Web giant Google has ended months of speculation over which dessert would lend its name to the latest Android update, after announcing that it will be called Lollipop – but what exactly can fans of the world’s most widely used operating system expect from the latest instalment?
Announced back in June this year but teased simply as ‘Android L’, web punters have been trying to guess the name of the next update, with previous versions all carrying sweet-toothed names like Cupcake, Donut, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean.
For users, the latest Android update may seem immediately different for its revamped aesthetics. Labelled Material Design, the style is intended to create a sense of consistency across multiple gadgets, such as devices using Android Wear and cars running Android Auto.
According to Google, Lollipop is made for a multiscreen world. The new aesthetic offers bolder fonts and colours, and an overall flatter look, with a more responsive user interface that includes lighting elements like shadows.
Improvements have also been made to battery life, with devices on Lollipop lasting up to 90 minutes longer before it becomes necessary to charge them – a big plus for people who have to recharge their tablets or smartphones more than once a day, such as those using devices during work or while they commute. Displays will also now show how long is left before the device’s battery dies completely, and also how long it would take to make it fully charged.
Changes to security measures are also being implemented with Lollipop, which is good news for companies that rely on Android devices in house, such as internet marketing specialists testing responsive web designs and RSS news feeds, or retailers’ sales advisors using them to help customers. The Lollipop operating system will support a kill switch that renders Android devices worthless unless thieves know a reset password.
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