Android 5.0 Lollipop has been out for a while now, and it has a whole bunch of awesome new features that you’re going to love. Here’s a list of eight tips and tricks to help you use Lollipop to its fullest.
Use Express Phone Setup
When you switch from an Android 4.1+ device to an Android 5.0 Lollipop device, Google lets you quickly transfer all of your account information with a tap and go service. This is done through NFC and Bluetooth technology. Once you’ve triggered the service during your phone’s initial setup, you can restore any apps or app data from your previous phone. It even saves the way you arranged your folders and icons to make the transition to a new device extremely easy.
Customize Your Lockscreen
The biggest change added to Lollipop 5.0 is advanced lockscreen customization. By default, the lockscreen displays your latest notifications. Most users find this useful, but some think it is a privacy issue since anyone can see your notifications if they pick up your phone. Luckily, you can turn this function off in the settings menu under sound and notifications.
Search for Businesses from the Dialer
Another great feature of Lollipop 5.0 is the built-in search in the dialer. Instead of using a search engine to find a business’s website and then scrolling through the pages to find the phone number, all you have to do is search for a business when you are in the dialer. Then, suggestions pop up depending on what you searched for. Click on one of the suggestions to call the business of your choice.
Access a Built-In Flashlight
One of the first apps people typically download when they get a new phone is a flashlight. Google decided to build this function into Lollipop 5.0. You can conveniently access the flashlight on the toggle panel by doing a two-finger pull down on the screen. You can adjust the brightness of the flashlight, too. This function is one of the quickest ways to drain the battery on your Android device, though.
Check the Battery Charging Estimation
Speaking of batteries, Lollipop 5.0 has made some changes. Short battery life was the number one complaint of Android device users, so Google made it easier for users to know how long they have to wait for a full charge. There is a battery charging estimation icon on Lollipop. Just plug in your device and wait a few seconds for the estimation to display.
Quickly Set and Stop Alarms
Another great feature that Google built into Lollipop 5.0 devices is an alarm. You don’t need a special app to make sure that you get up at the right time every morning. Instead, you can access your alarms on the notifications bar. It indicates what alarms you have set through the clock. Just long-press it to make changes. It’s fun to use, too. For instance, the QAD HD screen of LG G3 turns from blue to purple to black to indicate if it is morning or night. The LG G3’s 5.5-inch display is stunning when the color changes throughout the day.
See Your Data Usage
Most cellphone carriers have plans where you pay for the amount of data that you use. Before Lollipop 5.0, though, you had to check with your carrier to see how much you had used. Now, this information is displayed at a glance when you tap on the cellular icon. You’ll never have to worry about going over your data usage again. It’s also a great reminder to turn on your device’s Wi-Fi capability.
Block Notification Spam More Easily
Most Android users have experienced those relentless notifications from social games and other apps that you download. Sometimes it’s downright impossible to get rid of them, even after you uninstall the app. Lollipop 5.0 makes it easy to block notifications. All you have to do is go to your app settings and take away notification privileges from an app. You can block them from the source.
This is just a small list of tips and tricks to help you get around the new features found on Lollipop 5.0. After you spend a little time with it, you’re going to love it, since the tech world agrees that Lollipop 5.0 is the best operating system yet from Google.
Image via Flickr by downloadsource.fr
