Android version 6.0 1. Updating Android: how to update to a new version, rollback? Guide in details. Updating Android firmware manually

Now that Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow has arrived on several smartphones and tablets, users are rightly wondering what's new in the update. In this review, we're going to take a closer look at all the changes. Most Android tablet owners are still waiting, but earlier this month, Google has already rolled out another version of the OS. The update hit the masses back in December 2015, and here's what you need to know.

Earlier this month, Google announced and later released the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update, but did not reveal much about the new update. The developer only announced that the update will improve performance, stability and include several security patches to increase the overall level of protection for your device. However, we do know that the update also includes over 200 new emojis, a change to Do Not Disturb controls, and more.

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For those who are using one of the newer Nexus smartphones or tablets and are among the first to receive the Android 6.0.1 update, or who will eventually see the update, below we offer a detailed breakdown of the update's new features.

Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow isn't the biggest update. There are a few new features, some small changes, some bugs have been fixed, but for the most part this is just a small update fixing the bugs of the original Marshmallow. Currently, the update has been released on tablets and, as well as smartphones Nexus 5, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P.

Below we are going to discuss in detail everything we know about updates and additional update features. All said and done, the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update doesn't cause too many problems and is an update that we strongly recommend installing.

Android 6.0.1 Update: What's New?

The update to Android 6.0.1 is a small (0.0.1) increase in the Android version, which means there isn't much going on. However, the update includes changes and bug fixes that users will want to know about, including new features and additions that will be useful for all Android tablets. You can find a complete list of changes on Google, and below we will analyze all the features of the update in a simple form.

Android 6.0.1 Update: New Smilies

The most important update that all users have noticed is the new emoji in Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Google officially confirmed this update back in November last year and then again in early December 2015, and there are currently over 200 new emojis built into the original Android. No more downloads of third-party content and third-party keyboards.

After Apple added about 150 emojis in iOS 9.1, Google went even further and surpassed the competition by adding over 200 emojis to Android, giving users a wider choice. The emoji are available in the original Google keyboard, but you need Android 6.0.1 and a system level update to get them as they are built into the font as well.

Android 6.0.1 Update: Quick Launch Camera

A popular feature on almost all Android smartphones in 2015, the ability to quickly launch the camera. For example, double-clicking the Home button on the Galaxy S6, wrist shake on the Moto X, and other examples.

LG (Google) Nexus 5X and Huawei (Google) Nexus 6P each offer a new function, users only need to press the power button twice, which will immediately launch the camera app. This solution works even when the smartphone is turned off, even locked, as well as during use. It takes about a second to launch the application.

This solution is now built into Android and works on all devices running Android 6.0.1, including the aging Nexus 5, Nexus 6 and tablets like the Nexus 9 or. You can now take photos faster with the latest Android.

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Android 6.0.1 Update: Do Not Disturb and Volume Control

Google introduces unified volume control system with Bluetooth support. This way, when you connect Bluetooth accessories such as an external speaker, wireless headphones, or connect a device to a car, you no longer have to turn up the volume on the two devices. For example, on the phone and speaker. One volume control works for both devices. This is a welcome update and is quite effective, although we've heard of select accessories that don't support this feature.

Then, with, Google introduced a new Do Not Disturb option. to adjust the volume. This option allows owners to set a mode where notifications can get in the way. You can also select priority contacts that can still ring even in this silent mode, and there is also the option to set Do Not Disturb until the next alarm. As the name suggests, the devices will not beep until the next alarm. Because nobody wants to be late for work by setting their smartphone to Do Not Disturb!

This mode was removed from Android 6.0 but returned to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow. Now there are new options that allow you to turn off the mode at a certain moment, and not just with the next alarm.

Tablet interface

There is one other small change that does not seem to work for all tablets, but some may see image improvements. The Tablet UI offers a slightly redesigned Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with the Home, Back, and Multitasking buttons shifted to the side, making them easier to access on tablets. Instead of staying in the center, where they are difficult enough to reach. This solution was used on the new Google Pixel C tablet, but was not implemented on the Nexus 7 or Nexus 9. This solution may remain individual for the Google Pixel C or for large 10-inch tablets. We're not sure, but we'll find out soon.

MMS messages errors

With Android 6.0 Marshmallow, many users (mainly the older Nexus 5 and Nexus 6) have experienced problems sending picture messages, MMS. For some reason, MMS did not go through, and if messages were sent, the received images were not loaded. Google has fixed the issue with the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update, although we have evidence that occasionally issues still occur. Anyway, expect improvements with Android 6.0.1.

Backlog "Copy" and "Paste"

Android 6.0 offered a much-needed change like the ability for users to choose what to copy and paste, be it even single words or sentences. Whereas earlier you had a sliding slider that was awkward and difficult, now the selection is formed by words, and in the opposite direction you get a character transition for added precision.

However, after double-clicking or long-pressing to trigger a selection, the floating toolbar (to select an action) often lagged behind. Thus, users were forced to wait before copying text. This slight lag has been fixed, as have the positioning errors of the pop-up toolbar. This is just one of many hands-on performance fixes with the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update.

Security patches

With the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google promised users to release an update once a month, roughly every 4-5 weeks, on all Nexus smartphones and tablets, improving their overall security. These patches are designed to fix problems and make all devices safer. Many manufacturers, including Samsung, have joined Google in promising to do the same to keep users and their devices safe.

Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update also includes a monthly security update, for example, with the release of the update, you may have seen the December security update, so users do not have to wait for small updates later.

We receive many questions about this update, but the simplest answer is yes, you must install the OTA update to Android 6.0.1. This is a small, bug fix, performance and security update that is a must for every owner.

We've already received reports of small bugs here and there, but nothing that would make us recommend that users refrain from installing Android 6.0.1 and stay on 6.0. The Nexus series smartphones and tablets received an update back in December, and now, a few months later, most flagships are already getting the latest version of Android now. And while there may be minor deviations in the update from smartphone to smartphone, we will definitely provide updated information.

More than 80 percent of smartphones around the world run on the operating system, but not all owners are aware of all the hidden functions that the phone has. Of course, since its inception, OC has undergone many changes, and several interesting features have been added that are not easy to find at first glance. We will tell you about some of them.

Easter egg

All versions of Android have a so-called "Easter egg". In the latest version of Android, it was a game like Flappy Bird with obstacles in the form of candy.

In order to see the Easter egg, you need to go to "Settings", then "About phone" and then click on the Android version several times until the screen with the desktop background appears. Continuing to tap in a circle, the game will open.

Other versions of the "green robot" have something similar, but the arcade game is only in Lollipop.

Chrome browser has its own "Easter egg", both desktop and mobile. It looks like this. When you don't have an internet connection, you see a page with a corresponding message. Just above it is a virtual dinosaur made of pixels. So, if you press the screen, a small toy will start - an obstacle course.

Disable preinstalled applications

Most devices have a pre-installed set of applications that cannot be removed from the system without resorting to root. It is likely that you do not use some of them, but nevertheless they constantly make themselves felt with notifications and updates. You cannot remove such programs, as we have already said, but you can disable them. Yes, they will still take up space, but at least they will not be active.

To do this, go to "Settings", then "Applications" and select the program. On the next screen there will be a "Disable" button, by tapping on which you "freeze" the application. If you still ever need it, just go to the same menu again and click the "Enable" button.

The only thing to keep in mind is that disabling some of these programs may affect the work of others.

Open the quick access menu bypassing the menu with notifications

A very simple gesture that, oddly enough, many do not know. We are used to swiping down from the top panel to open a menu with notifications. If you do the same thing again, you will see a quick access menu. The trick is that you can access the latter directly, bypassing the previous one. To do this, you just need to initially swipe not with one finger, but with two.

Developer options

A special screen contains such interesting functions in terms of system control, such as USB debugging, displaying clicks on the display, setting the delay time for opening new windows, etc.

To access these parameters, go to "Settings", then "About phone" and 10 times in a row tap on the build number. After that, a new tab will appear in the settings - a menu with options for developers.

What other non-obvious Android tricks do you know?

Based on materials from News

Several hidden features of Android Dmitry Borovskikh

At first glance, Android may seem like an extremely simple operating system, but it (especially in the latest versions) has many hidden features and settings that can make your life much easier. So before you run to get root and install tons of software on your smartphone, it would be better to familiarize yourself with this functionality.

Safe mode

Android has a so-called safe mode. Working in this mode, the operating system disables all applications installed by the user, so it can save you if you suddenly infected your smartphone with a screen lock. To activate, just press the shutdown button until the Power off button appears, and then hold your finger on it. The smartphone will reboot.

Safe Mode: Third Party Apps Disabled

Black list

Blacklisting numbers have always been a stumbling block for Android users. The system itself does not provide such capabilities, and the applications available in the market implement blocking numbers through dirty hacks and not always correctly (most of these applications simply pretend to be a third-party dialer who picks up the phone and immediately hangs up).

However, blocking can also be obtained in stock Android, for this you just need to send unwanted subscribers to voicemail. To do this, tap on the desired contact, then click the edit icon ("pencil"), then the menu and select the item "Voice only. post office". There, by the way, you can set a separate ringtone for the subscriber.

Quick replies

The so-called quick replies are a function that allows you to quickly send SMS in response to a call. By default, four responses are available such as "I can't speak", "I'll call you back." But it's pretty boring and mundane. If you want something more creative, response templates can be edited: "Phone -\u003e menu -\u003e Settings -\u003e Quick replies".

Little tricks

• To change the case of letters or to make words or sentences begin with a capital letter in an already entered message, just select the message and press the Shift key until the desired result is obtained.
• On Android 5/6, quick settings can be accessed by pulling out the shutter with two fingers.
• You can quickly enable vibration mode in Android 5/6 by pressing the volume key, and then tapping on the icon on the left side of the slider that appears.
• Android has a screen magnifier. To enable it, go to “Settings -\u003e Special. features -\u003e Gestures to zoom. " Now any part of the screen can be enlarged by tapping on it three times.
• To turn off the automatic creation of icons on the desktop, launch the Play Store, go to the settings and uncheck the "Add icons" item.

Android has a settings section completely invisible and unknown to most users with additional Wi-Fi options. To get to it, you need to go to "Settings -\u003e Wi-Fi", then press the menu key and select "Additional functions". Here you can turn off notifications about detected networks, turn off Wi-Fi in sleep mode (I do not recommend: working in passive mode, the Wi-Fi module consumes less battery than when you turn it on / off), prohibit the use of Wi-Fi networks with a bad signal and configure Wi-Fi Direct (direct device pairing without using an access point).

Disable sync

By default, Android enables auto-sync (push notifications) with all services added to the Settings -\u003e Accounts section. First of all, this is a Google account, as well as Skype and other services. You may not need most types of synchronization (for example, Google+ synchronization), so it is better to turn them off, you can do all at once by clicking on the three dots at the top and unchecking the "Auto-sync data" item. And only some types of data are possible: we poke on one of the accounts, select an account and remove (or put) the checkboxes.

Disabling stock applications

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There are many android versions, for example, 6.0, 5.1, 6.0 1, 4.4, 4.4 2, 5.0, 4.2 2, 7.0, 5.1 1 and there will be even more.

Each new developer adds something, removes something, modifies something and hides something, so to speak, hides.

There are hidden codes for all android versions. I will not mention them here, but who is interested and will get acquainted with them.

Here we will no longer talk about hidden secret functions, but about the unknown to the majority, which is almost the same thing.

In this post, I will present a set of interesting tips and tricks for Android smartphone or tablet users.

Using them you will be able to use your device easier and more efficiently. Perhaps you also know some tricks, then share with me and the readers in the comments.

Hidden function to download maps and use them offline

The mobile network can be tricky and if you want to be pleasantly surprised by the GPS navigation, you can prepare for this turn of events.

In Maps, select Share Online from the drop-down menu.

Then you only need to select a specific area of \u200b\u200bthe map that you want to download and then stamp "Done".

As a result, fragments of the map downloaded to the phone can be used even without connecting to a mobile network.

Find your lost phone function

Android does not have its own application used to locate a lost or stolen phone, so you have to use third-party applications.

One of these applications is "Find Lost Phone", which allows not only showing the exact location of our phone on a map, but also displaying any message on the screen (you can download it from the play market).

For example, contact information or even block the phone with a code so that an unauthorized person cannot have access to its contents.

Function to get a refund of the purchased application

Not everyone knows, but if you purchased (bought) an application on the play market, and it does not meet your expectations, you can return it and get your money back.

This is possible within 15 minutes after purchase. This is enough time to determine if the application will be useful for you or not.

To get a refund, go to the app page in the play market and select a refund.

Secret feature developer options

This item in the setup menu is intended primarily for software developers.

It allows you to include the necessary tools while testing new applications. However, you can find there which you can then use successfully.

These include, for example, determining the duration of the animation for transitions between open windows or applications.

In order to have access, go to the settings menu, and then go to the information about the phone and touch seven times in a row the parameter build number.

Hidden Flappy Bird feature

As in the case of Android 5.0 and Marshmallow 6.0, Google decided to hide a very simple Flappy Bird game in the operating system.

In order to be able to play it you must go to the "Settings" menu, go to "About phone", select "Software information" and quickly click on "Android version".

In the window that opens, you need to touch this item several times, and then press and hold the Zephyr logo.

Android function remote control

Android has a built-in infrared "Blaster" feature that allows your mobile phone to act as a remote control for your TV.

For example, in cases when you have lost it or it will simply be too lazy to get up and take it off the table, which most often happens.

To do this, you need to download the application from the play market as a remote control. A lot of them.

There are universal ones, but it is best to take them for your TV model, since universal ones may not meet expectations, although they are often fully functional.

Secret function to control a computer or laptop through an android device

You may not have heard, but a laptop or computer (if there is bluetooth or Wi-Fi) can be controlled through an android device.

To do this, download two programs, one on your PC, the other on your phone. A lot of them. For example, I use "Mouse Lite" and it does not let me down.

Important contact button function

Android allows you to display a contact on the home screen in order to quickly contact an important person, for example, a business partner.

This can be done using the built-in widget, which is enough to move to the main screen of the phone.

On some HTC phones (like HTC One), by default, this widget contains links to four contacts.

There is a way to get around this and expose only one contact. To do this, go to the general list of widgets, select Shortcuts → a person, and then select the contact from the list that you want to see on the home screen.

Of course, these are not all hidden secret functions. Some are only accessible through undisclosed codes, especially regarding tracking you.

I just gave a small selection of built-in and modified by outside enthusiasts. Add yours - we will always be glad to know. Good luck.

In Android, as in any other mobile operating system, many functions do not lie on the surface, but are hidden somewhere in the settings. Sometimes we don't use useful features just because we don't know about their existence. This article contains 10 simple features that few people use, but after getting to know them, it is impossible to refuse such a set of features.

1. Turn on hidden settings

It just sounds a little scary to activate developer settings. In fact, everything is as easy as shelling pears, but the set of functions after such a step appears huge: USB debugging, disabling animation, increasing the performance of the GPU in games and many other features.

Go to "Settings", then "About phone" and seven times click on the build number. The corresponding item will appear in the menu.

2. We record video from the screen

In certain situations, you may need to not only take a screenshot, but also record what is happening on the screen. For example, for a training video and for a visual demonstration of the process. To do this, you just need to download the corresponding program from Google Play. The free Rec. (Screen Recorder) app, for example, does a great job.

3. Simplifying the unlocking process

Smart Lock is a standout feature. Thanks to this function, you can unlock the device quickly and easily using pre-configured "trusted devices" (Bluetooth headset, smart watch, etc.), by location (at home, in the office), by face or voice.

To activate the mode, go to "Settings", then to "Security" and after "SmartLock".

4. Find applications that slow down the system

Detailed statistics on running processes is one of the available features for developers. Here you can see which program consumes the most RAM and, if necessary, force it to close.

5. System magnifier

In the settings, in the "Accessibility" item, there is a very interesting possibility in the form of changing the scale. After activating the corresponding item ("Gestures to increase"), with a triple tap, the information on the display can be increased or decreased. Works regardless of which application you are in.

6. Search without touching the screen

Perhaps, thanks to the active promotion of the chip, everyone knows about "Ok Google". You can simply speak your queries from any screen (even off), and the system will automatically convert your voice to text and provide search results.

To activate "Ok Google", go to "Google Settings", then "Search and Suggestions", then "Voice Search" and finally "Recognition" Ok Google ". Don't forget to set the "From All Applications" slider. Note also that the voice search when the screen is off only works when the device is charging.

7. Play text by voice

Playing text by voice is another useful feature that makes it easier to interact with the device without touching it. For example, if you are very busy and do not have time to sit and read an article, you can simply install the text-to-speech generation and go about your business.

To activate, you need to go to "Settings" and find the item "Accessibility". It is also worth making sure that the correct sound package is installed on the device.

8. Modem mode

It is not at all necessary to buy a separate device (a 3G modem, for example, or a tablet with support for SIM cards) to access the Internet. Your smartphone may well act as an access point.

9. We transfer data to a new phone without problems

If your phone has an NFC module, then you're in luck. Thanks to the Tap & Go function, in the future it will not be difficult to transfer all data from your old device to a new one. To do this, simply place two NFC-enabled phones next to each other.

10. We save mobile traffic

In the standard Lollipop browser, Google Chrome has a wonderful feature in the form of saving traffic, which is very useful for users who do not have an unlimited Internet package at their disposal.

Open Google Chrome, click on the three dots on the top right and go to "Settings". There you will find the "Save Traffic" option. Sites may start loading a little slower, but the consumption of megabytes will decrease several times.

Which of these features do you typically use? Perhaps you have something to add?

Based on materials from News

10 Curious Android Features You Should Know About Dmitry Borovskikh

It seems that Google decided to change the Android numbering principle and now the first digit will change once a year, Android 6 Marshmallow was presented at the Google I / O conference on May 28, 2015. The first devices with the release version of the OS on board were two representatives of the Nexus line: Huawei Nexus 6P and LG Nexus 5X. Android 6 feels like a slightly tweaked version of Android 5.x Lollipop, but digging deeper reveals a few major changes.

Attention: the review mainly deals with the features of the user interface of the smartphone OS version. The review is written based on the firmware with Android 6.0.1 installed on. This review is also the basic material for our site, in future reviews of branded skins for Android from third-party manufacturers, references to this article will be made.

Lock screen

The device can be woken up by pressing the Power button, double-tapping the screen, or simply picking it up, for the latter two methods you need support at the hardware level. Unlocking the smartphone is done by swiping from bottom to top in any part of the screen, which is easy to do on the go and without looking. You can protect yourself from unauthorized access to the device in several ways: set unlocking by Pattern Key; set a password or PIN; or through the Smart Lock function, which allows you to unlock the device when connected to a watch, a Bluetooth headset in the car, by an NFC tag, or by recognizing the owner's face or voice. The current OS version has added native support for the fingerprint scanner. If unlocking by fingerprint is enabled, then the device does not even need to be woken up first, it is enough to bring the registered finger to the scanner and the system will bypass the lock screen and show the desktop. There is one more nuance, you can unblock the device by changing the account to the guest account, if one is included in the system (by default).

The lock screen displays: the status bar - it contains the operator's name, indicators of the cellular network signal, Wi-Fi and the battery level (without the ability to display the charge in percent); User information; clock, day of the week and date. In the center of the screen, under the clock, a list of missed events is displayed, ranked by importance based on who they came from and from which application, previously all missed events fell into the notification shade. If your smartphone is password-protected, you will need to choose one of three options for displaying information on the locked screen: Show notifications in full, Hide personal information, or Do not show notifications.

From the lock screen, you can launch the Camera or Voice Search by swiping from the corresponding icons to the side, or lower the notification curtain with a swipe from the top of the screen. Interaction with the list of notifications is as follows: double tap on any notification will send the user to the corresponding application; Swiping left or right removes the notification; Swiping down from a notification reveals an event preview window, which may contain buttons to quickly interact with that event, such as Reply and Delete for an email. In the preview window, below the list, there is a button to delete all notifications.

Desktop, multitasking and notifications

The main working space was and remains the desktop, which scrolls horizontally. The system has retained a separate application menu, which can be accessed from any desktop by clicking on a non-removable shortcut in the lower dock. In addition to this shortcut, the lower dock can contain up to 4 arbitrary application shortcuts or folders with shortcuts. The application menu contains a search bar, a bar of favorite applications and icons of all pre-installed and third-party applications, while the desktop contains only those shortcuts that the user himself added.

One desktop can contain up to 25 application shortcuts in a 5 * 5 grid, in addition to shortcuts on the desktop, widgets and folders with shortcuts can be located. A folder can contain an unlimited number of shortcuts, but only 16 are displayed at a time, no other folders or widgets can be placed in the folder. Having hooked any shortcut, folder or widget with a long tap, you can move it across the desktops or delete it by dragging it onto the "Delete" button. To add a shortcut to the desktop, you need to go to the applications menu and, having hooked the application with the same long tap, move it to the desktop. If you move an application to the “Remove” icon that appears on top, the system will prompt the user to remove this application; if you move it to the “About application” icon, the system will send the user to the corresponding menu. In this menu, you can stop the application, delete or reset its data, including system associations, from here you can also delete the cache of this application.

The menu for managing desktop settings is invoked by a long tap on any free area of \u200b\u200bthe screen. The menu contains three items: WALLPAPERS - allows you to change the desktop picture; WIDGETS - needed to add widgets to the desktop; and SETTINGS - a shortcut leading to the Google Now settings.

The multitasking menu is invoked by clicking on the corresponding button. The list of running applications is displayed as cards arranged one after another and scrolls vertically. Some applications can be represented by several cards, for example, in the case of Google Chrome, a separate card is assigned to each browser tab. The application is closed by clicking on the corresponding button or swiping to the sides, there is no dedicated memory clear button, but based on the principles of multitasking in Android, it is not necessary. To date, the mechanics of multitasking in Android looks nice: firstly, returning to the previous application, for example, when the user left the Vkontakte application by clicking on the link, is done with the back button on the screen, while the multitasking menu does not need to be called; secondly, the call of the multitasking menu itself is made in one tap.

The principles of working with notifications were seriously revised back in Android 5.0. First, a list of interactive notifications appeared on the lock screen. Secondly, the classic interface of an incoming call in full screen appears only if the device is locked, in all other cases, with an incoming call, a small card appears on top with information about who is calling and two buttons: “Close” and “Answer”. But the interface for selecting notification modes, which appeared in the fifth version of Android, has been greatly simplified, if after the volume of notifications is turned to a minimum, press the button again, then the “Do not disturb” mode is activated. You can change the behavior of your smartphone in Do Not Disturb mode in the appropriate section in the Settings application. Added the ability to change the volume separately for the alarm clock and multimedia in the interface.

Controls, keyboard

Controlling a smartphone in Google Android 6.0 Marshmallow implies the presence of a power button, volume control buttons and three on-screen buttons: Back, Home and Multitasking Menu - it is permissible for the on-screen buttons to be placed on the body in the form of touch or mechanical buttons; besides, swipes and long tap are actively used. Voice control is widely used, the user can use the phrase “Okay Google” from any screen, including a locked one (requires hardware support), initiate voice control and then dictate a command or search query.

An important role in the interaction with the device is played by the notification curtain combined with the switch panel. It is called with a swipe from the top edge of the screen or a double tap on the status bar, if you make another swipe from top to bottom, but in any part of the screen, the switch panel will open; to immediately open the switch panel, you need to make the same swipe, but with two fingers. The switch panel is not configurable, it contains 9 switches and a slider to adjust the brightness of the screen.

The system keyboard looks flat by default: the keys are not visually separated in any way, and the main gamut has changed from dark to light, but the principle of its operation remains the same. In the keyboard settings, you can change the gamma to dark or select the keyboard view from Android 4.x. The ability to install keyboards from third-party developers has not gone anywhere. The dialer remains the same.

Search and Google Now

Traditionally, the system has deep integration with Google search, or to be precise with the personalized Google Now search service, which provides information in the form of cards based on context: current location, calendar information, search history, travel history, history of visited pages, etc. e. The assistant is launched by scrolling to the left of the main desktop, and a non-removable search bar is located at the top of all desktops. In addition, the search can be initiated from any screen by dictating a query after the phrase “Ok Google”.

In the sixth version of Android, the service has acquired the “Now on Tap” function: when you long press the Home button, the system scans the contents of the current screen and, based on its contents, issues interactive prompts (starting from Android 6.0.1 it also works in Russian localization of the system). Hints are presented in the form of cards, one for each keyword, cards contain buttons or links to sites, social network profiles, etc. At the time of this writing, the function still looks crude, Now on Tap often doesn't see the obvious context or doesn't work at all, but it has serious potential for development.

Settings

In the application Settings you can get there: by clicking on the icon in the application menu (or on the desktop) or through the icon in the switch panel. All smartphone settings are grouped into 4 groups: Wireless networks, Device, Personal data and System; and are divided into 22 sections:

1. WI-FI - the main screen of the section contains a W-Fi switch, a list of available networks and a button that calls additional functions:
2. Bluetooth - the main screen of the section contains a Bluetooth switch, a list of available devices with the ability to search by name and a button calling additional functions:
3. Data transfer - the main screen of the section contains: the Mobile data switch; mobile traffic limit switch with the ability to set a limit and warning; detailed statistics on traffic usage by applications with a choice of period; and a button that calls additional functions:
   
4. Also - additional settings for wireless networks.
5. Screen
6. Sounds and notifications
7. Applications - the main screen of the section contains a list of all applications installed on the smartphone.
8. Storage and USB drives - the main screen of the section contains statistics for the permanent memory and the Open button, which sends it to the simplest file manager.
   
9. Battery - the main screen of the section contains: current charge level in percent; estimated remaining battery life; basic statistics on the use of battery power by various applications and devices; and a button that calls additional functions:
   
10. Memory - the main screen of the section displays brief information about the use of RAM. An additional screen displays more detailed statistics for different periods of time for applications and services.
    
11. Users - the main screen of the section contains a list of users with the ability to add new ones and a button that calls additional functions:
    
12. Contactless payment - in this section you can set up payment via NFC. The system is preinstalled with Android Pay, it is also installed as a default payment service.
13. Location
14. Safety
15. Accounts - contains a list of accounts entered into the device with the ability to delete and add new ones
    
16. Google settings - a section that contains all the settings of a user's Google account
17. Language and input
18. Restore and reset - this section exists to reset the device to factory settings with the ability to back up all data
19. date and time
20. Specialist. features - here are collected functions to facilitate interaction with the device for people with disabilities
    
21. Print - displays a list of print services and allows you to add new ones
    
22. About phone

Basic applications

Telephone - on the main screen of the application are displayed: a search bar with buttons for voice search and calling the application settings, below, a button for calling the dialer. The Speed \u200b\u200bDial tab contains cards of frequently dialed contacts, the Recents tab contains a list of recent calls, the Contacts tab - all contacts, respectively. In the application settings, you can manage templates of quick responses and the list of blocked subscribers.

Contacts Is an application for working with user contacts. In terms of functionality, it is no different from the Contacts tab in the Phone application.

Messenger - the main screen of the application contains a list of dialogs, search buttons, settings and create a new message. The application looks as simple as possible and has primitive functionality. From the unusual, I note how the application assigns its own unique primary color to each dialog.

Gmail - starting from the 5th version of Android, the main application for working with email becomes Gmail... Now you can add mailboxes to it not only from Google, but also from other mail services. The main screen displays a list of letters, search buttons, settings and create a new message. A swipe from the left edge of the screen brings up the sidebar, which contains a list of folders and a shortcut to settings. The settings are as simple as possible.

Google chrome - is the system default browser. A feature of its work is the ability to set the display of tabs in the multitasking menu as separate cards. Otherwise, this is the usual Chrome. The advantages of this browser include integration with Google services and ample opportunities for synchronizing tabs, forms, passwords, etc., the disadvantages are imperfect user interface and gluttony of system resources.

Clock - includes: alarm clock, world clock, stopwatch and timer; added Night mode.

Camera - the application interface has been seriously redesigned. The main screen houses the viewfinder and buttons for shutter release, switching to the front camera, gallery, turning on the timer, activating the flash, switching the HDR + mode and Advanced. Switch between photo and video shooting modes by swiping to the side. In addition to the main shooting mode, there are three more: Circular panorama - allows you to create photos with an overview of 180 ° in all axes, Panorama - allows you to create panoramic photos with a viewing angle of up to 360 ° in the horizontal or vertical plane, Blur - allows you to create photos with an artificial bokeh effect ...

Google photos Is a client application of the service of the same name from Google, at the same time it acts as a system gallery.

The calendar - the main view of the application is the Schedule, where all events go in one list, which is interesting: the beginning of each month in this list is titled with a nice picture reflecting the main essence of this month. To look at a month, you need to tap on the name of the current month in the header. The view can be changed to Day, 3 Days, Week and Month. The button for adding an event is displayed in the lower right corner.

Calculator - has standard functionality. In portrait orientation, a panel with additional functions (sin, cos, tan, ln, etc.) is invoked by swiping from the right edge of the screen, in landscape orientation this panel is always visible.

Cards Is a client application for Google Maps. The main screen contains a search bar and buttons: a side menu button, a voice search button, a north orientation button, a current location button and a route creation button. There are buttons in the side menu: button for displaying traffic jams, public transport routes, bike paths, satellite view, terrain; and a link to the page of the "Planet Earth" application in the Play Store. The “Your Places” section displays your home and work addresses and favorites. From here, you can save the selected area of \u200b\u200bthe map to the phone memory for further use of the application in offline mode. The section "Timeline" keeps a log of user movements. The section “Your impressions” contains reviews about public places: restaurants, shopping centers, beauty salons, etc.

Downloads - the simplest download manager.

Branded applications

Play Store Is an app store client and main branded app from Google. It purchases, installs and updates third-party applications. The Games and Applications section is a virtual showcase that displays various product collections, for example, Latest or Most Popular Games, in the form of application thumbnails leading the corresponding selection and links to the entire list. The "Entertainment" section is also a virtual showcase, but films, music, books and press are also presented on it in the form of selections and banners. For the convenience of the user, the section “My applications” consists of two lists: Installed and All. The "Wishlist" section shows all products that the user has ever marked as desired.

Play Games Is a client application of the service of the same name. The "Home" section displays basic data about the user: name, level, how many experience points you need to gain to move to the next level. Lists of games are displayed below: recommended games, games played by the user and what friends are playing. The My Games section contains three tabs: Recent, All and Installed. The "Inbox" section in three tabs displays a list of invitations, a list of gifts and requests, and a list of quests. The "Players" section in two tabs displays a list of Added players and a list of Acquaintances - friends of friends. The "Find games" section also contains three tabs: Recommended, Popular and Online games.

Play Music Is a music player and, at the same time, a client of the cloud music service of the same name. The "Home" section displays a list of the user's recent actions: listened to or purchased tracks. The "My Music Library" section displays all the user's tracks, purchased or downloaded from a computer, sorted in tabs by playlist, artist, album or genre. There is an interesting function “Automixes”, it greatly simplifies the creation of playlists from a large number of tracks, to create an automix it is enough to specify the name of the artist, album or genre, and the application will create a new playlist by itself. There is also a link to the Play Store in the side menu. the purchase of tracks is made only from it.

Almost after the announcement of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for Xperia devices, Sony has finally released the long-awaited update.

In Russia and the CIS countries, the Android 6.0 update for the Xperia Z5, Xperia Z5 Premium and Xperia Z3 + has been released yet, while the owners of other devices, including the Xperia Z5 Compact and Xperia C5 Ultra, had to wait an indefinite period.

I must admit that waiting so long for the Russian firmware for the Xperia Z5 Compact turned out to be too tiring for me, so it was decided to download the assembly for the Baltic countries and Northern Europe and install (reflash) it myself. I note right away that the firmware of this region is practically no different from the PCT, the Russian language, of course, is present. Therefore, there is no point in waiting.

UPDATE: there was fresh information about the Android 7.0 Nougat update for Sony Xperia devices (you can find out which smartphones will receive the update).

Also there was information about the Marshmallow update for, and. Click on the links of the models.

For those who are not in the know, it is very easy to do this using the Flashtool utilities. For instructions on flashing Xperia, see here:

Flashtool instruction

External shell changes based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow

External changes are always more noticeable than software ones, so let's start with them. Moreover, a lot has been changed on the little things

New status bar Is the first thing you notice. System icon icons are different, more similar to the standard ones from Android Marshmallow. Looking ahead, I must say that there will be a lot of such changes in the direction of the stock android.

Shutter and quick setting menu received new animations, and the animations themselves became larger and now they are smoother and longer lasting.

Open applications menu. Noticeably smoother scrolling.

Change the volume.A minimalistic menu for working with the volume of the device, the design is almost like in the stock Android 6.0. Changing the volume has become more convenient and faster.

Numerous minor changes. New system icons in the desktop editing menu, new animations, etc.

New Settings / Standard Applications

Despite the fact that after a first glance at the Settings and standard applications of the new Android 6.0 Marshmallow firmware it may seem that there are no special changes, but this is not so. They are there and are worth paying attention to.

Energy saving... In the first update based on Android 6.0, everything related to Stamina and Ultra Stamina disappeared. Instead, there is a standard power saving mode. After Sony's Stamina, Google's solution looks too simple, it's good that Stamina will reappear in the next updates.

data usage... We have redone this built-in application, I must say, for the better. The design has become clearer and more logical.

Topics... Completely redesigned this application. Now there we are waiting for a pleasantly animated dozing cat with a smeared tail. The developers never tire of reminding that there are many skins available for Xperia devices.

Settings - Memory... There is also a new, laconic design here. Simplified, but done it wisely.

First turn on. Completely new greeting and initial settings.

Telephone... A whole bunch of small but noticeable changes in the design of the dialer application.

Messages.Similar to the ringer, there have been many changes to the Messages design. The most significant is the MMS stickers and the convenient file sharing panel.

The calendar. New branded Xperia calendar. Neatly decorated, there is nothing to complain about.

Camera... The proprietary camera application did not undergo any special changes in terms of design, but it received new functionality in the form of a swipe to switch camera modes (Super Auto, Manual, Video, etc.). By the way, the build number has changed from version 2.0.0 to 1.0.C.1.2. It is difficult to say for now if there have been any changes in the speed of the camera and its quality of shooting. Later I will make a separate article about the camera.

Allow app... A new feature of Android Marshmallow, which allows you to more accurately control the actions of any applications installed on the phone.

Working speed / Working time

To be honest, I didn't really believe that after the update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow something would change significantly in terms of performance. But luckily I was wrong. 🙂

Not sure about the Xperia Z5 or Xperia Z5 Premium, but the Xperia Z5 Compact is noticeably more responsive than it was previously on Android 5.1 Lollipop. This also applies to various animations on the desktop, curtain, in system applications.

All built-in apps are opening faster. The difference is not very significant, but it is felt after the transition from the latest firmware to Android 5.1, this cannot be denied.

We increased the speed of the fingerprint sensor, and most importantly, we did not forget about its accuracy. According to my observations, the number of false clicks is about two times less.

Whether the operating time of the Xperia Z5 Compact has changed on Android 6.0 Marshmallow is hard to say. It seems that the smartphone works the same time as on Android 5.1, but there was Stamina (I had it turned on at 50% charge), but here it is not.

Perhaps with the arrival of Stamina in the next update, the situation will become clearer. Now it is definitely worth noting that on Android 6.0, the operating time, if increased, is not significant. However, the use of the battery when working with applications has become smoother, so to speak.

In the remainder / Summing up

The move to Android 6.0 Marshmallow is without a doubt a very important event. The update not only brought new user experiences, but also made a big difference to what's under the hood.

After all, it was at Marshmallow that Google ditched Java entirely in favor of the new Android Runtime (ART). Do not forget about careful work on increasing the work time (Doze is just the tip of the iceberg), as well as total work on system security. Google has seriously bothered to improve the level of security.

It is not for nothing that Sony Mobile developers were so late with the release of Android Marshmallow for the Xperia Z5 series, failing to provide a system update in January 2016.

Samsung also stumbled over this major update, which has just started sending the Marshmallow update to its last year's flagships.

The first update based on Android Marshmallow for Sony Xperia devices clearly shows how huge the scope of work was before the company's engineers, even if Stamina could not be optimized for the new Android 6.0 algorithms.

Well, we should congratulate Sony on the successful start of updating its current Xperia devices to Android 6.0 Marshmallow and wish that other devices receive it as soon as possible.

What do you think about this update? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

I would be grateful for a repost!

The market for mobile products is arranged in such a way that as new versions of the Android OS are released, smartphone manufacturers are introducing their support into their own, both recently released and already proven models. How it works? At the time of purchasing a new mobile product, the basic version of the system installed by default is available on it. After some period of time, Google releases a new Android release. After six months or a little later, depending on the geographic region, when the new version becomes run-in and stable, you can install it on your smart too. As a result, you get a new, modern interface, support for new applications and more customization and customization. In this material, we have compiled a detailed guide for you, how to update Android on your phone.

What is software update on Android and why is it needed

You need to be aware that as a result of updating or rolling back the operating system, all data stored on the phone will be irretrievably lost. Be sure to back up all the data you need (address book, notes, photos) to a secure external media before taking any of the steps in this guide. It can be an external drive, a hard drive on a PC (as a last resort, a memory card, but not desirable).

One more nuance. Since it will take a certain time to update the operating system (from 5 to 10 minutes, and sometimes even more), be sure to charge the phone to 70-80% of the total battery capacity so that the update procedure is not interrupted due to problems with the phone's battery.

Automatic Android update

Here we go to the item "Software update". On your device, this section may be somewhere else, so you may have to go through the settings.

Now we tap on the "Update" button, having previously set the option to download updates only via Wi-Fi, so that the update does not "eat" all your money from the account.

Option in settings menu for automatic OS update

When all the data from the manufacturer's server is loaded, in the menu that appears, tap the "Install" button and wait until the device reboots.

Since in the above way you can update your mobile device only to the minor release build, you should also use a special utility from the manufacturer (for Samsung gadgets, this is Kies, for LG - PC Suite, etc.) or upgrade over the air (most of companies that produce smartphones or tablets have such a proprietary feature).

Latest Android updateif it is already available on the server, you can download it to your device at any time using just such a program.

Updating Android firmware manually

Almost all service centers use this method, but we can easily update ourselves, using only available tools. The system application Odin is used for updating. You can download it on many web resources (for example, on the same w3bsit3-dns.com). Using this technique, you can install only a new version of the official firmware, but not a custom one.

1.download the Odin program. We need version 1.83 (or newer) - it is very popular among technicians and is suitable for the vast majority of products

2. find and download an archive with the firmware we need on the network. After extracting the contents from the archive (you first need to download the archiver for Android), you should have 3 files in your hands: PIT, PDA and CSC

3. we connect the smartphone to the PC. It is critical that the phone is correctly detected in Windows

4. launch Odin. If the connection of the device was successful, the port name in the corresponding field in the program will light up in yellow

Indication of successful connection of the device to the PC for updating in Odin

5.turn off the mobile device and put it in Download Mode by pressing the home key, power and volume down at the same time

6. Confirm the activation of Download Mode by holding down the "Volume up"

7.in the central Odin window, select the downloaded files so that they correspond to the PIT, PDA and CSC objects

8. in Odin, press the Start button and wait until all files are updated.

If the Android system update went smoothly, a field with the inscription PASS in green will appear on the application screen.

Successful system update via Odin

Rollback to a previous version

Perhaps you have updated to one of the latest versions and are not satisfied (the phone is slow, errors often appear, there is a need to restart, etc.). If necessary, you can rollback to any version you need. How to roll back?

1 way

Suitable for those who wish to return the basic official factory firmware installed in the device at the time of its purchase in the store. This is pretty easy to do. Go to the device settings and select the item responsible for resetting the settings (this can be "Privacy" or "Backup and reset"). On the test phone, this feature was available in the Backup & Reset menu under the Personal Information category.

Section in the parameters menu designed to reset the device to the factory state

1. We go into this section of the menu and stop at the item "Reset settings".
2. A form pops up with a warning about deleting all data from the gadget. If the backups have already been saved in a safe place, feel free to click "Reset phone settings".
3. The phone starts rebooting. In 5-10 minutes it will boot up again with a clean base system on board.

Method 2 - reset to factory settings (hard reset)

1. turn off the phone / tablet
2. simultaneously press and hold down the "Volume Up", "Home" (bottom center) and "Power" buttons. The Recovery menu opens.
3. using the volume keys, mark the item "wipe data / factory reset".
4. press the power key to confirm your choice
5. in the next menu you need to confirm your decision. Select "Yes - Delete all user data" using the keys for adjusting the volume
6. press the power button again. The main menu pops up in front of you again
7. using the power key, mark "reboot system now"

All is ready. The next time the OS will boot to the factory version.

How to rollback if a custom version of Android is installed (Cyanogenmod, MIUI, Paranoid Android)?

If you installed a custom ROM, you can return the official firmware in the same way as performing a manual update - using the Odin program already mentioned in the review. First, you will have to search the network for files with the firmware you need, suitable individually for your smart model. Perhaps the best resource for searching is the mobile portal w3bsit3-dns.com, here you can find any firmware for almost every phone model.

1. we connect the mobile device to the PC
2. run Odin
3. turn off the phone and enter it into Download Mode. To do this, you need to press the home key, power and volume down
4. when the phone is loaded, press the volume up key to activate Download Mode
5. on the main Odin form, select the uploaded files as the correspondence between PIT, PDA and CSC
6. in Odin, press the Start button and wait until all files are updated.

The successful completion of the rollback procedure will be indicated by a green field with the inscription PASS at the top.

Information about successful rollback to the previous version via Odin

How to update the Play Market on Android

The first time you boot a fresh system, you have to configure everything again: account, language, mail, time zone, network, etc. The same goes for the Google Play Market. An update of this module will become available immediately after setting up a Google account on a mobile device.

Suggestion to connect Google account to the system

As soon as you enter the credentials for your Google account, the Play Market components will appear in the notification panel, which can be updated just like any other application.

Updates for Play Market components

If you are using custom firmware, you need to go to the store at least once to update. The service update will then appear on the display.

Answers to readers' questions

When will the new Android update be available?

Answer... Since a certain time passes between the immediate release of the new version of Android and the physical possibility of installing it on the gadget (from 2-3 to 6-8 months), you need to be patient and follow the company announcements. Among the first products with support for "marshmallow" are the devices of the Nexus and Android One lines. As for the Samsung brand, this month they promise 6.0 updates for the following mobile devices: Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6 edge +; January 2016 - Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge; in February - Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.

Now about other brands. Sony has announced an update for all current Xperia devices, from the Xperia Z Ultra GPE launched in 2013 to all Z5 models (both premium and budget). LG's range of devices are limited to the G4, G3, and G Flex2. HTC, in turn, limited itself to only the last two generations of devices of its own production: One M9 / E9 and One M8 / E8. In addition, companies such as Motorola, Xiaomi, Huawei, Asus, OnePlus and ZUK promise to equip their flagship devices and mid-level units with Android 6.0. This list is not yet final. Subsequently, we will keep you updated with the latest announcements.

I have a Huawei U9500 phone, and I did not know or did not understand that I needed to update the version. Now I have Android 4.0.3, how to update the firmware to the new version, please help!

Answer... The Huawei firmware update process is described. In short, there are two ways to update the Huawei U9500 firmware.

1. We take out the battery, hold down the volume buttons on the phone. After that, the Android update process will begin.
2. Go to Settings -\u003e Memory -\u003e Software update -\u003e SD card update, launch the Android OS update.

I have an MFLogin3T tablet and until that moment I did not know that it was possible to update the system. I read it on different sites, tried it, it doesn't work. I have Android 4.4.4. How to update the Android version?

Answer... The easiest way to update your phone is through Settings - Options - About device - Software update. The location of the section may vary in different versions of Android. Thus, a standard update is performed on Android, the official software is downloaded. This is the safest and easiest way.

I have a Samsung Duos, version 4.1.2, I cannot upgrade the operating system to a larger version. Please help me update android on your phone!

Answer... First you need to find out if you can update Android on your phone to version 5.x. It turns out not. The thing is, your phone's specifications prevent you from installing newer versions of Android.

On the other hand, you can download the update to Android from the w3bsit3-dns.com forum, where modified firmware is uploaded. But we would not recommend installing such updates on a fairly old phone if you do not have the necessary skills and are not ready for a drop in the performance of your mobile device.

Lenovo A1000, Android is not updated. I am trying to update version 5.0 to the newest one. At first everything goes well, but then he writes "Error" and shows the opened Android with a red triangle with an exclamation mark hanging over it. What should I do? How do I update my OS to the latest version?

Answer... Why isn't Android updating? The fact is that Android 5.0 is the last OS version to which you can officially update the firmware on your phone. At least that's what users of the forum w3bsit3-dns.com say. Of course, you can update your phone by installing custom firmware, but no one can guarantee stability after such an update.

I got NTS one m7. I can not update Android 4.4.2. The device does not find the software update, how can I solve this problem? How do I update it?

Answer. HTC one m7 can be upgraded to at least Android 5.1. If you can't install the official update, try downloading custom firmware on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum. There are also collected instructions for updating this device (see). In this thread, you will find solutions to the problem if the Android OS is not updated.

I have Moto x play, I do not want to update the system, the message "Android 6.0.1 software is available" constantly appears, which is wildly annoying. Please tell me how to remove this message so that it does not appear again. I even contacted the support service of the smartphone manufacturer itself, all the instructions given to me by them did not bring any result.

Answer... To disable firmware updates, go to Android settings, section About phone - Software update and disable updates by unchecking the box next to the corresponding item.

A year ago, the memory on the device flew away (the phone stopped turning on), it was replaced, but the firmware was not installed natively (it is no different, only on the startup screen in the corner a yellow Kernel inscription appears). Naturally, there are no updates for this firmware. Can I roll back Android (put my native one) through Kies and update it?

Answer... In order to roll back the update, you need to reboot the phone in Recovery mode, select wipе dаta / fаctory reset, wipe cache pаrtition and reinstall the firmware from the zip archive previously downloaded to the memory card. You can find the official firmware both on the official website of the manufacturer and on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum, in the section with the corresponding name of your mobile device.

Tablet Acer Iconia A1-810. I do not have firmware updates ... I click system update and says "an update is required for your device." How can you "force" - (update the android system forcibly) or update yourself?

Answer... This tablet model came out about 5 years ago, it does not support new versions of Android, so the manufacturer does not post updates for firmware. You can look for custom (unofficial) firmware on the w3bsit3-dns.com forum, but we do not recommend installing them - it is better to buy a new tablet than to experiment with firmware to the detriment of the stability and speed of the device.

Build number does not open on Android. I clicked for a long time. How to be?

Answer... The Android build number is initially available for viewing in the About Smartphone (About Tablet) section. If you want to enable hidden settings (section "For Developers"), you can activate them just by clicking on the build number, just make 4-7 clicks on this line.