Lollipop no more

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azzaj

88 posts

Master Geek

#1184613 28-Nov-2014 08:33

reven: I didnt really like it at first on my nexus5, but now I have warmed to it. I did prefer the darker keyboard however (found it easier to read) and i prefered the transparent "apps" button on the homescreen (so i could see more of my background :)). but notifications etc are a lot better.

There are keyboard themes now and a dark one is available. settings/keyboard/keyboard options/appearance and layout/holoblue.

you're welcome :D

Dreal

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1185342 29-Nov-2014 12:18

From what I have seen, its a little slower. Very slow on some devices, like the nexus tablets. But in general, it seems to be using processing power or memory for something that is not obvious. Which in a way makes it a step back from project butter. The hardware folks are using hasn't move forward that quick, people aren't replacing there devices every year for the most part.

Replacing gallery with google+ seems like a bit of an annoying cheap move (privacy reducing). Android has slowly gotten rid of some of the easy customization options it used to have around 4-4.3.

The look of the operating system seems a little childish, like the bright colours and cartoon icons are designed for children, teenagers or somehow has a design that implies 'dumbed down'. It does fit with googles online services appearance.

The addition of things like multi-user, and office document programs however is great.

My feelings about it are a bit mixed. I don't like it visually. I don't think the multi-user and office docs would be a worthwhile trade for speed, for most users unless they have more recent hardware (you can get plenty of office apps).

I am sure there are plenty of features I am missing, because I am not using it myself, I have just had a toy with it.

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wally22

504 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1185367 29-Nov-2014 12:51

On my Nexus 5 the keyboard changes are at: Settings/Language & input/Google Keyboard (Settings)/Appearance and layouts/Theme/holoblue
Thanks for the headsup azzaj

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1185372 29-Nov-2014 13:09

I could never go back to an Android device running anything prior to Lollipop - the changes are so significant particularly around notifications that the older versions just seem terrible in comparison.

Pulinski

131 posts

Master Geek

#1185409 29-Nov-2014 13:59

sbiddle: I could never go back to an Android device running anything prior to Lollipop - the changes are so significant particularly around notifications that the older versions just seem terrible in comparison.

Agreed Steve.

I pushed the full lollipop factory image to my Nexus 5. No problems either with a fresh install.

Dreal

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1186579 1-Dec-2014 19:47

sbiddle: I could never go back to an Android device running anything prior to Lollipop - the changes are so significant particularly around notifications that the older versions just seem terrible in comparison.

You don't find them intrusive? Also kinda phone-centric. Tablet users don't get much bonus from lock screen notifications for example.

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ArtooDetoo

1044 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1190365 8-Dec-2014 09:48

Just thought I'd chime in with a comment on performance.

I'm running the 5.0 release (sans bug fixes) on my Note 3 and can confirm that the overall hands-on so far shows promising gains in smoothness and responsiveness. Some of that, I'm certain, is down to things like the scroll action being revised so it runs longer and drifts more slowly to standstill, and the UI giving feedback more quickly - some process queuing wizardry, I expect.

Haven't run any benchmarks, but I can say that browser page opening and app startup are both perceptibly quicker than on KK TW.

Besides the fact that I had to search the intertubes to figure out a couple of UI things, so far it's a pleasure to use.

Think I'll start a thread for us risk-taking Note 3 users to compare notes. (Pun unintended) Unless I'm the only one stupid brave enough to give it a thrash, of course. :-)

Cheers,
R2

Galaxy S has gone to its new owner. HTC Sensation has gone to its new
owner. Galaxy S3 has gone to its new owner. Now using Galaxy Note 3. Skipping Note 4 I think...

GoodSync

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Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1190390 8-Dec-2014 10:29

I pushed 5.0.1 onto my HTC One on the weekend and agree with sbiddle that there is no turning back...

Aesthetically lollipop is polished, simple and intuitive. Features like Smart lock and the adaptive screen brightness are a welcome inclusion

Big winner for me so far is the power usage, I haven't cycled it enough to give dependable numbers but general power usage and screen on time looks to be substantially better than on 4.4

old3eyes

9119 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1190405 8-Dec-2014 10:38

I like the look and feel of Lollipop on my Nexus 4 except that the Bluetooth icon is crap (you really have to look close to see if you're connected) , The group contacts have gone. I used those allot. I like the notifications in the lock screen. My wife's 2012 Nexus 7 is having all sorts of problem with 5.0.0 along with lots of other people so it seems so I'm hoping that 5.0.1 fixes these things..

Regards,

Old3eyes

LazyDr

262 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1192491 9-Dec-2014 23:43

For whatever reason, I decided to wait for the OTA update for my 2013 Nexus 7, although was getting impatient. Finally today got notification of 5.0.1 being available. They obviously skipped 5.0.0 for some devices with the teething issues. Not had a chance to test anything out in great detail, but haven't encountered any problems at this stage, all running smoothly

Dreal

417 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1192494 10-Dec-2014 01:04

I had a friend with a nexus 5, and after installing lollipop their internal storage went bad. There is mention of other nexus (5 and 7) users finding this on the web (the chipset or internal storage going bad in an unduely short period of time), its a hardware issue.

But I also wonder if it has any relation to lollipop (like maybe its hardware handling is different).

Tap That - Great cheap tablets and tablet accessories. Windows and Android, NZ based

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1192665 10-Dec-2014 09:33

Personally i would always do a full reset after an OTA update between major OS revisions, things never seem to work 100%

As long as pics, contacts etc are all backed up in the cloud one way or another setting a fresh phone up is really only a 20min task

(One good trick is to screen shot your various launcher screens so you can easily reference how you had apps and widgets laid out)

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#1192732 10-Dec-2014 10:23

I put the 5.01 GPE release onto my HTC One M8, had a play with it for a day and had to go back to the 4.4.4 Sense firmware, Lollipop just has too much low-contrast white everywhere. There's some neat features, particularly with the notifications but I really dislike the Material UI, including the changes that have been shoehorned in via the Gmail app.

I may be a tad biased as I've always been one of the few people who even since the HTC Hero days has rather liked the Sense UI stuff, although I did use various flavours of CyanogenMod up until CM11.

@KnightNZ

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