With the Pixel 2, Google introduced automatic dark/light themes dependent on your wallpaper. It was a short-lived exclusive, making its way to Android 8.1 just days later. It hasn't even been a year since then, but Google is already changing the themes' behavior slightly — for the better, in my opinion.
Read MoreAndroid P DP3's Recents UI has a new spring in its step, plus translucency tweaks
Animations have been a big focus in Android P, so it was a bit surprising when the new Recents menu landed without one for invoking it. In earlier versions of Android P it just sort of plopped up without any fanfare. But now in DP3/Beta 2, Google has introduced a new rubbery bounce complete with corresponding haptic feedback, as well as a new semi-transparent rounded background for the app tray. The mild translucency in the full app list also appears to be mostly gone (thankfully).
Read MoreGoogle is testing a translucent Google Feed page on the Pixel Launcher
Google has been tweaking the Google Feed (previously known as Google Now) page quite a bit recently. They started rolling out a dual-tabbed interface in December, but seemingly stopped shortly after. Last month, a new transparent Google Now pane appeared for one user, and now a modified version has showed up.
Read More
Google App v4.6 Enables Translucent Status And Navigation Bars For Google Now Screen On Custom Launchers [APK Download]
Expectations are high for each update to Google's core apps on Android. After all, we know there are going to be a lot of new features announced at I/O in less than 2 weeks. Quite a few apps have recently gone through a Material refresh, and plenty of others have seen smaller changes as they slowly coalesce around the current design guidelines. That appears to be the story with the latest Google App update. The latest version finally enables full screen mode for Google Now on devices using custom launchers.
left: old version, right: new version
Prior to this release, users with the Google Now Launcher set as their default homescreen would see their Now stream with translucent status and navigation bars.
Read More
Pushbullet 13.3 Brings Support For KitKat's Transparent Navigation Bar, New Language Translations, And More
Popular file and notification-sharing app Pushbullet has already supported transparent status bars on KitKat devices, but with the latest update, it now has a transparent navigation bar as well. It doesn't make using the service any different, but it sure is pretty.
Read More
KitKat Feature Spotlight: Translucent Navigation And Notification Bars Can Be Requested By Apps In 4.4
The next version of Android is bringing a lot of visual options to the table, and they're not just for Google to play with. Buried deep within the KitKat 4.4 API (level 19) is the ability for apps to request translucent system UI overlays, specifically on the top notification bar and the bottom navigation bar (if your device has one). You can see this feature in action in all the promotional photos of the Nexus 5's homescreen, where the wallpaper is visible form the top of the screen to the bottom.
There have been a few OEMs that have tried this sort of thing with their own software skins, notably Samsung (various 4.2 devices), LG (on the new G2), and Motorola (on the DROID RAZR HD and its siblings).
Read More
SwiftKey Announces A Tablet-Optimized, Tron-Inspired Honeycomb Keyboard
We can't say we didn't see it coming, considering we saw this preview of the tablet-optimized SwiftKey keyboard during CES, but what SwiftKey is announcing today looks quite a bit different, to say the least.
Allow me to introduce Swiftkey Tablet - a tablet-only Honeycomb keyboard set to launch around the same time as the Motorola XOOM tablet. Sticking with the 3-way-split design, the new holographic look reminds me quite a bit of Tron. If you watch the video below, you'll see that the UI is quite... magical, with suggestions floating up when clicked. The dual space bar design and the presence of arrow keys are very welcomed as well.
Read MoreLatest Deals
-
2
[Update: Back] Satechi's 75W multi-port USB-C PD and Quick Charge 3.0 charger is down to $48
-
5
Get a Nest Hello doorbell cam for $164 ($65 off), watch Amazon manhandle your deliveries
-
17
The dual-SIM Note10 and Note10+ are as low as $776 and $900, respectively
-
2
25 temporarily free and 82 on-sale apps and games for the weekend
-
18
Grab a refurbished 128GB Pixel 3 in black for $400 ($200 off) on Amazon
-
2
Latest Poll
Loading ...Recent Reviews
-
17
The Motorola One Action gives the Moto G a run for its money
-
46
The Nest Hub Max is the best smart display, but not the best security camera
-
7
Form AR goggles review: The coolest and most accurate swimming tracker
-
0
Jackery Supercharge 26800 PD is the mid-range gold standard for a portable charger, but it's a bit expensive
-
11
Jaybird Vista true wireless earbuds are perfect for outdoorsy fitness buffs
-
17
Latest Roundups
-
2
17 new and notable (and 1 WTF) Android apps from the last two weeks including Automatic Dark Theme for Android 10, Vivaldi Browser Beta, and Disney+ (8/31/19 - 9/14/19)
-
187
The best web browsers for Android
-
7
24 best new Android games released this week including NBA 2K20, Tropico, and Fist of the North Star
-
8
24 best new Android games released this week including Pokémon Masters, Stranger Things 3: The Game, and Men in Black: Global Invasion
-
2
14 new and notable Android apps from the last two weeks including SHAREit Lite, SpotWidget, and Magic: The Gathering Companion (8/17/19 - 8/31/19)
-
2
Recent Apps and Games
-
6
Chrome 77 broke printing for Google Calendar, but there's a workaround
-
2
17 new and notable (and 1 WTF) Android apps from the last two weeks including Automatic Dark Theme for Android 10, Vivaldi Browser Beta, and Disney+ (8/31/19 - 9/14/19)
-
11
Update Notes for Gboard, YouTube, Android Auto, and more (Sept 14, 2019)
-
2
25 temporarily free and 82 on-sale apps and games for the weekend
-
18
MoviePass is shutting down tomorrow, parent company hopes to find a buyer
-
6
Blast from the Past
-
64
1 Year Ago Today
WhatsApp might have a dark mode soon
-
11
2 Years Ago Today
Kick off the weekend with 23 temporarily free and 18 on-sale apps
-
54
3 Years Ago Today
[Update: Video drawing too] WhatsApp Beta adds image drawing and stickers, bigger emojis, front-facing flash, one-finger video zoom
-
47
4 Years Ago Today
Snapchat 9.15 Lets You Buy Additional Replays, Apply Snazzy New Animated Lenses To Your Selfies, And More
-
84
5 Years Ago Today
Photos Of The Nexus 9 Keyboard Case Surface As It Passes Through NCC Certification
-
72
6 Years Ago Today
[APK/Website Teardown] Next Up For Android Device Manager: Remote Password Changing And Device Locking
-
55
7 Years Ago Today
Aliyun App Store Confirmed To Be Distributing Pirated Android Apps, Many From Another Pirate Site
-
5
8 Years Ago Today
Video: DROID BIONIC Boots Into CyanogenMod 7 For The First Time
-
5
9 Years Ago Today
Dual Display-Rocking, 4G-Packing, Russian Device Makes Its Debut... In The (Russian) President's Office
-
64
