Lollipop is the dessert-themed Android codename for the 5.0 update of the open source Android mobile operating system. Lollipop debuted in November 2014 as the successor to the “KitKat” Android release.
What’s New in Android Lollipop
The most noticeable change in Android Lollipop 5.0 is an enhanced user interface called Material Design that utilizes bright colors, layering and subtle shadows to improve the overall user experience. The new Material Design interface is complemented by feature additions like multiple user support and a guest user account option, a new notification system, support for 64-bit CPUs, Project Volta for delivering battery life improvements, and more.
Continuity across Android devices is another key development in Android Lollipop. The new mobile operating system automatically transfers information and provides seamless integration between Android Lollipop smartphones, tablets, Android Wear and other mobile devices.
Lollipop follows a number of earlier updates for Android, including Cupcake (v1.5), Donut (v1.6), Eclair (v2.0), FroYo (v2.2), Gingerbread (v2.3), Honeycomb (v3.0), Ice Cream Sandwich (v4.0), Jelly Bean (v4.1, v4.2 and v4.3) and KitKat (v4.4).
See also “An Introduction to Mobile Devices” in the Quick Reference section of Webopedia.