Android 5.1 Lollipop Update, Features News: Google Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 Carry Anti-Theft Software
With Google rolling out its first major update for Android Lollipop since releasing its new OS in November last year, one of its most significant features is its capability to prevent identity theft.
Google launched its Android 5.1 update for Lollipop early this week featuring a new anti-identity theft technology, Device Protection. According to Google's Android Blog, stolen or lost phones are put on immediate lock down until the user signs in with their Google account, even if phone's factory settings are restored.
Similar to Apples' iOS 7 Activation Lock which has been largely responsible for the drop in iPhone thefts in San Francisco and New York, the Device Protection software will be installed on all Google smartphones with Android 5.1, including the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9.
Android 5.1 will include support for HD voice calling between compatible phones and devices, as well as multiple SIM card capabilities. Support for multiple SIM cards will find a brisk market among Android One users who are known to share a single phone among several family members.
The update allows users to sign in to Wi-Fi networks, and manage Bluetooth devices via their Quick Settings menu.
With a more stable Lollipop performance and general stability, the 5.1 update has been dubbed Google's most noteworthy OS update. The only downside is the 3.3 percent number of Android devices existing that currently run on Lollipop.
Google has yet to release information on whether the new 5.1 update has fixed Lollipop's major complaint on the way it has changed Android's silent mode capabilities.
