The OS war iOS 8 vs Android L. Which one is better?

The latest Google Android operating system has been announced - how do its features compare to its Apple rival? 

Google  has recently announced its latest version of the Android operating system,   codenamed Android Lollipop. Many news outlets are  referring to this as Android L, although Google’s official name is Lollipop. 

This latest version of hugely popular operating system has been unveiled to coincide with the announcement of the Motorola's Google Nexus 6 phablet. This all new release from Google is intended to compete directly with the iPhone 6 Plus.But as of now the only thing which is common is 6 ;P And if we talk about the design well Motorola's Nexus device is somewhat similar to Moto X and the iPhone's aluminium body is believed to be inspired from HTC's premium range of devices. 

Coming back to the topic, Android will always be up against iOS 8 as its major rival.  Operating system is the main  competitor to be extremely popular Android platform. So how will this new Android L version compare with the recently released iOS 8? Here is a rundown of all the features that are somewhat distinctive in the two operating systems. 

 Google Android Lollipop: Notifications System 

The Android L released improved notification within the software. This ensures that notifications can be accessed from the lock screen, and priority for the same can be set. Also, it is possible to swipe away notifications, or double tap to open the respective application. This could be very much viewed as a punch to iOS 8, as the Apple operating system included a significantly enhanced notification system as we have already seen and now with the iWatch and its Tapping system is way cooler. The Android operating system is notable in this regard for being particularly customizable, and it certainly compares favourably with iOS. 

Lockscreen features 

The Android L release will also include a new lockscreen which will display notifications for users. This will enable a variety of different swipes to either unlock, or launch dialler and camera features which which was already there in Android since ages though Apple has also improved functionality related to the iPhone 6 lockscreen in iOS 8, and the system is now more user-friendly with iTunes Radio in general. 

Multi-tasking functions 

Google has also tried to improve multitasking in Android L, infact the whole UI has been changed when it comes to switching apps screen. It has already been speculated that the next wave of Apple tablets will be  more flexible than the previous versions in the series. 

Android Lollipop will apparently show a separate card for each open tab in the device, to open applications in the software are displayed on a user interface which resembles a carousel instead of just a screenshot of the app screen. Each can be swiped off to either side of the device to close them, as in previous versions of Android. 

Split-screen multitasking has been put into iOS 8, and as mentioned previously this is expected to be utilized in the upcoming iPod tablet range. Apple has been very much ahead of the game in this department, but Android looks to deliver some interesting features with the L release . 

Notification bar 

The notification bar in Android Lollipop has been changed quite significantly. Although it effectively works in a similar way to previous additions, its new layout and colour scheme is strikingly different. Additionally, new features have been included related to Chromecast. The notification centre in iOS 8 has again been lauded for its customisation options. It will be interesting to see how Android L compares to the Apple software. 

Security 

This is one area in which Android has noticeably lagged behind iOS. Perhaps it is not a fair comparison, as Android is fitted in so many devices that hackers and virus creators simply have far more commercial reason to target Android. Nevertheless, the Google operating system is responsible for 97 percent of the world’s mobile malware, according to recent research, so the onus is certainly on Android L to address this situation. 

Google  targeted this issue in announcements related to Android, and a new feature will enable users to unlock their smartphone when in close enough physical proximity to a device such as an Android Wear smartwatch. However, Apple’s lead in this department is simply unquestionable, and the chances of Google significantly narrowing the gap in the immediate future are practically zero. 

Battery life 

This is a major strength of the Android system, certainly in comparison to Apple devices. The iPhone in particular has been associated with a pretty poor battery life over the years, and although Apple has attempted to improve this in iOS 8, the iPhone 6 still doesn't really deliver anything outstanding in this department.With the use of separate M8 processor for sensors things might improve but still it is highly doubtful.  By contrast, Google has added a dedicated battery saver mode for Android Lollipop, which will deliver up to 90 minutes of extra use per charge. It seems likely that those desiring longer battery life will continue to be better served by Android. 

Performance 

According to benchmark reports, Android L did not outperform Android KitKat in speed tests. The same has been suggested with regard to the comparison between iOS 8 and iOS 7. 

Android TV 

Finally, Android L comes complete with an all new product which was not predicted by analysts – Nexus Player. As a result of this, Android TV is integrated into Lollipop providing a great deal of entertainment functionality. iOS 8 already includes Apple TV, which offers extremely similar features to Nexus Player, but is of course more established and has way more brand value.