As we are getting close to the release date of the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10, more details regarding the new Android iteration are starting to hit the web. As you may know, Google didn’t announce when the new software update will be released for the masses, but, hopefully, we will be able to make estimations regarding its release date based on the latest reports.
Beginning with Android 5.0 L, Google will change the way major Android updates are launched. Until now, there have been two major Android updates launched each year, one in the summer and the other one mid-to-late fall. The way Google is planning to release Android 5.0 L is a reminiscent of Apple’s iOS launches. Apple is usually presenting new iOS versions in the summer, at their annual WWDC conference, then makes the beta version available for developers soon after. The final iOS versions are released in the fall along with a new iPhone. How is Google’s Android 5.0 L launch similar to Apple’s? Well, they introduced the new version as Android L in the summer at Google I/O and made the Developer Preview available for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 (there’s also an bug-fixing update for Android L Developer Preview that you can check out here). Google will probably roll out the Android 5.0 L update for the public in the fall, synchronized with the debut of new Nexus hardware.
There are also some controversies regarding the final name of the new Android iteration. Each major Android update had a specific version number and a nickname inspired by a dessert. Given the amount of changes and improvements it brings, it will no doubt have version number 5.0. Because the dessert name has to begin with letter “L,” Lollipop, Licorice, and Lemon Meringue Pie have all been mentioned by speculations. Anyway, most of the reports are pointing towards Lemon Meringue Pie. Summing up, you should expect it to be released as Android 5.0 Lemon Meringue Pie or Android 5.0 LMP.
Now let’s talk about the new Nexus hardware Google is planning to release. As I was mentioning above, the Android 5.0 L release date is the same as the release date of the new Nexus devices. Early this year, it was rumored that Google was reading a new program called Android Silver, meant to replace the Nexus line-up. After a Google employee officially dismissed the rumors, reports of a new Nexus smartphone and a new Nexus tablet started to surface online.
First we’ve heard of a new Nexus tablet, codenamed Flounder and manufactured by HTC. According to the rumor mill, the unofficially dubbed Nexus 9 will pack an 8.9-inch screen with 4:3 aspect ratio, 64-bit Nvidia Tegra K1 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 8 MP primary camera, and “aluminium zero-gap construction.” There are reports of a new Nexus smartphone (codenamed Shamu), as well. It looks like it will be manufactured by Motorola and that it will sport a a 5.9-inch Quad HD screen, Snapdragon 805 CPU paired with 3 GB of RAM, and a 13 MP primary shooter with optical image stabilization and dual-LED flash.A report confirming most of the Motorola Shamu above-mentioned specs and revealing a mock-up of the device made the headlines earlier this week.Without a doubt, both devices will come pre-loaded with Android 5.0 L. Paul O’Brian, respected member of the Android community, tweeted mid-September that “the Nexus 9 will be launched on 16th October.” A week later, two trustworthy tech publications wrote that the Nexus 9 release date “is very close,” followed by a report saying that the new Nexus devices will be launched mid-October and that the Android 5.0 L will not be released sooner than November 1.
With all these being said, expect the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 to roll out early November. Because this is the most major update Android has seen since the jump from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich, let’s have a look at some the new features it brings.
Android 5.0 L brings a revamped interface thanks to Google’s new design philosophy called Material Design. Therefore, you will be greeted by a more animated and more colorful interface, and by 3D effects and shadows that aim to make the UI more intuitive. You will now be able to see where everything came from and where everything goes at fluid 60 fps transitions.
The new Android version also arrives with performance and battery life enhancements. Google has replaced Dalivk runtime with ART and introduced support for 64-bit processors. On the other hand, Project Volta aims to fix one of the biggest issues of modern smartphones: battery life. Many of the users who installed Android L Developer Preview on their Nexus 5 smartphones have reported battery life improvements of 30 – 40%.
The Notifications Panel has received noteworthy improvements, too. Besides the new color scheme and the transparent background, you should also notice that the Quick Settings button has been removed. In order to access the Quick Settings menu you will have to swipe down once to get to the Notifications panel, then swipe down once again. Quick Settings now allow you to control WiFi, Bluetooth, Mobile Data, Airplane Mode, Notifications, Auto Rotate, Location, and Cast Screen, and has a slider for Brightness control.
Android 5.0 L also introduces a new Lock Screen. Besides displaying your unread notifications, the new Lock Screen also allows you to dismiss them (swipe left/right), read them (tap on a notification), or see more details (swipe down on a notification). Furthermore, the notifications will be sorted based on the frequency you interact with them.
The Android 5.0 L Dynamic Status Bar changes its color based on the action bar of the app opened on the screen. Of course, it’s still transparent in home and lock screens. Most of the Android 5.0 L native apps have this new feature enabled as default, but the developers will have to update their apps too, so we can enjoy a unified visual experience.
The Settings app also arrives with major changes. It has been reorganized, it has a new color scheme, and introduces new animations, toggles, and check boxes. Google also included a search bar that allows you to easily find the option you are looking for.
The Recents menu has also received a makeover in Android 5.0 L, arriving with a card-based interface that is a reminiscent of Chrome’s recent tabs screen. Moreover, some apps will be able to display more than one card in Recents, a feature that is a part of Google’s new document-centric multitasking.
As usual, the Android 5.0 L update for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10 will be the first one to roll out. The Google Play Edition devices will probably get it next, followed soon after by Motorola’s supported devices. HTC promised back in June that they will be bringing Android 5.0 L to One M7 and One M8 within 90 days after Google makes the final code available, while Samsung is expected to bring the new update on Galaxy S5 and Note 4 late November or early December. Sony’s and LG’s flagship smartphones and tablets could also get updated to the latest Android version by the end of the year.
What are your expectations for Android 5.0 L? Did you had the chance to play with Android L Developer Preview? What are your first impressions? The comments section is all yours.
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