S5 Lollipop update - changes to silent mode and menu background

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I updated my S5 OTA last night to Lollipop 5.0. First impressions are smoother performance and new look which is nice, however 2 major bugbears are overshadowing any improvements for me:

1) - Removed "silent" mode. The options now seem to be only are Sounds On or Vibrate, but no silent?? Looking around the web a lot of people are commenting on this, seems Google are pushing "interuptions" as the new mute-mode. It's not a straightforward swap though - unless I'm missing something there seems to be no way of having the phone on silent (i.e. no sounds or vibrations) but still to get notifications / LED indications come through for working in the office / library etc. This seems a stupid ommision!

2) No way to change menu background colours. Going into Settings, Contacts, Messages etc, there are all now a white background by default. I had it set to Black under KitKat which I preferred as it's easier to read in low light (first thing in the morning, at night etc). Why remove this option? Appreciate it'll be driven by Google, but one of the best things about Andriod phones is the ability to customise it and set it up to look and feel how you like. These menus have an iPhone-feel about them now from that perspective - some will not mind it, but I don't like it!!

Again, if I'm missing something and someone can direct me how to silence my phone but still receive notifications, or change menu colours, please let me know.

Thanks

Ian

[MCsound2]

I don't have an answer but agree that both of those things are my 2 biggest issues too! (apart from the Vodafone updates bug). 

I was massively embarrassed the other night at the theatre when I thought I had put my phone onto complete silent mode but it still buzzed really loudly!

I hope there are work arounds for this.

[Anonymous]

Haven't taken the plunge to update yet, too scared to mess things up that are working perfectly at the mo.

If you search in the play store apps for silent, there are a few apps in there that would do the trick,not a perfect solution I agree though.

[richardbrown197]

Have the same issues- what idiot thought it would be a good idea to get rid of silent mode? Am wondering if I can put it back to the old version as I can see no benefits at all. Does anyone know how to actually open the idiotic new notifications?

[63johnw]

Hi. Thanks to former forum member NDJ who has found this

So, it used to be that when you held down the volume rocker on your Android device, the volume would drop, then go to vibrate only, and finally to silent. With Android 5.0, that is no longer the case; but, that doesn't mean that Silent Mode has disappeared. As you will notice when you start lowering the volume on your device, there are new options on that volume settings pop-up for Priority and None. Frankly, this new way seems a bit better, because rather than having to go through lowering your phone volume, then hitting vibrate, then getting to Silent mode; now, you just tap once on Priority Mode, and you're good to go. The way it works now is that Priority is the new Silent Mode, and None is an absolute silence.

If you do a google search for the problem there are several explanations on how to use the new way.

[Anonymous]

Hi 63johnw.

Thanks for this, but I've seen this and similar posts about it. If you read my post above, while it's similar to silent mode, it's not a like for like swap. Priority stops some notifications, but will ring and vibrate for others, and disables LED flashes. None mode disables everything, including all LED notifications. No mode for disabling all sounds and vibrations but continuing to get LED notifications, which is how I've used Galaxy phones for the last few years! And from all the comments online and the fact that Google are saying they'll bring it back in Lollipop 5.1, I'm guessing I'm not alone!

[richardbrown197]

I can't find the priority & none settings on the volume settings. Where are they?

[richardbrown197]

Is it also true that (when I can actually find the idiotic 'none' setting) it disables the alarm. Seriously what prat thought this was progress?

[63johnw]

OK, sorry guys, not got the update through on my Z3 yet, obviously people are having more issues.

Richard, I believe they appear if you press volume down.

[richardbrown197]

When I press volume down I just get Ringtone/Media/Notification/System volume sliders. If the workaround I am forced to use due Googles incompetency disables the alarm then I need to put the phone back to the old version.