There are not many things worse in the world of smartphones than waiting for that new software update – and we are not talking about an incremental upgrade, we are talking about jumping from Lollipop to Marshmallow here. We reported to you earlier this week that Android 6.0 Marshmallow was coming to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge on the Telus network on April 14. We are now happy to report that Quebec-based Videotron is now sending out the Marshmallow update to its Galaxy S6 device. This is an over-the-air (OTA) update and is rolling out so if you have not yet received your update, you can always ‘force’ the download by tapping Menu -> Settings -> About Device -> Software Update -> Update. That should initiate the download, and you can take it from there.
Just a reminder that along with the Marshmallow update you will also get the latest version of Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface (UI). It should look a little different as it incorporates Android 6.0’s latest updates but also adds a ‘lighter’ version of TouchWiz. Each rendition has gotten better, and Samsung is now embracing more Google-like qualities, giving the user a faster and smoother experience. If you have not tried TouchWiz lately, pick up a new Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 Edge and check it out – Samsung claims it “provides enhanced usability and an updated visual design.” The Marshmallow update is not just another yummy morsel – it adds some nice features to the Android OS. All of those new fingerprint sensors we have seen on the new flagship devices will have a purpose other than to unlock your device – you can now use your fingerprint to authorize Android Pay mobile payments. The fingerprint area becomes more secure with Marshmallow as well because you will need to use a pin, password or use a pattern to add a new fingerprint to your device.
Google Now on Tap, which allows you to hold down your Home button to get more information about what is on your screen, is another nice feature. Say you look up a restaurant; now Google can tell you more about the restaurant – times, directions, menu, etc. Doze is another significant feature that is an advanced power saving mode that will restrict the sending and receiving of background data when you do not need it – it should help tremendously in saving battery life. Quick Connect assists you in quickly finding and connecting to nearby devices as well as providing a list of current selectable devices and previous connections. All good stuff to look forward to using with your Marshmallow upgrade.