Sprint is now the third U.S. carrier to send out Android 5.0 Lollipop to Samsung Galaxy S4 units. The update comes one month after AT&T treated the 2013 flagship with the operating system. Verizon users were able to update theirs a couple of weeks back. Samsung already released Android 5.0 to international unlocked variants of the handset.
Now, it's the turn of Sprint customers to experience the sweet update, which is chock-full of new features and fixes designed to stabilize and improve the performance of Android phones. Samsung, in particular, integrated the operating system's all new Material Design with a new TouchWiz UI. This results to a superior interface that boasts bold and vibrant graphics and 3D animation.
Android 5.0 brings new features such as an all new lockscreen, which now has a shortcut for the phone and camera apps for convenience. Speaking of convenience, the update also has a new Floating Action Button for easier access to an app's vital features such as composing a text or adding a new contact.
The new Interruption setting, on the other hand, allows Sprint Samsung Galaxy S4 users to segregate notifications, adding sound to those in priority while muting those that are deemed not so important. A new multitasking screen comes in very handy, too, much like the new "OK Google" voice command, which is perfect for getting quick answers and directions or sending a text.
The 5.0 version of Lollipop also strengthens smartphone security with the all-new Smart Lock feature, which pairs the handset to another trusted device like the user's own car or wearable. Google's new firmware also promises a significant boost in battery life and better connectivity.
The update is sent out over the air, meaning it won't drop at one fell swoop. By this time, Samsung Galaxy S4 users from Sprint should have received a notification prompting the download. If not, they can manually check the device's settings to see if the update is available. If it is, then they need to make sure to charge the phone to at least 50 percent and make some room for the update, which is about 1 GB.
The device's standard variant and the high-speed flavor called the Sprint Pack are both entitled to the coveted Android 5.0 Lollipop update.The build numbers are L720VPUGOD2 and L720TVPUCOD2, respectively.
