The new Android Lollipop's best features are showcased first in Google Nexus devices, with other Android phones to follow.
The Android Lollipop release date is here, but prioritizes Google's flagship of smartphones before all else. Google's Nexus series showcases the candied OS "material design," a solid contender to Apple's streamlined iOS 8.
Apart from the Nexus devices, the new Moto G is the first of the "outer circle" devices to receive the new Android OS install over the air. The second generation Moto G, which sells for $179, will have the Android 5.0 upon launch. It's yet to be confirmed if the upgrade will also apply to first-gen Moto G devices.
"Moto G owners can go ahead and "check for updates" under Android's settings menu, and if they're lucky, the 387MB download should be available. Of course, as with all over-the-air rollouts, the new firmware will be pushed out in batches, meaning not every Moto G owner will get it at the same time." (latinpost.com)
One of Android Lollipop's best features is Ok Google, which takes a page out of the Motorola playbook. The feature allows users to wake their devices by saying "Ok Google," allowing for hands-free operation from standby mode. Users can then search or send SMS messages by voice (with compatible hardware installed).
An alternative to the Ok Google command is double-tapping the screen to wake, currently a feature of the Google Nexus 6. As a power-saving feature, Ambient Display only reveals relevant information on the screen as it turns on or wakes, in black and white.
Face Unlock is a neat feature, but as one of Android Lollipop's best features, still needs improvement. The feature recognizes the user's face, but only in ideal lighting conditions and after a specific waiting period.
The new Android Lollipop release date comes with plenty of neat features, headlined by the sleek Material Design and a host of user-sensitive settings (theverge.com).
