Android 5.0 L: Here is what you need to know!

 Android 5.0, aka Android Lollipop or Android L, is a huge step forward for Google's mobile OS. It doesn't just look better - it goes much faster and lasts much longer too. Here's why you'll love it, and how you can get it.




What do you want to know about Android 5.0 L? Here are a few:-

Google currently calls the next version Android L, others Android 5.0 and some Android Lollipop, Licorice or Lemon Meringue Pie - but no matter what it’s finally called, it’s a huge step forward for Google’s mobile OS. It introduces a brand new look and lots of new features you’ll love.

The Android L release date hasn’t been formally announced yet, but we’re expecting it to arrive this Fall. Our current best bet is the end of October or early November.

As with previous Android updates, the price of Android L will be zero.

 Android L backwards compatibility means it should be released first for the Nexus 4 onwards as well as supported Motorola devices with a rapid roll out. HTC says it’ll bring Android 5.0 L to the One (M7) and One (M8) and Samsung, Sony and LG are expected to bring it to their recent devices too - although as ever with Android updates, we’ve no idea how quickly they’ll do that.

The most dramatic and obvious change in Android L is the new Android L user interface, which is based around what Google calls “Material Design”. It’s a flatter design than we’re used to, but it makes extensive use of shadows and 3D views to make on-screen elements distinct from one another. The Roboto system font has been tweaked too, and all new animations including touch feedback and transition animations between apps.
In addition to appearing in Android L, the new Material Design language will make its way to Google’s various apps on the web too. There are already a number of apps using Material Design.

Android L features include a revamped notifications system, which puts notifications on the lock screen, prioritizes them according to how often you interact with them and also enables you to take action without leaving the app you’re using, so for example you can swipe notifications away if you’re in the middle of something else or respond from where you are and continue what you were doing.
Android L features some nifty access features too. If you’re using an (Android!) smartwatch you can use it to keep your phone unlocked, and if you aren’t you can set your phone to automatically unlock when it knows you’re at home or when it hears your voice.
There are really big changes under the hood of Android L. The trusty Dalvik runtime, Android’s app engine, has been replaced by the ART runtime. That doesn’t sound like a big deal but it makes a big difference: ART supports the latest 64-bit processors, pre-compiles apps when you first install them for faster app launching, and according to Google it runs at twice the speed of Dalvik.
That’s not all. Google has put a lot of work into improving power usage, which should mean significantly improved battery life and the same extreme power saving options we’ve seen on 2014’s Android flagships becoming available to every compatible Android device. Google has also made huge improvements to the graphics engine, with particular emphasis on HD gaming.