Guest account. If you are gonna give someone your tablet to play with for a while, but don't want them messing up your settings, viewing your bookmarks, etc., you can switch them to a guest account. I don't have much of a need for this, but I can see it as being useful to let someone look stuff up on your tablet or something like that.
This isn't new, I have it on my G3 running 4.4.2 [Reply]
I just received the OTA. It seems pretty snappy/smooth so far. I had to find a new Gallery app as the new one requires Google+ to be active.
I used to use SMS8 until a couple of months ago when they started running ads. I switched to Hangouts and was using it to see if it would be better with Lollipop. I still don't like it and will donate $3 to SMS8 for the add free version.
Can you change the hotbuttons on the lockscreen? Touchwiz allowed this on my SG3. I would rather have texting be a hotbutton than the phone.
Do I still need Notifyme with the new notifications? What about Lighton for LED notifications?
I read that the powersaving won't be evident until the apps are updated so that they can take advantage of the new powersaving protocols in Lollipop. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaFace:
After using it for a week or so, I'd say the most noteworthy changes are:
Design. I'll mention it since it's the most discussed feature. Apps are all being designed with a consistent set of guidelines for how they look and feel, how animations look, etc. It's all meant to feel very tactical. This is probably underappreciated by the average consumer, but makes a big difference in how easy it is to pick up a new app and figure out what to do.
Notifications on the lock screen. You can see and dismiss notifications without having to open your phone and swipe down the top bar to see what they are. You can interact with them just like you can under the top pulldown. This one is REALLY handy.
Trusted devices and locations. You can set it so that your PIN (or whatever) isn't required when you're (for example) connected to bluetooth in your car or at home/work.
Guest account. If you are gonna give someone your tablet to play with for a while, but don't want them messing up your settings, viewing your bookmarks, etc., you can switch them to a guest account. I don't have much of a need for this, but I can see it as being useful to let someone look stuff up on your tablet or something like that.
Pinning apps. Similar purpose to the above, you can "pin" an open app so that it can't be closed without entering your PIN (or whatever). If I had a kid who liked playing Angry Birds, this would be a godsend.
Quiet hours. They don't call it this (they call it interruptions), but you can set certain hours of the day when only certain sounds can get through. Honestly, this one is confusing and I hope they improve it, but it serves a function for not wanting to get sounds at night. (Again, this has been around through third-parties for a while now.)
Aside from those, there are a ton of minor things scattered throughout that you didn't have before. It gives you predictions on how much time you have left on your battery and how much time it will be until you're charged. It's got a redesigned "recent apps" menu that goes back forever (even after reboot). As I mentioned above, it has a battery saver mode that kicks in when you're low. You can use your phone as a flashlight under the drop down menu in quick settings (another third-party feature).
Android OS versions aren't usually completely crazy revisions - they've built so much stuff into apps instead of the OS these days that changes to those are pretty incremental. But Lollipop has a lot of new features that are pretty handy, and I think the look and feel of it is great.
All that is available already except a more complete use of material design. [Reply]
Originally Posted by MTG#10:
This isn't new, I have it on my G3 running 4.4.2
Originally Posted by Anyong Bluth:
All that is available already except a more complete use of material design.
Not in stock. Google basically lets the other manufacturers test stuff out. When it gets to be good enough, they integrate it into stock so that everyone has it no matter what manufacturer. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DaFace:
Not in stock. Google basically lets the other manufacturers test stuff out. When it gets to be good enough, they integrate it into stock so that everyone has it no matter what manufacturer.
My G3 is stock 4.4.2, never been rooted and I have the guest account option. [Reply]
I'm up for a new phone this Saturday, coming from an HTC One M7. It's been a solid phone, but the battery is garbage now so I'm looking forward to moving on. Phone before the M7 was a Note 2, which I loved. I'm looking to get back to the Note line, and the 5 is going to be announced next week.
That said, most everything I'm hearing about the 5 is bad news. All glass, no removable storage/battery, etc. I'm sure it will be in the $300 range. However, I can get the Note 4, with removable storage/battery for $100. I'm heavily leaning toward the Note 4 (which I can also get immediately), but wondering if people have had positive experiences with it and if it has held up. I'm not a phone gamer --- I'm focused on productivity/media usage and strong battery. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KevB:
I'm up for a new phone this Saturday, coming from an HTC One M7. It's been a solid phone, but the battery is garbage now so I'm looking forward to moving on. Phone before the M7 was a Note 2, which I loved. I'm looking to get back to the Note line, and the 5 is going to be announced next week.
That said, most everything I'm hearing about the 5 is bad news. All glass, no removable storage/battery, etc. I'm sure it will be in the $300 range. However, I can get the Note 4, with removable storage/battery for $100. I'm heavily leaning toward the Note 4 (which I can also get immediately), but wondering if people have had positive experiences with it and if it has held up. I'm not a phone gamer --- I'm focused on productivity/media usage and strong battery.
iPhone guy here, but it sounds like you should check into the ,Moto ,g style coming out this September. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigBeauford:
iPhone guy here, but it sounds like you should check into the ,Moto ,g style coming out this September.
I'm limited in my options --- only choices really are Samsung or Apple. Don't like what I'm hearing on the S6 battery (plus I want the big screen) and I don't want an iPhone. So, down to Note 4 or Note 5. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KevB:
I'm limited in my options --- only choices really are Samsung or Apple. Don't like what I'm hearing on the S6 battery (plus I want the big screen) and I don't want an iPhone. So, down to Note 4 or Note 5.
Well if those are your two options, Apple is by far the better choice. There are better Android Platforms that don't slap bloat ware on them( like the Moto G Series) [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigBeauford:
Well if those are your two options, Apple is by far the better choice. There are better Android Platforms that don't slap bloat ware on them( like the Moto G Series)
Samsung does not put their own bloatware on. Depends on his carrier. Verizon isn't too bad about it, Sprint can DIAF. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pestilence:
The Note 4 is alright but the latest updates have killed this things speed.
They just released the Lollipop 5.1.1 update for the Note 4, and I've read a few good things on message boards. Is that the update you're referring to? Oh, and my carrier is Sprint and I'm not getting an iPhone. I prefer the Android experience for a number of reasons. [Reply]