What do you think of Android L?

[KaChow]

I currently have it installed and running on my LG G3. I have to admit that I'm blown away by it, I was nearly about to upgrade to Nexus 6 or something else, but now that I have it running before the Nexus 6 is even out, I'm keeping my G3.

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Have a look at the post in the G3 forum for full screenshots and slideshow. I plan to update that thread as I get more familiar with the new ui.

http://androidforums.com/lg-g3/879819-intro-android-l-5-0-lrx16e-lg-g3-f400s.html

 

[nickdalzell]

How did you get it? mine downloaded an OTA update but it's still Android 4.4.2. i feel let down. LG G3 here too, Verizon. no such update yet. your screenshots are impossible to see as i can't read Asian.

As for how i feel, going by leaked images at best, stupid name that is likely associated with little kids, but the UI is something i'm looking forward to. but any departure from boring flat design is welcome here!

The dev preview i'm running on my Nexus 7 does show elements that i can only describe as resembling the simplicity and 'stacked card UI' that was shown briefly on the movie 'Her' during the install of OS 1.

 

[KaChow]

The photos attached above in the op are from a gif image that I compiled of about 30 screenshots, it is the first 2 images that appear in a foreign language. I have included all the images in the G3 forum, in a slideshow folder as well as individual screenshots. The ui for 5.0 is slick, I am impressed beyond belief with it. I happen to have a Global Unlocked GSM G3 that I imported from South Korea during the launch back in May. LG just provided another 5.0 update which I have yet to test out the version I ran was (c) and (h) is now the latest. US Carriers are always last to provide updates, the updates that I receive are similar in comparison to getting Nexus updates (minus) the mass production wait time.

On the benefit side of this, I have discovered that 5.0 can be downgraded, as I have just downgraded back to 4.4.2. Should be not long before ported versions of this leak are available on a range of G3 variants.

 

[nickdalzell]

So this isn't a custom ROM? i'm trying to figure out how you got an OTA when the official release from GOOGLE is on the 12th of November? i mean Nexus hasn't even got it yet (except the Nexus 9 which is nowhere to be seen around here yet) so i have no idea how LG or any carrier could have got an OTA out.

I want 5.0 mostly because of the ditching of flat design in favor of the material aesthetic that Google is using. that and ART. i tried ART in 4.4.2 but it makes the phone lag, run hot and eat battery.

Checked again. no new updates available. still stuck on 4.4.2.

 

[Rxpert83]

So this isn't a custom ROM? i'm trying to figure out how you got an OTA when the official release from GOOGLE is on the 12th of November? i mean Nexus hasn't even got it yet (except the Nexus 9 which is nowhere to be seen around here yet) so i have no idea how LG or any carrier could have got an OTA out.

I want 5.0 mostly because of the ditching of flat design in favor of the material aesthetic that Google is using. that and ART. i tried ART in 4.4.2 but it makes the phone lag, run hot and eat battery.

Checked again. no new updates available. still stuck on 4.4.2.

Its not rolling out for the american LG G3 right now or likely anytime soon. This is a leak, not an OTA and only works for the variant specified

 

[KaChow]

ART is amazing. There is no option for it, in fact Dalvik does not even appear in the Developer options, the apps are optimized into ART as soon as the initial boot occurs and never again. There was absolutely no lag what so ever, I just downgraded back to 4.4.2 and it is awful, slow, non-responsive. The 5.0 update is clean, images are crisp, the new apps work perfectly, even Androidify works without fcs anymore.

Like I said, my G3 is the same one that is used in South Korea, by the SK Telecom population, fortunately, the GSM bands are the same for AT&T so I imported it at full retail.

This is not a ROM, in fact is KDZ firmware if you want to be technical.

 

[nickdalzell]

OF course there is no need for ART. anyone familiar with L or Lollipop is aware that it's only going to use ART. However on MY G3 i don't have this upgrade and the ART implementation kills performance and battery life. i don't think Verizon made it work well somehow.

But i'm mostly interested in 5.0 for the aesthetic changes. i despise flat design. i can tack on features like lock screen notifications or the like, such as icons, update the Google apps, but there's a lot to be said of it all being built-in. tacking it on via apps from third-parties leaves a less stable outcome usually.

One thing i cannot grasp is that so many complain about bad battery or lag on the LG G3's stock software. i've had none of that and anyone familiar with my track record on these forums knows i often complain about every little thing, yet my G3 has been my favorite Android phone. superior battery, excellent screen, and a fluid UI. no lag or battery issues here!

 

[bjacks12]

One thing i cannot grasp is that so many complain about bad battery or lag on the LG G3's stock software. i've had none of that and anyone familiar with my track record on these forums knows i often complain about every little thing, yet my G3 has been my favorite Android phone. superior battery, excellent screen, and a fluid UI. no lag or battery issues here!

It's weird how some people have different problems with the same device.

By all accounts my cell reception and battery life should be total shit on my Nexus 4, but it's worked fine for me.

 

[rushmore]

I just want to know if non stock apps can now write to sd cards

 

[rushmore]

ART is amazing. There is no option for it, in fact Dalvik does not even appear in the Developer options, the apps are optimized into ART as soon as the initial boot occurs and never again. There was absolutely no lag what so ever, I just downgraded back to 4.4.2 and it is awful, slow, non-responsive. The 5.0 update is clean, images are crisp, the new apps work perfectly, even Androidify works without fcs anymore.

Like I said, my G3 is the same one that is used in South Korea, by the SK Telecom population, fortunately, the GSM bands are the same for AT&T so I imported it at full retail.

This is not a ROM, in fact is KDZ firmware if you want to be technical.

I have not seen conclusive results showing it is amazing and Android teams touting battery life was based in ideal lab conditions (to their credit they disclosed this). There are a few significant problems with ART:

1. Takes up about 20% more storage space (range is 15% to 25%, depending on the app).

2. Needs about 1GB more free storage floor, to be stable.

3. Not all apps right now behave with it and can actually result in less battery life and less performance. This means waiting on devs to update and that assumes your apps are being updated anymore. Not all are. This includes stock apps as far as problems.

Point here is I respectfully do not see the profound advantages, but many with 16GB devices and only 10GB of storage WILL notice the loss of more storage space for apps.

Added: I would suggest some seeing great performance is more to do with starting from scratch and having a clean device.

 

[Rxpert83]

Lab conditions are really the only way to demonstrate what you say is actually happening.

Its not everyday use, but for the purposes of seeing if your code is more optimized or battery friendly that's how you prove it - Eliminating other variables to measure the effects of only what you are trying to test.

 

[rushmore]

I think L is being propped up to something that only the placebo susceptible will rave as the greatest thing since the invention of beer.

 

[Rxpert83]

I think L is being propped up to something that only the placebo susceptible will rave as the greatest thing since the invention of beer.

Well, only you can determine that, but there's no doubt this is the largest update android has ever had. I've been running it for weeks now and I wouldn't go back.

 

[grdh20]

The early releases of L seem to have a couple things in common. battery drain and heat. I can say for sure that is the result of L on the 2014 MotoX for instance and I have heard some early reports of L on the G3 that has similar issues. I think I will certainly wait for verizon's officeal version for the G3. (likely months away though)

 

[Rxpert83]

The early releases of L seem to have a couple things in common. battery drain and heat. I can say for sure that is the result of L on the 2014 MotoX for instance and I have heard some early reports of L on the G3 that has similar issues. I think I will certainly wait for verizon's officeal version for the G3. (likely months away though)

Likely due to a bug google patched late last week.

Nexus users are angry they didn't get it first. What they don't understand is google isn't holding it back for no reason.

 

[nickdalzell]

I had massive battery drain and a hot device running the Dev preview on my 2012 Nexus 7 (through a hack, it's not supported) as well as super long charging time (12 hours to recharge from 45%). I blamed the device not being supported. So others have this problem?

 

[Rxpert83]

I had massive battery drain and a hot device running the Dev preview on my 2012 Nexus 7 (through a hack, it's not supported) as well as super long charging time (12 hours to recharge from 45%). I blamed the device not being supported. So others have this problem?

None of those issues for me on the n5.

I'm running the real deal now. So we shall see