Android 5.1 Lollipop, as a firmware update, does not represent a massive departure from its highly-touted but otherwise problematic base mobile operating system, the Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Trusted Reviews details that while the firmware update added a couple of new interface elements, most of the improvements on Android 5.1 Lollipop have something to do with improved general performance and the many bugs, glitches, and issues that have hounded the first version of the Lollipop.
Since March 9, Android 5.1 Lollipop has started rolling out already to Nexus devices including the Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, and Nexus 9. Although there are new reports saying that the firmware update is also doing to the same on some Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 devices too.
More than bug fixes and performance improvements, efficiency of the mobile operating system appears to have been enhanced too including some noteworthy new features.
Major improvements
Some of the major improvements that are being brought about by Android 5.1 Lollipop include Wi-Fi and Bluetooth shortcuts, device protection, HD voice calling, dual-SIM support, improved interruption function, heads up notifications, and of course bug fixes.
Wi-Fi connectivity has been a major problem of the Android 5.0 Lollipop. But the new firmware update has done more. It has solved the annoying issue of switching from one Wi-Fi hotspot to another by providing specific connection access from the drop-down quick settings menu.
This can actually be found through the little down arrow below each of the usual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth toggles.
Security has also been improved tremendously as Android 5.1 Lollipop comes with a feature that shall keep the phone locked even if a thief makes a factory reset of the device. Unless the thief knows the real owner’s Google account details, the phone shall become useless really.
With high-definition voice calling that came with the new firmware update, crystal-clear audio quality on voice calls over supported network is now very possible and this means more good things and a lot of talking points for Android users too.
Novel concept in Western countries
The dual-SIM support feature of the Android 5.1 Lollipop is very popular in developing countries particularly in Asia but not in the US and the UK and in some key phone markets in the world. The firmware update has made sure that the mobile OS can run two SIM cards simultaneously.
Although a novel concept in western markets, a single handset with dual SIM cards is a very good option for separating work and personal mobile phone numbers.
The Android 5.1 Lollipop has significantly improved the interruption function amid the absence of a silence mode function without disabling the alarm by simply silencing the ringer.
In terms of notification features, which are the main strength of the Android 5.0 Lollipop, the new firmware update improved it further by removing the notifications from the immediate view and allowing the user to pick it up at a later date or time by simply dragging the notification menu.
With 1,400 new tweaks and technical fixes, the Android 5.1 Lollipop has certainly addressed the problems of its predecessor. But the most important fix that the firmware update did has something to do with the memory leak issue.