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The Android 5.1.1 features
The Android 5.1.1
The main Nexus family has received the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update OTA (Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7, Nexus 9) as well as via factory images on the Google Developers site.
Amazingly the first two devices to get the Android 5.1.1 update were the Nexus Player and the Galaxy S6 Edge. Yes, you read that right, the Galaxy S6 Edge Android 5.1.1 update arrived before it even made it onto the Nexus 6.
This update was offered over-the-air (OTA) by T-Mobile to a developer over at XDA, who had screenshots and a video to prove it. The good news was it fixed the memory leak issue but has not been repated by any other carriers yet.
Android 5.1.1 Lollipop update: what’s new?
Interruptions, priority and silent mode
One of the smallest, but possibly most significant changes arrives to Android’s priority settings. You can now set your interruption preferences to remain in place or until your next alarm, which is useful for avoiding overnight interruptions, or the end of your "downtime".
Screen pinning
If you haven’t used screen-pinning yet now might be the time. This is one of the best ways to keep your phone secure while somebody else is using it.
Screen pinning locks the device into an app or folder so that, when sharing your phone, the person using it isn't able to exit that app without the corresponding PIN code. It’s easy to set up and means your friends or your children or your partner can’t go snooping around your phone without your approval. It's now easier to find and has a more detailed explanation. Find it in settings > security.
Speaking of security...
Security
Android 5.1 brings with it a new lock feature which helps you secure your device, even if it has been stolen. With “Device Protection” enabled, the device will be unusable after a factory reset, unless the user has your Google account login details.
Alas, this feature won’t necessarily help you recover your device, but it does mean you stop others using it, which is a small consolation.
This feature is automatically enabled as long as you have an eligible device (sadly there is no official list of these), a secured lock screen (via a pattern, PIN number or a password) and are signed into a Google account.
How do you find out if it's enabled on your handset? The only way we know so far is to actually remove your lock screen security and if you're notified that "device protection features will no longer work", then you know your device has them enabled when using a screen lock (convoluted, we know!).
Improved quick-settings menu
The quick-settings menu houses all-new animations, as well as tweaks to the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth menus for increased usability.
Selecting a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network is easier than ever before, with the drop-down arrows next to the buttons providing the connections list directly from within the quick-settings menu. Nice.
Better sounding calls and Dual-SIM support
Though HD voice is already something that carriers have brought to devices themselves, it’s now officially been built directly into the Android 5.1 code, meaning higher quality calls for everyone.
Other notable additions include...
- Better dual-SIM support,
- New API’s provided by the Android 5.1 SDK (which will pave the way for better apps)
- Improved notification management (they can now be swiped back until the notification draw, rather than swiped away entirely)
- Better Wi-Fi connections, because Android now knows which access points have provided poor/no Wi-Fi access in the past. Clever.
There's no details on scheduling for which devices and when, but you can start the good old button mash cycle right now. Head to Settings > About Phone > Software Update and get busy. If you're rocking a Motorola phone, Nexus device or Google Play Edition you're likely to be first in line for the update.
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