Features of android lollipop

Android Lollipop: New features

Enhanced notifications

Android L makes notifications even better. For starters you can get them on the lock screen - and they will be automatically ordered in priority. You will be able to swipe them away like normal or double tap to open the relevant app.

New lockscreen

Part of the Android L redesign is a new lockscreen which will show you notifications . You'll need to swipe up to unlock but you can also swipe right to launch the dialler or left to launch the camera.

New multi-tasking

Forget a 2D list of open apps, the new recent apps section of Android L brings a Google Now card style layout. The open apps flow on a sort of carousel and can be swiped off to either side to close them as before.

New notifcation bar

The Android Lollipop notification bar looks quite different to before. It works in the same way as before so a swipe from the top of the screen grants access. There's a new layout and colour scheme.

Instead of tapping a button to access quick settings you simply swipe downwards a second time. There is now screen brightness control as standard and a new 'cast screen' icon for mirroring with a Chromecast.

Security - personal unlocking

Google said that security is a key element for Android and its users. A new feature will enable users to unlock their smartphone when physically near enough a device like an Android Wear smartwatch. It's a bit like cars with keyless entry.

Battery life - new saver mode

Better battery life is something we always want and Google has added a dedicated battery saver mode to Android Lollipop will give up to 90 minutes of extra use per charge . Project Volta allows developers to identify how their apps are using battery so they make improvements.

The battery section of the settings menu now gives more detailed information, too.

Performance

As we expected, Android Lollipop will support 64-bit processors and it will also support the ART software library which Google says will be twice as fast as Davik.

Android TV

With the Lollipop announcement came a surprise new product: Nexus Player. This means Android TV is integrated into Lollipop and provides a way to get games, videos, photos, TV shows etc. onto your big screen. Quite a few big names have signed up to Android TV, including Sony, Philips and Sharp. You don't have to buy a new TV, of course, and that's where Nexus Player comes in, operating much like an Apple TV.