Around the Phandroid offices, we like to refer to Android 5.1 as the real Lollipop update, patching up bugs and improving UI weirdness. It’s the update Android 5.0 should have been. For Motorola fans, it’s been a sort of roller coaster with the company quick to push out updates to some devices (Moto X 2014), while leaving others out in the cold (Moto X 2013).
It seems the manufacturer is finally ready to unleash a world of Lollipop lovin’ to both versions of the Moto X, with new Android 5.1 release notes posted onto their support site. Even the Moto E (2nd Gen) is tagging along, with 5.1 notes for that device showing up as well. The changelog lists all sorts of changes and improvements, with new security features, performance enhancements, and of course, a healthy helping of bug fixes that were introduced in 5.1. The full list can be found below.
Notifications & Interruptions
- Block interruptions until your next alarm. This choice will show only when you have an alarm set within the next 12 hours. It will prevent you from missing an alarm when you choose ‘No interruptions’.
- You can choose to enter a scheduled downtime early. For example, if you are going to bed early and change your notification settings, you can choose “Until your downtime ends”. This option will be visible when within 4 hours of the scheduled start of your downtime.
- Adds icons to the volume settings panel that match those that will show in the status bar (None, Priority).
- You can now alter notification volume controls while media is playing. With the volume controls showing, a tap on the bell icon will bring up notification volume controls.
Heads-up Notifications – In addition to dismissing a heads-up notification, you can now swipe it up to remove it from your screen. It will remain in your notifications tray and you can dismiss it later.
Quick Settings – You can quickly select different Wi-Fi access points or different paired Bluetooth devices with a new pull-down menu on each tile. Conditional settings tiles that only show if you use the feature – like “Invert Colors” or “Hotspot” – can now be hidden via a long-press on the tile.
Camera – Reduces noise in low-light shots and improves responsiveness of the viewfinder with the front-facing camera (selfie).
Device Protection – Lost or stolen devices will remain locked until you sign in with your Google account, even if reset to factory settings. Note that you must have a Google account on the device to automatically enable this feature and set a PIN, password or pattern screen lock.
Performance – Improvements in the Android Runtime (ART) lead to faster application launch times.
Lockscreen – If you have enabled Ambient Display, the minimum swipe distance has increased to reduce accidental interactions.
Bug Fixes
Issues fixed in this release include:
- Clock in the status bar isn’t updating and alarms are not going off
- Can’t delete SMS messages when the SIM card is full
- No ringer audio while making an outgoing call
- Calculator floating point calculations
- Chrome crashes on launch
- Frequent restarts while watching Netflix
- Wi-Fi will not automatically reconnect to your home Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi not connecting after being idle all night
- Wi-Fi connection issues with multiple routers in one location
- Bluetooth discovery is not triggered when you refresh settings
- CPU wakelocks that contribute to heavier battery drain
- Connection and synchronization issues with MS Exchange servers
- Incorrect default APN
- Can’t unlock the SIM with a PIN/PUK code
- Can’t play ‘pinned’ content
- General stability improvements
At the time of writing we have release notes for the original Motorola Moto X, Motorola Moto X 2014 (Pure Edition and AT&T models), and the Motorola Moto E 2015. It doesn’t seem the rollout has started quite yet, but you can rest assured it’s just around the corner. Anyone excited?
[Motorola 1, 2, 3, 4]
