When activated, the person can only use one app, and only when a combination of buttons is pressed can the phone’s full functions be accessed again. Put a pin in itĪnother way to restrict access to your apps and information with other users is to use the new screen-pinning feature. The owner of the device always has the power to uninstall any of your apps or profile, though. You can do so by following the steps listed above, and then selecting Add user, or you go through Settings > Users.
It lets each person create their own profile and customize the device with their own accounts and apps. Re/codeįor situations where you share a device with roommates or family members, user profiles is the better way to go. To turn it on, open the notifications drawer by swiping down from the top of the screen, and then tap the person icon and select Add Guest. It’s useful if someone needs to borrow your mobile device, but you don’t want them accidentally seeing your personal information like text messages, social networks and so forth.
Guest mode has been available on Android tablets for a little while, but Android Lollipop now brings this function to phones, too. Color correction allows you to change the display based on three different types of color blindness (deuteranomaly, protanomaly and tritanomaly.) Meanwhile, another setting called High Contrast Text outlines white- or light-colored text in black, so it’s easier to see against various backgrounds. Both are found under Settings and Accessibility menus. Google has added a couple of experimental features to Android to help with screen visibility, especially for those with color blindness or poor vision. Just go to the Settings menu and enter what you’re looking for in the search field at the top of the screen. To make it easier, Android now lets you search the Settings page. But trying to find a more specialized feature like font size can be like a scavenger hunt.
Where is that setting again?Īll the major smartphone platforms, including Android, offer a quick-access menu for frequently used settings, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and screen brightness. Beneath that, you can also choose which apps you want to transfer over, or simply select all. From the drop-down menu, select which device/backup you want to restore from. You’ll then be given the option to restore from a previous backup. If you don’t have an NFC-enabled phone, or need to reset your current model, bypass the Tap & Go screen during setup, and enter your Google login and password. Then go grab a tasty beverage while your data downloads to your new phone or tablet. Tap OK when prompted on your old phone, and sign in to your Google account. Simply touch the backs of both devices to each other until you hear a beep. If your old and new device has NFC - a short-range wireless technology - a feature called Tap & Go allows you to transfer your apps and settings wirelessly via Bluetooth. But Android Lollipop helps simplify the process in two different ways. You never know if all your apps are going to download to the new model, and you have to customize all your settings again. If you’ve ever switched between Android devices before, you know that the set-up process can be a pain. But there is a lot more to the OS, so in this column, I’ve included some other settings and functions that will help you get the most out of Android Lollipop.
Lollipop (Google names each major OS update after a sweet treat) is a massive overhaul of the platform, and I briefly mentioned some of the new features in my review of the Nexus 6. It is available on the new Nexus devices, and the update is beginning to roll out to other models, such as the older Nexus products and the latest Moto phones. Google’s latest mobile operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop, is slowly making its way to the masses.