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Android 16 is here

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161–170 of 360 posts

Re: Android 16 is here

#162

Oh great, I get to learn how to use my phone all over again. We need a "leave this the $EXPLETIVE alone" setting for our user interfaces.

This knee-jerk reaction is correct more often than not (see the terrible iOS redesign announced earlier), but in this case it seems like it might be incorrect? I looked through the highlights linked here and the full "What's New" page [0] and am pleasantly surprised to see a few new features but no major overhauls of existing ones. [0] https://www.android.com/16

But thats also just what they're trying to advertise. They always make more changes than listed.

And its the sneaky ones that get through...like when I upgraded to 15 my home button no longer exists when the screen is locked, which effectively makes google maps navigation stuck on the screen unless you stop navigation by pressing back repeatedly

Re: Android 16 is here

#163
Also a bit sick of the iOS update...

Whats the MVP (minimum viable pixel) nowadays? Google lineup is super expensive in my country, probably zero support, so I'm afraid of investing.

I tried a (used) 6a, it was lovely (compared to my Samsung) until it wouldn't scroll while charging (a known issue) so I returned it.

Re: Android 16 is here

#164
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This knee-jerk reaction is correct more often than not (see the terrible iOS redesign announced earlier), but in this case it seems like it might be incorrect? I looked through the highlights linked here and the full "What's New" page [0] and am pleasantly surprised to see a few new features but no major overhauls of existing ones. [0] https://www.android.com/16

The issue is this reaction never sticks. Everyone's up in arms, but would you really want to go back to Android KitKat or iOS 2? Probably not for more than novelty, right?

If it was usable with the apps I need today, I would switch back to Android 4.4.2 or iOS 6.1.3 in a heartbeat. Not sure how long I would stay before the rose tint in my glasses returns to normal, but I would certainly love to try.

Re: Android 16 is here

#165
post #23

I like their Material Expressive design a lot more now after Apple's big reveal. While it's still a bit too colorful and whimsical for my liking, it does stay much closer to what I think should be the top UX design ideal - be clear, legible, and get out of the way . On the new iOS every screen feels like some UX designer is shouting "look how amazing I am at this!!" at me.

Material is fine, but it feels pretty uninspired to me. Like the corporate art version of UI. Big flat inoffensive blobs, washed out pastel colours, etc. The new iOS demo kinda makes me feel excited to try the new update, once they iron out a few of the poor contrast spots.

Re: Android 16 is here

#166

It's deeply disappointing to see that the multitasking solution for tablets that Google and Apple have settled on is... desktop-style floating windows, but without workspaces or window snapping. There's so much space here to experiment with tiling views, scrolling columns of windows, whatever. Floating windows are cumbersome enough when you have a mouse and big display to spread things out on. I've tried this floatin…

iPadOs has window tiling if that’s what you mean by snapping and has had it for longer than floating windows.

And stage manager is basically workspaces by another name.

Re: Android 16 is here

#168
post #23

I like their Material Expressive design a lot more now after Apple's big reveal. While it's still a bit too colorful and whimsical for my liking, it does stay much closer to what I think should be the top UX design ideal - be clear, legible, and get out of the way . On the new iOS every screen feels like some UX designer is shouting "look how amazing I am at this!!" at me.

The opposite for me. I'm so tired of the boring and uninspiring flat design, that Apple may have convinced me to get an iPhone next time I upgrade. I don't even notice Android updates anymore, the past 3 or 4 just look and feel the same.

Re: Android 16 is here

#169
post #23

I like their Material Expressive design a lot more now after Apple's big reveal. While it's still a bit too colorful and whimsical for my liking, it does stay much closer to what I think should be the top UX design ideal - be clear, legible, and get out of the way . On the new iOS every screen feels like some UX designer is shouting "look how amazing I am at this!!" at me.

I find as time goes on I am less-and-less excited about mobile releases. I’ve had a smartphone since the Google Nexus 1. The desktop experience is always better, and a good book is even more inviting.

Curious what other folks are feeling. A lot of these tools seem like useless frivolity.

Meanwhile, I have family who constantly get confused whether the iOS phone icon is FaceTime or the “real” phone; and I have to do multiple taps instead of one to make a FaceTime call—and Apple is busy making Liquid Glass, for what?

Re: Android 16 is here

#170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cars have also gained new features, but the steering wheel, shifter, pedals, mirrors are still in the same places since >50 years. You don't need to get a new license and re-learn how to drive every time a new model comes out because they moved the steering wheel on the ceiling to install a 32 inch LCD screen.

And my android phone still has "back", "home", and "recents" buttons in the exact same place they've been since they were literal hardware buttons. Core navigation (aka, "steering") is unchanged, no new drivers license required

Originally there was a 4th button, "menu". Android had a standard grid-shaped menu that apps could implement, that would pop up from the bottom of the screen.

Also "recents" wasn't its own button, it was reached by long-pressing "home". The other button was "search".

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