What's New in Android L: Material Design, Notifications and Battery
Material Design
The interface was re-imagined with a design language called Material Design, meant to unify the experience across phones, tablets, watches and computers. It is more colourful and extends the card idea from Google Now, with a more fluid, polished look. The design section of the keynote began at about the 40 minute mark.
Notifications
- The lock screen merged with the notification centre, so notifications appear as soon as you pick up the phone.
- Lock screen notifications are prioritized to show the most important items first.
- Heads up notifications appear as small cards, even over full-screen apps like games, so you can respond without leaving what you are doing. The idea was new to stock Android.
Recent apps
The recent apps section was redesigned with a card stack that looks like a Rolodex. Chrome tabs show up there as individual cards.
Performance and battery
- Better CPU and GPU performance, and readiness for 64-bit.
- Smarter handling of background data to extend battery life.
- A native battery saver option.
Availability
The L Developer Preview was to be available right away. Google had not announced a final name, and the public version was expected in the fall.
Frequently asked questions
What is Material Design?
A design language meant to give a consistent look across Google's platforms.
What are heads up notifications?
Small cards that show up on screen over whatever you are doing.
What did Android L become?
It became Android Lollipop.