you different tabs can be a bit snowed under in the app switcher. Luckily you within Chrome also choose to continue using the old system. Incidentally, the apps in your app switcher remain after you have rebooted the device. They should be concluded and you can no longer access the active pages.
Furthermore, the basic structure of the interface just remained the same. You still have a home screen where you can put all kinds of apps, widgets and folders. At the top of the home screen is a standard Google search bar. If you swipe to the right from the home screen you’ll find in Google Now, that’s made easily available. If you swipe up from the home button you will incidentally also in Google Now go. The menu is basically remained the same, even though it is now designed as a card. It is a simple grid that default sorted alphabetically and where you can organize anything. Many manufacturers add that feature fortunately far.
The notification center is both graphically and functionally of an update. With sweeping once you get to the notifications itself rightly, that are no different than before. They can wipe away, it also open in or out and of course the associated app. The quick settings are changed, which can now be reached by swiping down twice. There is now a slider that you can adjust to the brightness and the buttons that sit there are some changes. They are not completely fixed, although you yourself there can not influence. They are slightly adjusted to your personal preferences, but that does not always quite right. So we have to try the tool once used the invert color option and now our unit has decided that we are going to want a shortcut. That is just in the way. Perhaps he will at some point disappear, but you can not do in any case themselves.
The smallest adjustments might be done in the settings menu. That is still the same in terms of layout and graphic only received a small update. Google has also added some institutions, but a lot are honestly not. An addition that it is useful is that you now have more say in the notifications from apps. There is a list of ‘app notifications’ site, where you can choose whether he can give notifications per app or to be under the priority mode is still displayed and whether they contain sensitive information and should therefore not be on the lockscreen.
The settings menu also contains a number of updates, but nothing that is really worth mentioning. All in all it is still a fairly simple and easy way to set your phone that contains a lot of functionality.
What we find very unfortunate, is that Android still not really standard provides functions to make better use of the big screens phablets. Features to ensure that such a device with one hand to use better, provide the ability to put two apps side by side on a large phabletscherm and an expanded view when you throw an app on its side; all is not present. And while the whole phabletmarkt is still started with Android.
Experience shows that manufacturers are trying to do this yourself something, but except in the case of Samsung, which attempts are often not very extensive. It would be nice if Google itself the lead in would take here, as there are still a lot of potential that remains untapped. Is
“Android still offers non-standard features to better use Making phabletschermen. “
The interface has a graphic point of view of some good updates and functional area is mainly the addition of lock screen notifications convenient. Some features are still not quite good together, but they are small dots. There will also immediately another power of Android to top: adaptability. Many of these small irritations by smartphone manufacturers in the past always solved with their own interfaces and that will happen with Android 5.0 again. Whether you prefer TouchWiz, Sense, Emotion UI or the standard interface is obviously very personal, but Android offers it all in any case. And you can also adjust via custom launchers from the Play Store interface afterwards to a great extent.
Features
“The Android Runtime must ensure that Android 5.0 works a lot faster. “
One of the major disadvantages of Android versus competitive systems was always that above average speed is slow and generally is less stable. The new Android Runtime should at least partially solve this and should also ensure that Android 5.0 is a lot faster in general. We
Unfortunately, that claims to test because we no two not entirely devices with different Android versions at our disposal it. To what extent the system after prolonged use is slow will also have in the course of time turn out.
“Lollipop not let the rich history of stability problems completely behind.”
What we can report is that the Nexus 5, which is now a year old, still very smooth running Android 5.0 on it. We have actually noticed any real delays during use, although some things to work just a little slower due to the extensive animations than you’d like. However, these are only minor points.
A slightly bigger problem lies in the stability. We have our Nexus 5 experienced a really big lockup and here and there a cash income app. That could of course good to the unit for itself, but it at least gives it that Android 5.0′s rich history to stability problems for Android will not leave behind.
Default Applications
It is no surprise that the standard applications in Android 5.0 are too focused on the services of Google. Google Chrome, Google Docs, Google Drive, Google Earth, Google Fit, Gmail, Google+, Google Hangouts, Google Keep, Google Maps, Google News, Google Photos, Google Play Books, Google Play Games, Google Play Movies, Google Play Music, Google Play Newsstand, Google Sheets, Slides Google and YouTube are part of the standard range. Along with of course the Google Play Store where you can download other apps. The disadvantage is that you are stuck in the Google ecosystem, which not everyone is happy. More or less The advantage is that you have out of the box a very complete set of apps, including fine office programs online with good integration and good navigation app. Nowadays you have other mail accounts lost in the Gmail app.
Almost all Google Apps received a nice material design sauce. If you will be using at the time all Android that look familiar: that new apps are also being rolled out to older Android versions. Generally see the apps nice, a small disadvantage is that the information density is considerably reduced in some apps
Google Fit is the only truly new app. Google This goes along with the trend to deliver us more and more health apps on smartphones. The application automatically keeps you walking and cycling activities in and you can also add activities. In addition, Google Fit a kind of desktop for other fitness applications. You things like Runkeeper easily linked with the application and you should be able to get a complete overview. Android Wear integration is also present.
Google Fit as it now stands is a nice start, but it is not very extensive. You can do some simple goals and track your history. However, comprehensive analysis of your data or tracking training programs is not possible. In addition, many people will not mind sitting around waiting for such an app. Unfortunately, you him, like all other Google apps the way, do not remove it.
“All system apps have a makeover.”
Apart from the Google apps, there are also some simple system apps available. They are all equipped with a makeover. Naturally the dialer and contact application, which are largely integrated into one app. There you start in a kind of bubble-dashboard where you can call frequently used contacts. With a cup you get into the keyboard, what about speed-dialing features. When you open a contact comes as a kind of map of the app are going, what looks nice. Very useful is the search bar that is included in the app that you have a kind of golden guide at hand., For example, tap ‘hotel’ and you will get a number of nearby hotels that you can call. Immediately see Very complete overview is not the way. Sending text messages is now standard via Hangouts app, a standalone SMS application no longer exists. And there is still a stand-alone contact application, but that we actually not. Using
“The agenda is graphically enhanced, functional not.”
There is also a calculator, a clock app, calendar app, downloads an app, and of course the camera. But was it also keeps them on. The clock app, app downloads and calculator look tighter, but it remains a bit of them. The calendar app has changed stronger. He came out with graphic, but not so functional. A decent monthly statement is now missing and that is unfortunate. Is a mini-calendar taken its place where you can easily select which will open in the current view. One day You that overview the date when they see belongs to which day of the week, but not if you have something planned then. You have a good overview of your appointments now so do it with the week view.
The camera app is also changed. That’s something you probably few will notice, as a non-Nexus-user because generally all manufacturers install their own camera interface on their device. That might be a good thing, because very clear is still not have a default. Links you can choose between different camera modes and right are the necessary settings to find. You have to then get to the more elaborate settings, first open the menu with different camera modes and only then comes right corner a button to the Settings menu. That menu is completely off the camera interface and fits therefore considered to be not very good at.
Ecosystem
“The ecosystem is very complete.”
The entire ecosystem of Android 5.0 comes together in the Play Store. That you both on your PC and your phone connects to the PC version can be found at play.google.com and enables you to push apps to your phone. In addition to applications Play Store now also offers books, magazines, music and movies. This offer is not fully complete, but very extensive. In addition, you can buy loose spending, you also subscribe to a particular sheet in the case of magazines. The music department offers a Spotify-like unlimited service. All Google Services further course well integrated into Android.
The ecosystem is all in all very complete and competes with Apple for the crown. On commands Android app offers more free applications and also in numbers more apps. The supply of quality apps is Apple’s iOS might be slightly better. Android has the advantage that applications have more opportunities to interact, allowing them to add more functional in some areas with the system. All in all you will fall short. In both Android and iOS nothing The same goes for the music of both platforms. And film services Android runs in app offer is still well ahead of Windows Phone by the way.
Conclusion
“Google has seen the possibility to Android substantial improvement.”
Android had not much need to keep up with the times. Functional running other operating systems still mainly Android and Google do in terms of ecosystem time being do not worry. In addition, Android obviously has a number of strong brands behind those features to add as they see fit.
Google has seen, however, the ability to functionally significantly improve the system. Especially the lockscreen notifications are an outcome and also the ability to add multiple user accounts is quite convenient. From version 4.0 Android was not ugly, but the new material design is a big step forward and looks a lot more modern. Google has also done good business. How will the new Android Runtime and 64bit support on the long-term performance is questionable, but it looks promising.
Google has a number of points haveYet even lie. Perhaps the biggest drawback we find that Android Lollipop still makes a decent use of large screens. In a market where screens are still greater is that really needed one time. Google’s own reference device for Android 5 nota bene has a 6-inch screen. The lack of a service by working and sharing files between to different devices as possible you’ll never really miss, but because more and more devices are converging and run Android is a missed opportunity.
last flaw lies in the stability of the system.
Thanks APIs app developers to optimize their apps for android Auto, so it nicely scales are easy to operate for the larger screen of an infotainment system. Android Auto particular should never distract too much, but to make it simple just to play your favorite music to answer incoming messages and navigate 
Android Auto Show under a picture a bar with shortcuts to Google Maps, the phone function, the list of apps (that are installed on your phone and are optimized for Android Auto), the music and the speedometer. What function does the latter even more except your show speed, is not yet known. 
Mies Calendar app organizes care and attention to parents 
