Google
previewed 'Android L' at its Google I/O developer event in June, and
since then, developers and consumers have awaited the final version,
which was finally announced on Wednesday as
Android 5.0 Lollipop. The company also
launched the platform lead devices for Android 5.0 Lollipop, namely the
Nexus 6,
Nexus 9, and
Nexus Player.Since
the Android L preview earlier this year, Google has added several new
features to the final release of Android 5.0 Lollipop. While some
changes are extensions of the themes introduced in Android L, some are
relatively new, and other previously known features have now been
detailed by the search giant.
Here are some of the biggest changes that
Google brought to its widely-popular mobile and tablet platform with Android 5.0 Lollipop:
Material DesignFirst
up is the ambitious Material Design. Remember when Google had
introduced Android L saying that this next version will receive a
complete visual overhaul for a consistent experience across devices?
Well, here it is. Android 5.0 Lollipop features a cleaner, flatter
design with a more fluid interface and animations.

We
saw the revamped navigation and status bar in the Android L preview,
and Google has stuck to the design but now the status bar can be
coloured or kept transparent (depending on the app) and features
refreshed status icons. The 'Quick settings' menu has also been
revamped, and includes new controls like flashlight, hotspot, cast
screen controls and more. Also new is the toggle for location services.
The recent apps menu or task switcher now appears like a stack of cards
instead of a list of screenshots of recently open apps.
Google
explains the new Material Design for Android 5.0 Lollipop as "A bold,
colorful, and responsive UI design for consistent, intuitive experiences
across all your devices. Responsive, natural motion, realistic lighting
and shadows, and familiar visual elements make it easier to navigate
your device. Vivid new colors, typography, and edge-to-edge imagery help
to focus your attention."
Improved Notifications/ Do Not DisturbAndroid
5.0 Lollipop's lock screen displays richer notifications, and users can
view and respond to messages directly from the lock screen. In fact,
Google has further gone ahead with notifications and included rich
floating descriptive notifications on top of your activity. Users will
be able to view or dismiss any notifications without moving away from an
activity.
Essentially, Google has provided better overall control for Notifications.

Users
will be able to control notifications triggered by their apps, and
choose to hide sensitive content, apart from prioritising or turning off
an app's notifications completely. Android 5.0 Lollipop users can also
turn on 'Priority mode' via the device's volume button and allow
notifications from only certain people or apps to be shown - users can
schedule when Priority mode turns on as well. The feature also works as a
Do Not Disturb mode as seen in Apple's iOS, and allows users to also
selectively silence notifications and calls on the Android device.
Importantly,
Google has also now downgraded the priority that incoming phone calls
are given, and users can now choose to answer the call, cancel it, or
just continue to do what they were doing without waiting for the call to
end.
Kill Switch and Improved SecurityAndroid
5.0 Lollipop will come with an opt-in kill switch dubbed 'Factory Reset
Protection', which will allow users to wipe out the device's data on
will. If a user activates this feature, they will be required to enter
their Google login to factory reset the device and it will only work
when the phone passcode is enabled. Google also says that new devices
come with encryption automatically turned on to help protect data on
lost or stolen devices. Google had
announced the feature last month, after
Apple revealed its own version. Not much is known about this feature as yet, but we will soon find out the details.
Other
security options in Android Lollipop includes SELinux enforcing for all
applications claimed for even better protection against vulnerabilities
and malware. Users will also get an Android Smart Lock feature to
secure their device by pairing it with a trusted device like a wearable
or even their car, says Google.
New Messenger App

There is a new Messenger app that will be shipping with the Nexus 6 as part of Android 5.0 Lollipop It is
said
to be a more simplified of Hangouts, and is not a replacement for it,
says a Google spokesperson, "Messenger and Hangouts offer users choice,
each have their own benefits. Hangouts work great for cross platform
(web, iOS, Android) and cross medium communications (video,
voice,messaging, SMS). Messenger will be specially designed to be a
quick and easy way to send and receive SMS and MMS messages on Android;
more to come (Nexus 6 will come with both apps)."
Device SharingGoogle
has finally brought device sharing features that will help users share
their Android 5.0 Lollipop device with members of their family and
friends without worrying about access to sensitive content. Android 5.0
Lollipop features a guest user mode with custom options for access, as
well as screen pinning that lets users fix in place the screen that's
displayed without allowing guests to go further. Interestingly, it has
also introduced a new feature in Lollipop that lets users log in to
another Android phone to access synced messages and content in case they
forget their phone at home.
Battery SaverGoogle has
also added a new battery saver feature to Android 5.0 Lollipop, claiming
to extend device battery life by up to 90 minutes. Android 5.0 Lollipop
will also display the estimated time left to fully charge the device
when plugged in, as well as the estimated time left on the device before
the user needs to charge again.
Quick Device Set UpGoogle
has introduced new ways for users to set up their devices with Android
5.0 Lollipop. Users can instantly set up their new Android phone or
tablet by simply tapping it on their old device - though this requires
NFC support. All apps from Google Play are also carried over on the new
device, as long as the same Google account is being used.
Other
new features in Android 5.0 Lollipop include the new ART Android runtime
for improved application performance and responsiveness; support for
64-bit devices and SoCs; native 64-bit apps; improved hardware keyboard
accessory support (including support for multilingual, emoji input,
search key, and improved app and system key chords), support for 15 new
languages (including Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and
Telugu); improved accessibility features (such as text contrast boost,
colour inversion, and enhanced colour differentiation); improved audio,
video, and camera capabilities, and improved Internet connectivity
everywhere and with more powerful Bluetooth low energy capabilities.