Tag: Android 5.0 Lollipop

You Can Now Experience Google Assistant On Devices Running Android 5 Lollipop
Google Assistant, the AI assistant that is omnipresent on all Android devices running Android 6 Marshmallow or higher is finally available for devices that are still on Android 5 Lollipop. The update has started seeding which will enable Android tablets and smartphones running Android 5 Lollipop to experience the smart assistant. On tablets, Assistant will be limited to Android 7 Nougat and Android 6 Marshmallow OS versions for now.

At the time of its introduction, Google Assistant was only available for Android devices running Android 7 Nougat. Due to the highly fragmented Android smartphone market, it was quintessential on Google’s part to release the AI assistant to the previous version of the OS as well. One of the main reasons for a vast roll-out of Google Assistant is the staggering numbers that show that old Android OS versions are still prevalent in the market. Old devices running older versions of the operating system are still available in the market in abundance.

Android 8.0 Oreo is currently available on only 0.3% Android phones, while iOS 11, which was launched in September is present in over 50% of iOS devices. For further context, here is the Android OS and the percentage of Android phones running it:
- Android KitKat (13.8%) – 2013,
- Lollipop (27.2%) – 2014,
- Marshmallow (30.9%) – 2015
- Nougat (20.6%) – 2016
Google definitely feels that AI is the future and is trying its best to spread the Google Assistant to as many phones as possible. It recently announced that the JioPhone will also support Google Assistant. This could mean that other feature phones could also be Google Assitant compatible in the future.

Google Assistant on Android 5.0 Lollipop has started to roll out to users with the language set to English in the US, UK, India, Australia, Canada and Singapore, as well as in Spanish in the US, Mexico and Spain. Google is also rolling out to the Assistant to users in Italy, Japan, Germany, Brazil and Korea.

Google Assistant is a smart AI assistant that can carry out tasks on the basis of your voice commands. It can set reminders, make a shopping list and tell the weather.
December 14, 2017
Android Lollipop Market Share Growth is Slow, Yet Steady

Officially introduced in early-March 2014, Lollipop is the newest Android software release available now. Steadily, it seems that Android has started to grasp the ways of the competitive market. However, after being made available, Lollipop was being used by only 0.7% of the market. Now, Lollipop’s market almost doubled within this month, whose surge can be attributed to the launch of Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Both the handsets came pre-loaded with the operating system.

Meanwhile, its predecessor, KitKat, slipped from 41.4% to 39.8%, which could very well hint towards the rate of the upgrade of the OS. In the similar fashion, all the previous versions of Android saw a decline. Surprisingly, Froyo, the first Android OS, still hangs at the tip with 0.3% market share.

As you can see in the above figure, the number of active Android handset space has increased eventually. Lollipop now operates in 9.7% of the Android smartphones around the world. Google released a report on the steady growth of Android 5.0 Lollipop’s market share, rising from 0.1% in December 2014 to 1.6% in January and over 5% in March. If the jump crosses above 10% in April, it may be one of the biggest wins for Android.

First introduced in the summers of 2014 at Google’s I/O, a 10% growth in a year may not seem too much for most of the other companies. Reasons for the slow increase? Patchwork arrangements between Google and various other manufacturers, the large collection of Android devices of the companies, many more variants required by each carrier – all contribute towards the fact that it is not easy for Android to roll out its updates for handsets in the same way as Apple does for iOS.

May 6, 2015
Hands On : Up Close With the Bigger and Better Moto E (Gen 2)

Less than a week back, Motorola added one more affordable device to its smartphone lineup. The new addition was the 2015 edition of Moto E. The Moto E (Gen 2) arrived and was showcased at the Mobile World Congress. The device is already up for sale in more than 50 countries and comes in two versions – Moto E (Gen 2) and Moto E (Gen 2) LTE.

At MWC 2015, we got a chance to get our hands on the device.

Speaking of the design of the phone, then Moto E 2015 version features the same plastic design. The circular edges, camera and speakers sitting on the device might remind you of the first-gen Moto E, but there are a lot of features in the new handset like Quick Capture, Active Display and more. It has a superb built and is designed to remain unaffected by accidental drops and falls.

Unlike Moto E, users can now personalize their devices. The new interchangeable, colourful bands and grip shells have been introduced that give the phone an appealing look. The bands come in six different shades (Golden Yellow, Turquoise, Blue, Raspberry, Purple, and Red) and for back plates any colour can be chosen from Golden Yellow, Charcoal, Turquoise, Blue, and Raspberry.

Both the 3G and 4G versions of Moto E tout a bigger 4.5-inch qHD (540×960 pixels) screen. Running on Android 5.0 Lollipop, the 3G version is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 bundled with 1 GB RAM and 8GB onboard memory space. The 4G model, on the other hand, is a bit faster with 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor with same 1 GB RAM and 8GB memory. Optics of both the versions is identical at 5MP rear and 0.3MP secondary camera. The smartphone arrives in India on 10th March, priced at Rs. 6,999.

March 6, 2015
Lollipop Update Delayed Until March for OnePlus One Devices

At the launch of OnePlus One in India, the Chinese producer confirmed that it will release the latest Android update for the One devices within three months. It’s been exactly three months since (on 23rd February) and the Indian One users are still deprived of the highly acclaimed update.

The Co-Founder of OnePlus Carl Pei took to Twitter and apologised for the company’s failure in delivering the latest Android OS on time. He announced that it will be delayed further for a few more weeks and will arrive sometime in March. The delay period is for both the operating systems – OxygenOS and CyanogenMod 12S.

@rajarshi_10 We released an L alpha a while ago, but a more stable build (OxygenOS & CM12S) will need to wait until March. Sorry for delay!

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) February 23, 2015

The company is said to be working on an upgrade called CM12S, which will be based on Lollipop. Meanwhile, OnePlus’ own operating system OxygenOS is in progress, and it will also run on Android Lollipop. For now, an Alpha built of OxygenOS is out. Since we already know, Indian OnePlus One devices will not receive any more updates from Cyanogen, and, as a result, current OnePlus One devices run on Google’s Android v4.4 OS.

Users can advance to the CyanogenMod 12S by simply updating the handset, but if someone wishes to install OxygenOS on their devices, they have to wipe out their phones completely. For now, the users have to wait patiently until March for either of the upgrades.

February 24, 2015
Here’s What Android Lollipop Looks Like on HTC One M8

HTC One (M8) owners can now rejoice as the Lollipop version of HTC’s Sense is rolling out. The roll out began today (28th January) and is likely to hit the majority of One (M8) users in the following days. We were lucky enough to get the update on our HTC device.

Weighing in at the hefty 780MB, the update will probably hit your device in the following hours. Among its more notable new features is the revamped notification drawer/quick toggle settings and the recent tasks switcher, which have been inspired by the Material Design guidelines

The majority of improvements make the UI more fluid and snappier than ever before. We are listing top changes in UI of HTC One (M8) with the Lollipop update.

1. Lock screen

First and foremost, your lockscreen is going to look more sleeker and polished with the Material Design-inspired UI. Just like in stock Android, swiping dismisses the notification and double-tapping it opens the corresponding app. Apart from the slightly dimmed lock screen wallpaper at the bottom, you are also treated to an estimate of how long it will approximately take before your phone’s battery gets drained. The lock screen shortcuts at the bottom are untouched.

2. New Camera Features and Weather app

The new update adds some camera features such as the Auto Selfie mode, along with some Zoey features as well. The HTC weather app has been removed and replaced with the AccuWeather app.

3. Notification drawer

The Lollipop update of Sense 6.0 has adopted a revamped stock Android notification centre. The One (M8) drops the separate side-by-side screens (one for your notifications and the other one housing your quick toggles) and now comes with a slightly revamped Lollipop drawer. A single swipe brings down your notifications, while an additional one reveals the quick toggles shade, which has got a prominent Material Design makeover.

4. Recent App Switcher and Menu

The app switcher has undergone the most drastic change. Instead of the more classic, Sense UI-like grid menu with your recent apps, you will get the carousel-like menu inspired by the Material Design guidelines.

5. Settings and Battery Menu

The setting menu is untouched but with one very important addition – a search button in the upper right corner of Sense UI’s Settings. This probably may go unnoticed but adds the ease to search things in the Settings menu. Another noteworthy improvement can be found in the battery consumption menu of the Lollipop-based Sense UI. It’s pretty similar to the one in stock Android. It now provides you with a more in-depth breakdown of your battery usage. Apart from this, the Running Apps menu hidden in Settings has also been improved. It now displays a much more user-friendly breakdown of the current state of your 2GB of RAM, separating the system from the user-installed apps.

January 29, 2015
Android Lollipop Now Available for Indian HTC One M8 Users

Few days ago, it was announced that HTC One M8 users of Europe had received the Lollipop update. Now, without any further delay, the company has started rolling out the same for Indian users as well.

The update will automatically pop up if you are connected to Wi-Fi. But if you’re not on a Wi-Fi connection, you can still do it manually. Go on to Settings > About Phone > System Update.

With the news of Android 5.0 Lollipop coming for European users, Indians were anticipating it to come out within a span of days. The users can now enjoy the added fluidity, improved natural touch screen interactions, Material Design and lot many other features.

January 29, 2015
HTC Rolls Out Lollipop for One M8 Users in Europe

Good news has arrived for HTC owners; the company has started rolling out Android 5.0 Lollipop for its M8 users. The confirmation has come from many reliable sources including HTC Senior Communications Manager Jeff Gordon and prominent ROM Developer LlabTooFer, who took to Twitter stating –

HTC One (M8) owners in Europe, have a sweet tooth this morning? Check your software updates!

— Jeff Gordon (@urbanstrata) January 28, 2015

Users can check for the same on their devices. Finding the update is very easy. Just go to Settings > About Phone > System Update and download the update.

Lollipop is the latest operating system released by Google. It offers added fluidity through a new user interface (UI) and users will experience improved natural touch screen interactions. The Material Design adds bold colours to the screen. Along with that, the new Android update lets you have a look at the notifications on the lock screen itself and facilitates dismissing them without unlocking it. In all, it offers users a pure, bloatware-free and seamless Android experience.

Lollipop was released in November last year. We hope that India, as well as other nations, get the soon.

January 29, 2015
Lollipop Out for Moto G (1st and 2nd Gen) Users in India

Earlier today, Motorola announced that it has started rolling out Android 5.0 Lollipop for Moto G and Moto G (Gen 2) devices in India. The update is also out for the Moto G (2^nd Gen) users in the US.

The company stated that the OTA update is releasing in phases and users can look for it on their devices. Meanwhile, some of you may not find it instantly, and it may take a day or two.

With added fluidity through UI of the new Lollipop, users will now experience improved natural touch screen interactions. Besides that, the new Android update lets you have a look at the notifications on the lock screen itself and facilitates dismissing them without unlocking it. In all, it offers users a pure, bloatware-free and seamless Android experience.

To check for an update on your device, go to Settings > About Phone > System Updates. Download the same, and once it’s done, you’ll feel like you’re holding a completely different device in your hand.

Motorola is one of the best companies out there in terms of timely updates. The devices launched by the company get proactive support from the enterprise. So, if you are a Motorola owner, the wait for your Lollipop will shortly come to an end.

January 23, 2015
XOLO One Confirmed to Receive Lollipop Update 16th January Onwards

Even though it has been a while since Google officially brought out the Android 5.0 Lollipop Update, barely 50% devices have received the update. Many smartphone manufacturers are still struggling to update their devices. Now XOLO has has made an announcement that its budget device XOLO One will be getting the Lollipop update. According to the company, the update will officially roll out on the 16^th of this month.

XOLO One flaunts a 4.5-inch LCD display and is powered by a quad-core Cortex-A7 processor clocked at 1.3 GHz. In terms of memory, the device features 2 GB of RAM along with 8 GB of internal storage capacity that can be expanded up to 32 GB via MicroSD card. It has a 5 MP rear camera and houses a 1700mAh battery.

XOLO One is priced for Rs. 6,599 in India. Motorola too announced of its devices getting the Lollipop update today. All the handsets released in 2013 and 2014 are said to get the upgrade really soon.

January 13, 2015
CES 2015 : Sony Set to Roll Out Lollipop to Xperia Z3

During CES 2015 at Las Vegas, COO of Sony, Michael Fasulo, announced that the company is all set to roll out Android 5.0 Lollipop to its Xperia Z3 lineup starting next month. Sony had earlier revealed that Android 5.0 Lollipop would come to the “core” Xperia Z2 and Z3 lines in early 2015.

The company confirmed the previous rumours in December, but the Japanese electronic giant hasn’t been too specific on exactly when this rollout will happen. However, Fasulo revealed that the update will begin rolling out to the Xperia Z3 next month.

Google released Android Lollipop 5.0.1 to the masses in December 2014 and the wait began as manufacturers optimised the code before pushing it out to their flagship devices. Till now handful of devices like Moto G (Gen 1 and 2), Galaxy S4, Galaxy Note 2 have got the lollipop update.

Sony’s announcement follows the company’s promise last October to eventually deliver Lollipop to its entire Xperia Z range of devices.

January 6, 2015
Android Lollipop Captured in a Leaked Screenshot on LG G2

Mere weeks have passed since the roll out of Google’s Android 5.0 Lollipop, and all the smartphone manufacturers are doing everything to upgrade their devices with Google’s new OS. Countable number of devices have received the update so far and Nexus devices top the list for obvious reasons. The South Korean giant LG’s flagship, LG G2 has been recently caught with Lollipop on it.

An authentic Italian technology web portal unveiled a screenshot that shows Android 5.0.1 on the LG G2 with a build number LRX21Y. However, the leaked pictures of the update was of the LTE-Advanced version bound to South Africa only. It is believed that the global LG G2 users will soon witness the update on their devices. The leaked image itself is a pretty good sign that the company is working on it.

It is an impressive step by the firm to upgrade their 2013 released smartphone with Lollipop. Meanwhile, all G2 users can check out their devices for an OTA update.

The LG G2 features a 5.2-inch IPS display with 1080×1920 pixels along with Corning Glass 2 protection. Initially, the device ran on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS out of the box; but later it was upgraded to KitKat. Now it is said to support Lollipop as well. The phone is powered by quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and comes with 2 GB of RAM. It packs a 13MP primary camera and a 2.1MP secondary snapper that can take amazing selfies. The phone has 16 GB of internal storage capacity and comes with connectivity options like 4G LTE, 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi and microUSB. The 3000 mAh Lithium-Polymer battery powers the device for a complete day usage.

With the incredible interface of Lollipop, the old G2 models will come to life. However, till the time LG makes an official announcement, global users will have to wait.

December 23, 2014
Motorola Rolls Out Android Lollipop Update for Moto X (Gen 2) in India
Here’s an announcement for which all Moto X (Gen 2) owners in India were eagerly waiting for. Motorola revealed that it has started rolling out the Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Moto X (second generation) users in India. The company says that other Motorola devices will also be getting the update soon.

Lollipop, the latest version of the Android mobile operating system, was first released for Nexus 6. The update for the Moto X (2nd Gen) was first rolled out in Brazil, Mexico and the US.

Here are the steps to update the Moto X (Gen 2) to Lollipop:
1. Go to the app menu and select ‘Settings’ icon.
2. Select ‘About Phone’.
3. Select ‘System updates’.
4. Select ‘Download’.
5. Select ‘Install’ once the download is done.
6. Restart your phone once you have installed it.
With added fluidity through UI of the new Lollipop, users will now experience improved natural touch screen interactions. Along with that, the new Android update lets you have a look at the notifications on the lock screen itself and facilitates dismissing them without unlocking it.

With this announcement, the Schaumburg-based firm has fulfilled its commitment to offering its users a pure, bloatware-free and seamless Android experience.
December 20, 2014
Facing Problems with Android Lollipop? Here is How You Can Fix Them
Android Lollipop arrived with a slew of exciting features; it has been said time and again that it is one of Google’s most significant updates. While you may be celebrating the entry of the Android Lollipop and its new features; this software update also comes with a few complaints.

We have compiled a list of the most common bugs and their fixes on the new Android Lollipop 5.0. Although the users have bee advised to wait for the software updates; however you can try some of these tricks in the meantime.

1. The Wi-Fi Connectivity

Some Android 5.0 users are reporting dropped internet connections, while others are unable connect at all. These bugs have generally been reported in the older devices.

The FIX :
- The old faithful factory reset has done the trick for some, but this is a bit of a pain to work through.
- Rebooting and troubleshooting is also a fix you may want to try.
- Changing the Wi-fi Channel in the “Advanced” option can also improve performance.
2. Low Battery Life

In theory Android 5.0 should give your device a better battery life. Although considered to be far better than KitKat, the Lollipop is still rumoured to have issues pertaining to battery life.

The FIX :
- Again the factory reset can help out some users.
- It may be possible that one of the older apps is clashing with the new software code causing the battery to drain unnecessarily; you may want to uninstall this app.
- It is also advisable to download any good battery saving app to kill running apps and software which drain battery life.
3. Lagging and Crashing

Several Android 5.0 Lollipop users have complained of a noticeable dip in performance since the update. Not just sluggishness, the affected devices also crash while running some very common apps.

The FIX :
- If one app seems to be at the root of the issue then the obvious next step is to uninstall it or check for an update
- We’ve seen reports that switching off some of the bells and whistles that come with Android — Google Now, OK Google support, live wallpapers, and so on — can improve the situation.
- If your device is completely unusable then going back to KitKat for a while is a potential option.
- At the risk of sounding repetitive, it’s worth mentioning the factory reset.
4. Video playback

One of the more specific problems to crop up on web forums is a video playback issue with the Wi-fi version of the 2013 Nexus 7. Users are reporting that Lollipop is unable to find the video player software when they want to watch a clip.

The FIX :
- Clearing the cache of one of the affected apps (such as YouTube) has helped a few users restore functionality.
- Other users have found success by enabling or disabling the NuPlayer from the Developer options page.
- Find ‘About phone’ from the Settings app and tap the ‘Build number’ seven times to activate the developer options screen. You can then try playing around with NuPlayer.
December 12, 2014
Indian Moto G (Gen 2) Users to Get Lollipop Update Soon

Motorola has proved that they are in for a serious business with their amazing service and continuous updates. The company has kept its promise and has informed that it will bring the Android Lollipop update to the handsets in India soon.

In an email to the members of Motorola feedback subscribers, the company has invited the owners of the Moto G (2nd Gen) to participate in an early preview of ‘a new software release’ in the country.

The email instructed users to click on the link where they can fill out a form providing their name, serial number and IMEI number. While the company didn’t specify that it is releasing the Android 5.0 update, it is quite obvious that the ‘new software release’ at this time couldn’t be anything else.

Considering that the company has already rolled out the update for Moto X (Gen 2) and Moto G (Gen 2) in other markets, India is likely to get the update soon too. Meanwhile, it is also notable that the update will be coming to first gen Moto X and Moto G shortly followed by Moto E.

Right now, the Nexus lineup is the only series to get Android update. LG has announced the rolled for LG G3 in Korea. Motorola, while launching the 2nd Gen Moto X and Moto G, promised the update for the non-Nexus devices and looks like the company is not going to disappoint us.

November 26, 2014
Motorola Starts the Android Lollipop Roll Out Process with Moto G

With the smartphone market getting concentrated, the companies are now being judged on the speed of update deliveries. Companies have also recognized this, and they are now working proactively to bring the updates to its consumers. With the Android 5.0 Lollipop out in the world, the race is on to be the first company to bring the update as fast as possible. Seems like Motorola, which had previously been the front runner in the KitKat race is taking the lead in the Lollipop side of things too.

Motorola has begun the process of officially rolling out the new operating system update for Moto X Pure Edition and second generation Moto G. At present the rollout is meant for unlocked GSM phones sold in the US. But soon enough the update will start showing up for users in other markets.

Motorola had previously released an update for testers and clearly the process is all done for the final rollout. This is a commendable feat as even the older Google Nexus devices haven’t received the update yet. LG is also expected to bring out the Android 5.0 update for the G3 by sometime this week.

Android 5.0 Lollipop is the best Android OS, and it’s a really good news that companies are focusing on bringing this update to its users. Lollipop comes with a refreshing new look along with several other features including increased battery life. To know more about what’s in store with the Android 5.0 update, click here.

November 13, 2014