As expected, Google launched its latest version of Android today alongside a new Nexus 6 smartphone and Nexus 9 tablet. Android 5.0, also known as “Lollipop,” comes with a variety of new features, and a brand new design. The update was first revealed by Google at its I/O developer conference in June, and has been in the hands of Android developers since then. The feature most people will notice right off the bat is “Material Design,” a new take on Android’s design language that focuses on making interactions with apps feel real.
After giving us all a taste of Android L in June 2014, at the I/O developer conference, Google is finally releasing the next version of Android to the world, version number 5.0, code named Lollipop. The release, which comes nearly one year after 4.4 KitKat, ushers in a brand-new design throughout the operating system, enhanced notifications, changes to how you multitask, and handful of other features. The most obvious change in Lollipop is the fresh design aesthetic, called Material Design. It uses a lot of bright, rich colors and adds depth with shadows to give Android a sleeker, more minimal look. There’s more white space, especially around text, and more transparent touches. There’s also and animated effects when you interact with the screen, such as ripples of color. It’s the first real makeover Android has had in several years — not counting the design changes from the KitKat Google Now Launcher.
