Google has brought many changes in its latest operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop. At the beginning Android Lollipop 5.0 was available on the Nexus 9 and Nexus 6, but now it is almost available on every leading device of leading companies. If you have got the Lollipop flavor just now and still preparing yourself to make full use of Google latest operating system there might be a few things which you find hard to tackle. The Android Lollipop 5.0 has plenty of new features but many users are still unaware of these amazing features and rightly so they need some help along with you to understand and use these feature. The Android Lollipop 5.0 is slowly but steadily making its way to older devices. Here are some secret features of Android Lollipop which the Google has brought in its latest operating system.
Related : Android Lollipop Review, the sweetest Android of all
Secret Features of Android Lollipop you will love the most.
1. Smart lock
The best secret features of Android Lollipop is the smart lock feature. It allows you to unlock your device with NFC enabled device or Bluetooth. If you have Lollipop update on your device you can unlock it with Bluetooth or NFC enabled device like car stereo, Smartwatch or even with a NFC sticker. If your smartphone or tablet is close to your Bluetooth enabled device, it will be unlocked automatically after recognizing that it’s a trusted source. To unlock your device with NFC enabled device or Bluetooth just go to Settings > Security > Smart Lock and add your Bluetooth device. It cannot be easier than this.
2. Turn off lock-screen notifications
Android Lollipop 5.0 helps you to get notifications on your lock screen. The latest version of Google’s operating system also allows you to take action on notifications without unlocking your device. This is indeed a great feature but it surely has a privacy issue, because you will never want your personal texts and emails visible to others. To turn this off you don’t have to do too much all you have to do is to go to Settings > Sound & Notification > When Device is Locked and select “Don’t Show Notifications At All”.
3. Screen Casting
In Android Lollipop 5.0 you can transmit your device’s screen to your TV because of its new feature Screen casting. Screen casting transmits the screen of your device to your TV but a real annoying thing is you need to have a Chromecast because Screen casting does it via Chromecast. While the other manufacturers offer direct-to-TV transmission it is quite frustrating here that you need a Chromecast. But it will be very useful if you do have the dongle. To see your device’s screen on your TV, simply go the notifications bar and select “Cast screen”. You can read complete review of Google Chromecast along with tips and tricks to improve Google Chromecast performance as well.
4. Play Google’s version of Flappy Bird
With many other features of Android Lollipop 5.0 Google has secreted a Flappy Clone easter egg in its latest OS as well. If you are a big fan of an extremely difficult game, Flappy Clone easter egg, now you can play this on your device if you have the Android Lollipop update. To play it, go to Settings > About Tablet and tap over and over again “Android version” after some taps a big lollipop will appear, keep finger on the lollipop and then you can enjoy Flappy Clone easter egg game. This is my personal best secret feature of Android Lollipop.
5. Quick Access to the Camera and Dialer
If you are annoyed with unlocking your device every time when you want to take a photo. The Android Lollipop 5.0 helps you to take photos quickly because now you can easily access your camera straight from your lock screen. To take photos without unlocking your device and open the camera app you have to click on the icon in the lower right corner of your lock screen and drag it to the left. With this short step your camera will fire up and you can take your photos very quickly rather than unlock your device and open the camera app. The same steps will be required for the Dialer as well.
6. Quicker way to Quick Settings
In the Android Lollipop 5.0 you can save your valuable time by going setting panel very quickly. In Android KitKat, the older version of Android OS, to get into the notifications shade you had to first swipe down and then click on the top right corner to access your Quick Settings but in Android Lollipop you can just do a single swipe from the notification shade to see the Quick settings. You can read more about the quick settings panel of Android Lollipop.
7. App notifications
If you don’t want to get notification of each app, you can pick your preferred app as a “priority app”. The Android Lollipop 5.0 allows you to select updates and notifications from particular apps. It means only your selected app will be allowed to push notifications. To do this, go to Settings > Sound & Notification > App Notifications, select the relevant app and toggle the priority button. At the same time, if you don’t want to get bother by particular apps with its constant notifications, you can turn them off also by going to Settings > Sound & Notification > App Notifications and selecting “block”.
8. Organize your screen with folders
The Android Lollipop 5.0 allows you to organize the screen of your device with folders as well. It’s a pretty simple procedure. Google’s latest operating system has a new feature which helps you to organize your screen with folders. You will have many apps at the finger touch after adding similar themed apps jointly. You can do this without making a contact with pages and pages of app icons. Just press long on an app, drag it onto another app icon and then it will create a folder automatically. You can also change the name of the folder as well.
9. Tap to wake
In the Android Lollipop 5.0 you don’t have to have to press the power button to wake your device. Press the power button to wake your device is old now you can wake your device by double tapping the Home Screen. Now you no longer have to press the power button to wake your device.
10. Search settings
If you’re looking for some particular thing in the settings menu, Lollipop allows you to search it directly. The Android Lollipop 5.0 features the new settings search function and now you can search what you need in the settings menu. To find your needed thing just tap the magnifying glass which is usually in the top right-hand corner in the settings menu then write what you are looking for. Then a full list of relevant results will be shown.
11. Data Usage Notification
The Android Lollipop 5.0 allows you to keep updated with data usage via notifications. This feature is going to be very handy for you when you are planning for a strict data plan. To set your device at usage notifications just use the two fingered downward swipe to access your quick settings before tapping on your phone’s signal symbol. Then a new screen will appear which would display the amount of mobile data you have used, Go to more Settings and set a particular data warning as well as a data limit. For example, if you have 10 GB of data per month, you can set the warning at 9 GB and the limit at 10GB, after you reach 10 GB of data usage, your device will turn off all data usage automatically.
12. Quickly Access To Alarm
In the Android Lollipop 5.0 after you have set your alarm, you can access it from the notifications bar. To access quickly the alarm just drag down from the top of your screen to times after you have set your alarm and then you will have a new clock icon. A new clock icon will display the time which you set for your alarm to go off. Now you don’t have to to go back into your clock app to see whether you set the correct time, and you can access your alarm very quickly by just drag down from the top of your screen, you can use the two finger method also for this purpose.
13. Apps Remain After Reboot
If you are annoyed with closed and shut down of apps after rebooting of the device you don’t have to worry any more. Android Lollipop 5.0 has a small feature which will retain all of the apps you were using before a reboot. Earlier every app shuted down after reboot of the phone but not anymore because Google has resolved this issue. In the Android Lollipop version there is a Overview screen (Recent Apps), which retains all of the apps you were using, before rebooting your deice. By tapping the square button on the bottom right corner of your device You can manage the access to Overview screen.
14. High Contrast Text
Despite being all the improved features there are number of experimental features have been added to Lollipop as well. And one of the experimental features is high contrast text. The effect is unfortunately not very obvious, but if you are struggling with Android device, then this could make the difference. Go to Settings > Accessibility then you will find it under the System sub-heading. During writing, it does not look as if all of the text is affected. Nevertheless, this is an experimental feature and we can expect many irregularities and inconsistencies.
15. Do Not Disturb
Do not disturb is very easy to set up, it turns your device’s volume up or down as it uses rocker switch on the side of your device, it will ask you about the notification of specific or all. Tap none option and your device will set to no notifications, and then you will not be disturbed by, texts, calls and even alarms. After Tapping the priority option you will be updated only particular notifications which you set as priority. To get all the notifications just tap cog wheel and then you will be able to get all the notifications once again. Each of above settings in “ Do not Disturb” can be selected to work for a specific time or for an indefinite period as well.
16. Color Inversion And Correction
If you are partially color behind or your vision is damaged and you are not able to use the phones correctly, Android Lollipop will surely get your attention. The Android Lollipop 5.0 has an amazing feature ‘color inversion’ and ‘color Correction’ for color blind people which helps them to improve their vision while using the phone. Users can Select from three different color Deuteranomaly which is red-green, Protanomaly and Tritanomaly which is blue-yellow. This can become very useful feature for the color blind users. To use this this feature head to Settings > Accessibility and scroll to the Display sub-heading. Color inversion and color Correction is an experimental feature and you may find slowness in your system.
These were some secret features of Android Lollipop or you can say them lesser known features. Do you think we should add anything in the list, do tell us through the comments section.