The operating system plays a critical role in functionality mobile device. Even many technical properties of tablets and smartphones depend on it. If there are several current versions firmware users, of course, the question arises: what better android 5.1 or 6.0 and which version do you prefer? Each of them has strengths and weaknesses, which we will try to objectively understand. Having considered all the main advantages and disadvantages of the presented OS versions, you can easily decide for yourself which version of Android is better than Lollipop or Marshmallow and whether it is worth overpaying for a device equipped with a brand new operating system.
Main differences
You can find out which version of Android is better than 5.1 or 6.0 only by comparing the main features of the systems in which they differ from each other.
In the newest Android, the main menu with applications has been completely redone, search has been added. Users have the opportunity to closely monitor which programs use RAM more actively than others. By pressing the volume rocker, you can adjust the sound of all signals at once (alarm clock, notifications, calls) or activate the Do Not Disturb mode. You can call the assistant in any application, or even while in the device settings. It not only responds to voice requests, but also scans the information on the screen. There is also a built-in fingerprint scanner that improves security. An important innovation for users was the appearance of a battery optimization mode, which significantly increases battery life.
Android 5.1
This firmware version has a fix a large number errors inherent in Android 5.0 and systems of previous generations. However, we are most interested in how Android 5.1 differs from 6.0, what new and interesting features can this platform offer?
Functional
In the fifth Android, support for several SIM cards appeared. Sound quality during voice calls has been significantly improved thanks to HD Voice technology, although in this case some nuances must be taken into account (support for the technology by telecom operators, the need to install Lollipop on both devices).
To quickly adjust the alarm volume, just use the volume rocker directly in the application.
Also, new sound settings are available in the music listening mode. If you press the volume rocker while the player is on, a new menu appears with settings for calls, notifications, etc.
Safety
It is impossible to ignore the new service running in Android 5.1, created to improve security - Device Protection. Its purpose is to protect the device from the actions of intruders. Even a factory reset and other manipulations are not able to breach this protection.
You can also prevent third parties from using your gadget too actively by restricting access to its functionality. To do this, you can specify the available applications.
Interface
It is worth noting the improvements in the interface. Users can enjoy carefully crafted, fluid animations while unlocking the device. At the same time, for each type of blocking (with protection in the form of a pin code, without protection, etc.), its own animation was invented.
Changes have also been made to the “curtain” - the quick access toolbar. In this version, from here you can quickly go to numerous settings, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and others. The contents of the curtain in Android 5.1 can be changed at your discretion, but this function is not fully implemented, so only some shortcuts are removed.
You don't have to delete the notifications that appear at the top of the screen - you can simply hide them by swiping up from the bottom. The Clock app has also received new animation options - small icons have acquired an interesting design.
performance, autonomy
Modernization of Android 5.1 has led to the fact that gadgets began to work much more productively. This is felt during their use, and is displayed in the results of benchmarks (performance tests).
Offline operation of devices has remained unchanged compared to previous versions of Android.
Advantages:
- correction of errors inherent in previous versions;
- productivity increase;
- Adding support function for 2 SIM cards;
- improving the quality of voice calls;
- launching the Device Protection service;
- improved interface;
- adding new functions to the quick access panel, as well as the ability to change some shortcuts;
- animation change for some applications;
- lock function in the application;
- reworking the design of icons in the menu.
Flaws:
- the inability to fully customize the "curtain" to your requirements;
- no changes in terms of device autonomy;
- some issues remain uncorrected.
Android 6.0
With help detailed review Android 6.0 we will be able to review the main features offered to users in this version, and also find out if there are any gaps.
Functionality and security
In the range of functions of Android 6.0, it became possible to manage RAM. RAM is dedicated to a whole section in the settings, where you can check which processes are using RAM, as well as find out which programs use the most memory over a certain period of time (from 3 to 24 hours).
To adjust the volume of not only incoming calls, but also other signals, you can now make all the settings by pressing one button - the volume rocker. At the same time, a familiar slider appears, and an arrow next to it. If you click on it, two more sliders will appear to set the volume of the alarm and media.
An interesting feature of Android 6.0 before 5.1 was the fingerprint scanner, which previously appeared only in the functionality of certain smartphone models. Improved work of "smart" Google Assistant Now - to start the assistant, just say the phrase "OK, Google".
Interface
The main menu with applications is much more convenient. Now they are all located on one, but "long" screen, which can be scrolled up and down. But, as before, it is impossible to combine icons into folders. In addition, in Android 6.0, you can use the application search to not look for desired program manually. The system also shows the four most important applications for the user based on frequency of use. The design of the clock on the main screen has changed slightly. Below the numbers are the day of the week and the date in bold capital letters. Now you can create small notes that will be displayed on the lock screen. The text is placed just below the time and date.
autonomy
Where Android 6.0 is better than 5.1 is the optimization of the battery life of the mobile device. In the functionality of Android 6.0, there is now a section reserved for the battery and various manipulations with it. Here you can see how actively applications consume battery power, in particular when they are running in background and are not used by the user. A number of programs can be closed to extend the autonomy of the gadget.
Advantages:
- optimized battery;
- added memory management function;
- more convenient volume control;
- a fingerprint scanner appeared;
- upgraded personal assistant;
- the ability to configure permissions for each application;
- a built-in file manager appeared;
- changed main menu.
Flaws:
- Wi-Fi more actively lowers battery power;
- economy mode is activated when the battery level drops to 20%.
Conclusion
An overview of the main features of the two versions of the popular Android system has been completed, you just have to decide what Android 6.0 or 5.1 is better for you, and whether it is worth buying a brand new gadget with an improved OS. Considering that the new firmware version has received many new advantages, while retaining all the advantages of the fifth generation, it can be called more interesting and functional. In addition, the sixth Android update is considered an effective fix for many of the bugs that were encountered in previous versions, and will really interest fans of new products.
Android version statistics for February clearly showed that on this moment only 3.3% of devices on this OS work under Android control 5.0 Lollipop. Although the high fragmentation of the OS has always been its weakness, Google continues to work on the bugs and different ways tries to reduce the backlog of devices with outdated versions of the "green robot", not forgetting to move forward. And in confirmation of this, Google announced Android 5.1 Lollipop - an update designed to eliminate the shortcomings of the system. We figured out how significant the changes in the OS are, and whether there is a performance increase.
Innovations
In his Google blog officially announced the following innovations in Android 5.1 Lollipop:
- The system now supports two or more SIM-cards (previously, third-party manufacturers had to modify the software for this). Maybe the next smartphone from the Google Nexus lineup will come with dual SIM slots, which is quite realistic given the rumors that it might be manufactured by a Chinese company.
- The Device Protection phone protection feature allows you to lock a stolen or lost device until you sign in to your Google account, and even if an attacker resets the settings to factory settings. The feature will be available on all smartphones and tablets, shipped with Android 5.1, as well as Nexus 6 and Nexus 9. It is not yet clear how Device Protection works, what are its advantages over blocking through Android device Manager and whether older devices updated to Android 5.1 will get this feature.
- Improved call quality with HD Voice. Thanks to him, the quality of transmitted speech is improved and individual sounds, such as voiced and deaf consonants, are better recognized. However, the smartphones of both interlocutors must work on Android 5.1 Lollipop, and the telecom operator must support HD Voice technology.
Interface changes
In the changes to the interface, the following points should be noted (LG Nexus 5 was used as the “test subject”):
- Hide notifications with a swipe up;
- Faster unlocking of the device when the top tray is open;
- Quick access to the list of available WiFi networks and Bluetooth devices from the settings panel;
- Ability to remove previously added quick settings;
- Added animation to the auto-rotate icon;
- Added animation to the icons of various submenus in the Clock application;
- When you turn on the "Lock in the application" feature, a hint now pops up every time how to turn it off;
- Silent mode did not appear. By the way, earlier there were reports that the “Do not disturb until the next alarm” option will appear in the notification settings, however, as there were two options “Indefinitely” or “For a certain period of time”, they remained so;
- The contact editing menu has been redesigned in the Material Design style.
FROM detailed information each innovation can be found in our special selection:.
- Fixed a bug in the flashlight. The included flash turned off spontaneously after some time, and the user saw an error message.
- Now you can control the volume while playing music system sounds(calls and notifications). To do this, press the volume key once and in the menu that appears on the right, click on the call icon.
Performance
According to personal feelings, Android 5.1 began to work much faster. Switching between browser tabs, scaling "heavy" sites, switching between applications, scrolling news, navigating through settings - everything happens smoothly, but at the same time quickly, without slowdowns. Perhaps this is only a subjective opinion, and the system is not yet clogged with third-party garbage, however, at the time of checking, about 100 applications were installed on the smartphone. With the same number of programs, even a pure Android 5.0.1 system worked relatively slowly, there were slight “brakes” noticeable.
Running applications do not randomly close yet, but more time is needed to check. Previously RAM my Nexus 5 crashed for a few days, after which the opening of any application led to the unexpected closing of all the others. At least, now I have noticed that Instagram has ceased to “be painted” just like that. On the other hand, when trying to record video via Rec. The following message appeared several times:
If personal feelings are a subjective parameter, then comparing the operation of LG Nexus 5 on Android 5.1 and 5.0.1 in synthetic tests will give more objective results. So, in AnTuTu, the updated OS scores almost 40,000 points against 35,700 for the older firmware. In 3DMark, the figures were 16200 versus 14500, respectively.
Preliminary conclusions
At the moment, updates are available for the Nexus 5 smartphone and Nexus 7 (Wi-Fi) and Nexus 10 tablets. Factory firmware images can be downloaded from the official website. The over-the-air update will begin shortly. As for the rest of the devices, new firmware will appear gradually, and there is no doubt that everyone will receive the update.
The Android 5.1 Lollipop update is Google's latest step towards the perfect OS. Was held big job fixing bugs, improved performance, added new small, but at the same time important features that make it easier for the user to communicate with the device. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the absence silent mode and not fully optimized interface. More time is needed to test other aspects of Android 5.1.
Update for Google update makes Lollipop the perfect mobile OS. Things were similar with 4.x - the first version turned everything upside down, the audience was delighted, but in fact, here and there annoying jambs climbed out, which were completely fixed only in 4.4.4. It also happens with Lollipop. For all the innovativeness of bugs, it does not take away. Suffice it to recall how, due to an error in Wi-Fi operation, which led to a rapid discharge of the battery, the release of 5.0 for Nexus devices was delayed. By the way, my Nexus 5 on Lollipop lives less than on KitKat. You can count a dozen or even two such errors, but with each update there are fewer of them, and I am sure that Android 5.5.5 will become the mobile OS that you want to stay with forever. But six months later, a new revolutionary 6.0 will be released with new bugs and jambs, and everything will be repeated again. This is the whole Android.
What's new in Android 5.1 Lollipop?
The Android 5.1 Lollipop update is Google's latest step towards the perfect OS. A lot of work has been done on bugs, performance has been improved, new small, but at the same time important functions have been added that make it easier for the user to communicate with the device. Of the minuses, it is worth noting the lack of a silent mode and the interface that is not fully optimized. More time is needed to test other aspects of Android 5.1.
Key changes in the new Android 5.1 Lollipop
Download Android 5.1 Lollipop for Nexus 5 here, for Nexus 7 here, and for Nexus 10 here. Installation instructions are on the official website of Google Android. But remember that you do all the actions at your own peril and risk and the responsibility for them lies with you.
Overview of Android 5.1 Lollipop update. What's new?
There are about 1,400 add-ons and fixes that the Android 5.1 Lollipop update contains, most of which you won't even notice. We do not consider it necessary to enumerate them, since most of them are rather insignificant, although in a compartment they have a strong positive value. The most notable of these fixes, on the other hand, we will focus on. For example, it fixed the infamous memory leak issue that was common on Nexus smartphones and tablets (and later on many Android manufacturers update). In many ways, it is these small technical decisions that are the most important aspect of Android 5.1, as they promise us the first stable version of Lollipop.
A look at Android 5.1: speed, security and innovation
Android 5.1 also brought a lot of changes to the interface, which you can see in the gallery above. Notifications and volume settings have been improved - in general, the OS has become much more solid. In addition, Android 5.1 brings dual SIM support (previously, manufacturers added their own SIM management utilities) and HD voice communication on some carriers. Android 5.1 is a minor update akin to 4.2 or 4.3, but it brings important innovations and fixes some significant issues.
Each owner android smartphone Do not mind getting a fresh update for your device. Many already know that the new version has officially been released. Android 5.1, (we wrote about this in ) which brought a number of innovations that we will now consider with you.
New animations
Anyone who loves various animations and all kinds of goodies on smartphones will definitely appreciate this innovation! Now each of the icons (including the auto-rotate shown on the right) starts playing with a new animation when touched.
Besides, with new dropdown arrows, made it much easier to jump between hotspots WiFi and devices Bluetooth.
HD Voice, dual SIM support and new APIs
After android updates 5.1, users can enjoy new audio technology HD Voice, which will allow smartphone owners to receive more high quality voices in conversation.
There is also support two SIM cards. Now the developer does not have to prescribe the actual software for switching from one SIM card to another.
The new APIs will come in handy for Android 5.1 developers. New APIs to help operators control allocation network resources and other important software things through applications in Google Play without requiring a firmware update with each new version.
Protection from prying eyes
The new update has improved sticky screen, which will allow you to protect your phone from children or friends who can use your smartphone. To activate this function, you need to go to Settings, then go to the Security section, turn on the sticking disable blocking function by requiring a numeric or graphic password.
Protection device
Update Android 5.1 will help protect your device, even if it is stolen or lost. By activating this protection feature, a thief will not be able to use your device, even after a factory reset, until he enters your account in Google.
Notifications
Finally, you can now access the notification mode when you have music or video playing. Click on the new bell icon on the right and the volume slider will expand into the Non/Priority/All menu.
Other small changes in Android 5.1
- Now four new animations appear in the watch on android. Isn't it beautiful?
- Also changed the icon "lack of sim card"
- NuPlayer by Google is now faster and more efficient. In Android 5.1, it replaces AwesomePlayer, which was previously the default.
- Fixed problem with filling memory
- Software navigation buttons no longer freeze
Step aside! Android 5.1 destroys all obstacles in its path, but there will be a lot of people who want to get under the hot hand of Google, because who doesn’t want to get the latest android version? Along with its arrival, in addition to the joy of consumers, Google has introduced a lot of interesting chips into the system, which we will consider today. Full list changes is about 15 thousand lines, so you should not think that two or three relatively noticeable improvements will become a negative assessment of the work of the programming team, because in addition to the improvements written in the description for the update, there are a ton of others, less significant, which in total gives a noticeable result , associated with a faster system operation, less likely to crash the application and reboot the device.
By the way, Android 5.1 was released almost simultaneously with the release of iOS 8.2, many will think - an accident. No. The marketers of such a large company are still not fools, the same applies to Apple, which, at the time of the announcement of the Galaxy S6, releases beta versions of systems for its products, each of them will deliberately spoil the party for each other.
Android 5.1 has become less massive, compared to the differences between 4.4.4 and 5.0, you will not see noticeable changes in the interface, basically everything will only affect functionality and optimization program code. The priorities have changed, if iOS gets more and more bugs with the release of each new update - iOS 8.2 this also applies - then in the case of android google in every possible way tries to optimize her work as much as possible, and she succeeds.
The main changes that affected new version, become:
More animations
I am not a supporter of an excessive number of animations, of which there are really too many in 5.0, but fans of this will be happy to hear the following: a curtain with quick settings changed, now the icons have new animations: "We want even more animations!" - "Hold!". I wonder when the company will stop experimenting like that in this area? Of course, it is interesting, but how not to overdo it. Also now when you click on wifi icon a list will slip out in front of you - right in the curtain - where you can quickly select the network you are interested in, the same improvement has also affected Bluetooth.
Dual SIM support
With the release of 5.1, Android received support for smartphones with two SIM cards. In other words, now manufacturers will not need to develop their own software, which will allow you to switch from one SIM card to another, Google did it for you. Especially useful feature will be for small Chinese manufacturers who do not have enough resources to develop their own software.
Protect your device from children
According to colleagues from androidcentral, the sticky screen mode has been noticeably improved, which will allow you to protect your data from the influence of friends or children to whom you entrust the device. Now the mode can be activated by going to Settings - Security, then a window will appear in front of you where you can enable the sticking disable blocking function by requiring a numeric or graphic password; also, at the first start, the program will teach you the basic actions, a kind of "tutorial".
Protect yourself from theft
So far, in early builds of Android 5.1, it does not have support for the new protection, which consists in the fact that the device will be blocked until an attacker logs into your account; won't even help full reset settings. But how the guys decided to protect themselves from firmware is unclear. Anyway Android - open system, which will not be difficult for any hacker to crack.
Notifications
Now, while watching videos and listening to music, you can select the notification mode by clicking on the bell icon, many people were worried about this moment, so we decided to allocate a separate area for it.
Other small changes
New animation in the watch app:
Software navigation buttons now do not freeze, more precisely, the animation of clicks does not freeze.
Swiping up on a notification allowed you to hide it on the unlock screen while hiding it in the notification shade. Now swipe up will only hide it from the lock screen, leaving it in the blind, the notification is completely hidden with a swipe to the right / left.
New look for no sim card icon:
NuPlayer- new streaming player, replaced by AwesomePlayer, more energy efficient.
And, of course, the most important improvement - fixed problem with memory filling that many have written about.