Android 5.1 has been unveiled by Google and its more than just an incremental update to the Lollipop OS. Lets take a look at some of the worthy features introduced by Android 5.1.
Device Protection
This feature is the most significant one that makes Android 5.1 a must-have for Pakistani smartphone users.
With skyrocketing incidents of mobile-snatching, Android 5.1’s Device Protection feature makes your device fully secure. It accomplishes this by requiring a Google account sign-in if your phone has been stolen, misplaced or lost, even if its reset to its factory settings.
Now a Google account sign in is required even if the device has been factory reset!
That last bit is very important because now, mobile thieves can’t wipe your phone and sell it. What they have in their hands is a useless paperweight that can be easily identified as a stolen product. This security is baked into the heart of the Android 5.1 update.
HD Calling for Superior Voice Quality
This feature is network-dependent, currently slated to work with US carriers since they have the infrastructure in place. We can only hope Pakistani telcos also decide to support it in the near future. What HD Calling does is pretty self-explanatory – less static during calls and crystal clear voice communication.
Other Improvements
Android 5.1 has OS-level support for multiple SIM cards (which previously, only phones with multiple SIM hardware slots would take advantage of), tweaks for Wi-FI and Bluetooth devices from the quick settings area as well. There are plenty of other less notable but nevertheless important tweaks as well.
Availability
Currently Android 5.1 is slated to hit the Nexus line of products, especially Nexus 4, 5, 7 (2013) and the new Nexus 6 and 9. Most other Android hardware manufacturers are still rolling out Android 5.0 to their respective phones so it is safe to guess that this will take a couple of months to be pushed out on supported HTC, Samsung, LG and phones by other manufactures.
The Device Protection feature is great like the apple devices have.
Is there ANY possible way (legal/illegal) of breaking “Device Protection”? i.e. Hack or Rooting .. ANYTHING?
may be we hear/read after some time the Device Protection feature contains threat to Android users … :)
Good question. I also think the same and to me this feature will be useless if thieves know how to flash custom ROMs unless Google asks vendors to burn some code permanently into phone which couldn’t be changed on flashing ROMs. This could be the real deal.
i think Rooting will bypass that security
Seems pointless to add security that can be overrided so easily with rooting. It must be more powerful.
so you are saying it is more powerful and can not be bypassed by rooting?
With new system you have to enter password before you can factory-reset menu. No menu, no root (unless previous owner was dumb enough to leave bootloader unlocked).
why not explode on reset without a correct password
Why not send an MQM hit squad without a correct password?
seems you guys just don’t proof read to hurry to post stuff….
that security feature is still no where to be found on nexus 5 that have the factory image ready, might be nexus 6 only thing for now, but nexus 6 doesn’t have 5.1 yet.
also no nexus 4 or nexus 7 2013 have the update. 5, 10 and 7 2012 models have the images ready.
now ota can be downloaded from known sites that can be side loaded, still for same nexus 5, 10 and 7 2012 only.
edit: nexus 6 just been added.