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OS UPDATES ARE strange things. Coming around practically every year, each one promises to be better than before while not delivering much.
This is a little bit different and there are some very good reasons as to why so many Android users eagerly awaited for Lollipop to arrive. Sporting a fresh look and a large number of new features, it certainly looked like it was a step forward on first glance, but what’s it like in practice?
(Note: For this review, we’re testing out Lollipop on the Nexus 5)
Look and feel
The first thing that will strike you is that it’s more vibrant. The darker colours that were used for KitKat and previous versions have been replaced with a brighter design.
The style that’s pushing Lollipop forward is one called Material Design, and if you have been using Android recently, it’s very likely that you’ve seen this style emerge through Google’s own apps.
The design is Google’s stylistic change making graphics appear flatter, like paper and ink, and the use of bold colours as well as shadows and depth, while subtle, does make cards and other features pop out and more noticeable.
That approach also extends to the animations and actions. Sliding cards looks like you’re sliding physical paper (visually, that is) away from the screen, and it’s more satisfying.
The end result is a delight to go through and it certainly feels more alive and fun to use in comparison to previous versions of Android. Even the animations have improved like when you hold down your finger on a card, tap an option or even bring up an app menu. Everything is smooth and simple to manage, and when you combine them all, it results in a playful interface that’s just fun to use.
That extends to the three main buttons: back, home, and overview. They’ve been replaced with shapes instead of icons, which does remind you of the control scheme you get for the Playstation, but more importantly, it fits in with the simple and visual ethos that Lollipop brings.
Lock & Home screen
The lock screen has been redesigned so that notifications are also displayed on the home screen – that in itself a welcome change since it was always annoying that you had to unlock to view them – and are actionable as well by double tapping them. The trade-off is you can no longer place widgets on the lock screen, but for the most part, it’s worth it.
While on the subject, drop-down notifications have been redesigned with the purpose of not interrupting what you’re doing, and allowing you to take quick actions.
If you’re busy writing an email or playing a game and get a call, it doesn’t take over the screen, but alerts you to it. And you can modify it so you only get specific notification settings or turn them off entirely if necessary, the latter is incredibly handy for games that bombard you with reminders. Inversely, you can give certain ones priority so they appear at the top of the notification list or whitelist them when you’re in Do Not Disturb mode (more on that later).
The usual swipe down notification centre has been redesigned as well. Instead of changing menu by tapping a button, it’s done by two swipes, the first to bring notifications and the second to bring options. It’s a small but useful change which makes it a lot easier and faster to access what you want.
So too are elements like emergency calls and camera access, although activating them does take a bit of getting used to. Instead of swiping sideways to unlock, you have to swipe up, but for calls or camera access, you have to swipe left (or right) to centre. There’s no signposting for this, and it’s likely new users will go through a trial and error process before realising how they’re activated (on a side note, the camera bootup time is great and only takes a second to get ready).
Other problems emerge with the change of Overview, which now open apps with Chrome tabs. While this is handy in a sense, it can become easily cluttered even if you’re not switching between apps often. It also comes at the price of switching between tabs in Chrome itself, which is more annoying. Hopefully, a future update to Chrome will fix that but for now, it’s something you will just have to live with.
Speed & Battery Power
In general, the performance of Lollipop has been greatly improved, and there’s a lot more zip to it. That in itself was expected but surprisingly, it doesn’t seem to have come at the price of battery life, instead the trade-off is that apps now take up a little more space than usual to accommodate.
Even with heavy use, there’s very little change between KitKat and Lollipop, which will be a relief for those with older devices. When you’re charging, it will tell you how long it will take to reach a full charge, which is a nice touch.
Content and Apps
One of the main aims of Lollipop was to not only simplify Android for all users, but also get rid of the unnecessary clutter with certain services.
In some cases like Google Now, there’s a greater difference made, but other areas will leave you scratching your head like the Overview tab mentioned earlier.
For one, Android now has Hangouts and Messenger, two apps which effectively serve the same purpose (the latter dealing solely with SMS/MMS) and this extends to other apps like Calendar only present what you have scheduled, presented either as a list, day planner or in five-day segments, instead of the actual calendar.
Month view is presented as a drop-down screen, but only shows you have something scheduled by using a circle. It was probably too much to include some form of colour-coding here to give you an idea of the type of event coming up, but what it means is you’re only going to be thinking a week ahead at best.
Features
To be honest, there are far too many additions and changes to list here but we’ll quickly go through the most noticeable ones.
Multiple users is a positive step in the right direction. Granted it would have more use for a tablet than a smartphone, but at the very least, you can lend your phone to someone and ensure that everything is kept private. There’s also a guest mode should you have to lend it to someone very quickly and don’t have time to create a new profile for them.
Security has also seen an improvement, most of which are backend improvements such as automatic encryption for new devices – Those who own a Nexus 5 or 7 will have to do it manually but it’s easier to find this time – but there are some for the use like Smart Lock, which uses a trusted Bluetooth device (which can be anything really) to unlock your phone. When you’re within its vicinity, you won’t need to put in a PIN or password to unlock and really comes into play if you have a device like a smartwatch.
As mentioned earlier, Lollipop has its own Do Not Disturb mode, which is called Interruptions here. Basically activated once you hit the volume button, you can set a recurring schedule, how long you want it to last, decide what calls or notifications to allow. There’s an impressive level of customisation available here and it will certainly come in useful for a number of areas.
Summary
Make no mistake, Lollipop is a fantastic update. While previous updates worked on functionality and performance, then Lollipop is the moment it comes of age.
Probably the biggest pity about this is while it will be rolled out to other devices eventually, they won’t get to experience Android in its purest form, and how these versions of Android turn out will be anyone’s guess, but at the core of it, you can see that the Android team has put much thought into not only how it works for the user, but what happens behind the scenes.
The rollout is going to take a bit of time depending on what device you have, but when it does arrive, definitely upgrade when you get the chance. You won’t be disappointed.
Pros
- Better performance without sacrificing battery life
- Great redesign
- Smart security features like multiple users/Smart Lock
Cons
- Some features can be confusing to use
- No lock screen widgets
- Overview gets crowded very quickly
Fair play and thanks to those workers.
@Larry Whack: Fair play to them, but what is the point in all this testing? The purpose of testing is to identify and drive out onward spread. That is fine in a situation where numbers are manageable and there is no vaccine.
We know that the virus is spreading uncontrollably in society and it is going to keep going because of the omicron variant which thankfully seems to be much milder.
The only requirement for testing should be those: 1) working or living with someone vulnerable; 2) requiring international travel; and 3) requiring admission to hospital.
Testing Damo because he was in Coppers and lobbed the gob on a few moths is a huge waste of resources and money. We don’t need to know whether there are 7k cases today or tomorrow. We know it’s out there and will keep going until it burns itself out.
@LaoisWeather: So ‘Damo’ doesn’t interact, live with, meet or visit anybody in categories 1,2 or 3 then?
You need to put a bit more thought into that position I’d say.
@LaoisWeather: Agreed, the indiscriminate use of PCR tests is an ongoing waste of money and time. Also, does anyone know how many amplification cycles they are running these tests at. Is it still 40 to 45 in Ireland?
@LaoisWeather: the point in testing is so people can be responsible in society. If you knowingly have covid and spread it within the community how many people do you think could end up quite sick from it?
@Alan Kennedy: the HSE have published their PCR amplification policy.and where a retest is needed and when a resampling is needed. Link been published here a few times, have not got it to hand but s Google search may help there
@Pat ALTHEA: it also help those vulnerable people, who many says must take responsibility themselves, to know and understand the risk they take. The fewer the cases the lower the risk. Plus we must never lose sight of the fact that about 7 people a day are dying coupled with the strain on the health services. This is why testing and reporting is important, not to mention the fact that positive cases should be isolating at home or in City West.
@Lee King Buckett: Damo can take an antigen test if he’s visiting triple-jabbed granny over the Christmas following his well deserved night out on the tiles. Queuing for a PCR test in the general is a waste of time money and resources.
@LaoisWeather: It’s Mots, not moths.
@LaoisWeather: You only book a PCR test if you have symptoms in which case an antigen test is not sufficient.
This has been repeated a million times and people still don’t get it.
@LaoisWeather: what about if you work with someone who is living with someone vulnerable? What if most of the doctors and nurses get sick at the same time?.
@LaoisWeather: Exactly. Latest estimates are there are approx 30 infections for every case. Test and trace was never a viable strategy.
@LaoisWeather: I just named your ma as a very close contact…
@Larry Whack: yes we should spare a thought for the people swabbing for the next two days. No one turning up for testing is going to have much Christmas spirit. Be kind!!!
@LaoisWeather: how do you know all the cases reported today don’t fall into the categories you mentioned?? I think you should stick to reporting the weather forecast and leave the medical matters to the experts.
@LaoisWeather: I was never in Coppers!!
I hope those workers get some serious overtime pay.
@Sohoma Roanie: they won’t.
@JG: they will
@JG: treble time I’m told. I don’t begrudge them it one bit but there is an entire industry built around Covid-19 and alot of multi nationals making alot of money out of it. While the person in the street gets jabbed and stays safe there doesn’t seem to be any benefit actually as we’re back in a partial lockdown again. You can’t travel to easily and pcr tests are expensive and to be honest I think there is alot of price gouging now.
Amazing sacrifice. Thank you.
There is no need to have this operational on Christmas day. Give the people a break.
@Homes: So are you saying that Covid won’t be active on Xmas day
@In the paper: It doesn’t become active until 8pm.
@In the paper: “so are you saying that covid won’t be active on Xmas day”. Why? Why do people leave infantile comments like this incessantly on every journal article?
@Gerry from the Block: Gerry… you need to read the comments and go back around the block before you comment
@Gerry from the Block: you’re dead right. I think it’s quite obvious what the op was referring to but some can’t help themselves.
@Homes: so you want to deny the people who want to have a covid test from having one on Christmas day despite the sacrifice of those willing to give their time on Christmas day to facilitate this? Remember that people with symptoms are supposed to be isolating and am sure people isolating would like their negative results as soon as possible too.
I add that there is even less a need any day to have pubs or restaurants or any hospitality industry open at all or indeed non essential shops or travel or… the list goes on. We are fighting a pandemic still and trying to balance disease control with allowing socialising with as low a risk as possible. PCR testing would not be necessary if we were all locked down in our homes for two weeks like they did in China.
@Bad Bunny: I think the “covid not active Christmas day” was sarcasm – but I hope people isolating with symptoms today can get a PCR test tomorrow and a negative result in time to be freed from isolation for Stephen’s day thanks to the efforts of those involved
Fair play to them Thank you all Involved
Huge sacrifice from those involved in carrying out testing over the Christmas period . Well done and thanks
Are people that desperate,can they not even take a day off from covert.
@Heisen berg1: But if they did then they would be recognised and risk blowing their cover and the whole operation.
It would be more important to have the vaccine clinics open for those two days than the testing facilities.
Again, incorrect priorities by the HSE.
@Gavin Linden: Did you get a doctorate in virology and immunology in last year’s Christmas cracker? Evidently not, because you’re wrong there. Covid negative people, otherwise normal and healthy, taking the recommended precautions, are no worse off to wait a few days to get boosted. Its suspected cases that need to be diagnosed without delay so they can isolate and treat the symptoms.
@Eoin Roche: Nope…!
@Eoin Roche: I never realised that Doctorate levels of education were required to comment on a particular subject, but there you go…
While not attempting to disagree with someone as qualified as yourself I would point out the following. Given that only 1 in 4 people are testing positive which is quite a low percentage it’s a high waste of resources to accommodate Mary and Johnny swamin in for testing for God knows what reason. Given the obvious level of covid throughout the country and the anticipated surge over the coming weeks, testing should actually be scaled back and used for very specific targeted groups of people.
@Gavin Linden: and how many otherwise well people will go get a vaccine those two days then instead of after their break
It’s time All Front line Staff Got A Decent Pay Rise and HAPPY Christmas to Them All
We had positive antigen yesterday and had to drive over 60 miles to get a test. I know loads of people that just got tested in the past few days for extra peace of mind for the Christmas dinner and it will probably mean people that should really be using hse testing can’t get an appointment because if that, which will probably result in more spread because people will rely on antigen tests if they can’t get a pcr. 1 out of 3 antigens I done were negative.
Damien will want to come into the real world …none available in Galaxy city since early YESTERDAY…
@In the paper:
There is none in Connacht and Clare… is it a computer glitch?
@In the paper:
There is none in Connacht and Clare… is it a computer glitch?
Mind you we are testing 32,000 a day… last Feb we were inly doung 24,000…
System under huge pressure…
@In the paper: testing capacity is 250,000 a week and the variant is rampant
@Patrick O Connell: I am well aware of that….but the power’s to be tell us they have extra staff…and walk in centres …thats great until you need one
@In the paper: and there is extra staff hired but they can only test so much, 12 months ago they only had capacity for 100,000 despite opposition parties stating the opposite. Credit must be given to the HSE for achieving the 250,000
@In the paper: Sounds like COVID is also spreading its tentacles throughout the universe.
I hope that Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket Racoon and the rest stay safe.
Waiting two days for results so far
@John Sadlier: hope you get a negative today and in time to enjoy Christmas – merry Christmas
ridiculous. My wife is 36 weeks pregnant. Rotunda testing clinic is closed for Christmas and can’t get a test with hse.
Wouldn’t be to bad if I could get a booking confirmation.
Stop already, feeding the government machine like
Big Deal
are they walk in PCR centres ?
have your say