Internet giant Google has released the latest major version of its ubiquitous mobile platform Android. Version 5.0 has been nicknamed Lillipop, in keeping with the sweet-themed alphabetical naming convention, and features a new user interface called Material Design.

Scott Bicheno

October 16, 2014

2 Min Read
Google releases Android 5.0 Lollipop on new Nexus 6 phablet
Android 5.0 has not yet made to many devices

Internet giant Google has released the latest major version of its ubiquitous mobile platform Android. Version 5.0 has been nicknamed Lollipop, in keeping with the sweet-themed alphabetical naming convention, and features a new user interface called Material Design.

Google has chosen to combine the release of Android 5.0 with the launch of three new Nexus devices. The Nexus 6 is a 6-inch phablet made by Google-owned Motorola, which features a Quad HD (2560×1440 pixels) display. The Nexus 9 is an 8.9-inch tablet made by HTC, which the Taiwanese handset-maker will be hoping resurrects its faltering tablet efforts. Lastly it has launched the Nexus Player, which is apparently the first device to run Android TV – Google’s VOD platform – and is made by Asus.

Android 5.0 is being heralded by Google as “…our largest, most ambitious release on Android,” and is designed to be more flexible across a range of devices, from smartwatches to TVs. Its headline feature is Material Design, a new UI that is designed to be both cleaner and more flexible.

Other key Android 5.0 features include:

  • Greater control over notifications

  • New better saver feature

  • Improved security features

  • Multi-device Android account access

  • Revamped quick settings

  • Improved network hand-off

  • Better support for Bluetooth Low Energy

  • New Android runtime promising up to 4x performance improvements

  • 64-bit support

  • Improved audio

  • Improved image capture

  • “OK Google” even when screen is off

  • Android TV

Android 5.0 will be preinstalled on the three new Nexus devices and will be an OTA option to other nexus devices in the coming weeks. The Nexus 6 will be available for pre-order later this month for $649, the other two will be available for pre-order from tomorrow, with the Nexus 9 coming in at $399 and the Nexus Player at $99, with an extra $39 for a gaming controller.

About the Author(s)

Scott Bicheno

As the Editorial Director of Telecoms.com, Scott oversees all editorial activity on the site and also manages the Telecoms.com Intelligence arm, which focuses on analysis and bespoke content.
Scott has been covering the mobile phone and broader technology industries for over ten years. Prior to Telecoms.com Scott was the primary smartphone specialist at industry analyst Strategy Analytics’. Before that Scott was a technology journalist, covering the PC and telecoms sectors from a business perspective.
Follow him @scottbicheno

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