Verizon finally rolled out Android 5.1.1 Lollipop to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and to keep the good news rolling, Samsung released a beta version of Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow to the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge.
A few weeks ago, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge received the Android 6.0 Marshmallow beta, but it was limited to a couple of owners who participated in the program in the UK, which means that the update didn't reach the United States. It was geared toward visual improvements, Google Now on Tap and Doze – no surprise there, as this is a major update after all.
On that note, Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow would seem like a minor update at first glance, not to mention that it's a beta, but it actually came with a ton of upgrades here and there, which is quite unusual.
1. Additional Quick Settings toggles for Private Mode in the status bar.
2. A new set of emoji characters.
3. Visibility of notification panel icons has been improved.
4. In fingerprint identification, vibration occurs only when it's not recognized.
5. A new "Install Overnight" option, where an update installation can be set at night between 2:00 and 5:00 a.m.
6. A new interface for the Edge screen settings, including an "Edge Panels" option.
7. A customizable Edge panel, where its transparency and size can be adjusted (it can also be updated with new ones online).
8. A new Tasks Edge panel to set shortcuts for apps.
9. Support for profiles that can automatically change based on location (e.g., it can mute sounds when at work and turn on volumes when at home).
To get a better look of things, hit up the video SamMobile uploaded below.
With the recent images, the Android Marshmallow update seems to be shaping up into one heck of an operating system.
Meanwhile, the long overdue Android 5.1.1 Lollipop on Verizon's Galaxy Note 4 fixes a slew of bugs and stability issues across the board, which owners are well aware of. It's an over-the-air update with the software version LMY47X.N910VVRU2BOK3.
"This software update has been tested to optimize device performance, resolve known issues and apply the latest security patches," Verizon says.
Particularly, the update includes support for Android for Work, improvements to the Samsung Knox Platform and removal of the preinstalled Amazon Appstore and Amazon Widgets. In other words, it adds more features while getting rid of what could be called bloatware.
In related news, T-Mobile has already published a list of devices that will receive the Marshmallow update, emphasizing on how far behind Verizon is with the updates. The eligible devices include the Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Note edge, Galaxy S5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Tab S2.
Currently, there's no official word on when a public release will roll out, though. The information so far only shows what's in store for the users in the foreseeable future.
The Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow update is already live, so participants of the beta program who haven't received it yet can go ahead and manually check for it through Settings > About device > Software update menu.
The same goes for the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop upgrade for Verizon Galaxy Note 4 models, and it can be downloaded manually through the same steps. In the event of an error, the carrier has a nifty Software Upgrade Assistant (PDF) tool.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr
