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Google Announces Android 5.1
An anonymous reader writes: Google has officially announced Android Lollipop 5.1. This is a small update to the mobile operating system, and focuses on stability and performance. The main new features include support for multiple SIM cards, high definition voice calls on supported devices, and the ability to join Wi-Fi networks and manage Bluetooth pairings through Quick Settings. The biggest new feature is "Device Protection." They say, "With Device Protection, your lost or stolen device will remain locked until you sign in with your Google account — even if someone resets your device to factory settings. This feature will be available on most Android phones and tablets shipped with Android 5.1 in addition to Nexus 6 and Nexus 9."
I think the better question is "Does systemd include Android yet?".
How about a Jolla with a slide out keyboard...
It's my plan to finally replace my beloved N900. :)
Boo.
I hope the Device Protection feature is optional.
Of course it is. You can't use it unless you put a Google account on the device.
Right, but I have put a Google account on the device. I hope the device protection is still optional. Since I'm already using encryption, I'm not sure the device protection will add much security. Will a thief return my device when they discover they can't use it?
If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?
I own a OnePlus One. Don't have any issues with BS "carrier apps" or anything like that, because there are none (in general, some of the Cyanogen bits are a little 'special' at times).
Sucks that Google hasn't made a requirement for a "clean" version of Android to be made available for major devices. That's where probably 75% or more of the issues come in.
https://code.google.com/p/andr...
This is ridiculous.
I'm fed up with issues I've had with Google Nexus line Android devices:
1) Nexus 7 first gen. Enable encryption and device becomes superslow due to not having a proper fstrim support.
2) Galaxy Nexus. No more updates after 4.3, not even security updates.
3) Nexus 4. This recent dialer issue. I'm still getting updates but what good are they if they only break things that worked before?
"Thefts of Apple's smartphone have plummeted in San Francisco, New York and London following the debut of the company's Activation Lock feature in fall 2013". Source: http://www.cnet.com/news/smart...
Perl Programmer for hire
Sucks that Google hasn't made a requirement for a "clean" version of Android to be made available for major devices
you can disable any app, including apps packaged in the firmware. it won't even show up in the launcher after that. that's been in place since 4.0 (or so).
Will a thief return my device when they discover they can't use it?
no, but if thieves understand that modern smartphones, including android 5.1 devices, are worthless if stolen, they aren't going to bother stealing them in the first place. sure, until a sufficient % of the devices out there support this it's not as useful but you have to start somewhere right?
also, don't you feel a little better knowing that the thief didn't get compensated $300 for stealing your phone?
From my experience with the Note3, yeah you can "disable" apps from showing, but not completely. They're still resident in memory most of the time and a number that I wanted to disable, the option to disable was disabled.
After rooting I found that they had cross-linked dependencies. Some of the apps I wanted to keep were dependent upon stuff in apps that I wanted to remove. Freeze/remove some of the carrier crap-ware and other things that weren't so crap broke. :(
http://xkcd.com/619/
So when did Apple start shipping a filesystem explorer? Oh, right, they don't -- you aren't supposed to look at the filesystem. And there are numerous crap-applications Apple installs and constantly updates that I (and others) simply don't care about. They cannot be removed (system app), nor can they be disabled/hidden; the best you can do is put them in a folder sort-of out of sight.
There are plenty of Android APPS that piss me off, too. Like I need every app I've ever installed to wake up and "check in" when ever I turn on my tablet. That's not Google's fault; that's all on the asshats that wrote the apps.