I'm really excited about the Desktop mode, now I can finally break free of Samsung!
I wish they move the clock and notification area to the taskbar instead of top bar. That top bar doesn't make sense in desktop mode.
Android 16 is here
191–200 of 360 posts
Re: Android 16 is here
#192Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
I agree. It is clear, functional, and reminds me of staged doctor’s offices in commercials for prescription drugs. Apple now is entering their Windows XP design era. Once things get too gaudy they will introduce Flat Glass or pretend like they invented straight lines and sharp corners. But at least that seems to have a personality.
> Apple now is entering their Windows XP design era.
Is Windows XP universally understood to be bad design? I remember it as somewhere between blandly unremarkable and slightly pleasant.
Re: Android 16 is here
#193I 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.
More like shouting "Watch me drain your battery all day long".
Re: Android 16 is here
#194I 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 m…
> A lot of these tools seem like useless frivolity.
That's me on a good day; I fuckin' hate smartphones (hardware and software-wise), lol. I have pretty much given up on a slab-style pocket computer (6-7 inch, essentially a deshittified, Samsung XCover-series smartphone on steroids, e. g. S-Pen, exchangeable batteries, audio jack, 1-2 USB-C ports, mSD card slot, lotsa memory, phone-functionality is second fiddle) or a small detachable (8-9 inch, also EMR-penabled, essentially an updated, miniaturized HP ZBook x2 G4 with Nintendo Switch-like capabilities for docking and attachments for a variety of controller options and the keyboard). :(
Re: Android 16 is here
#195Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, you can't. There's no usable desktop software that you can run there. Artificial restrictions will stay, although might be slightly relaxed. In contrast with Librem 5 running GNU/Linux (my daily driver) this is already a reality.
This is just weird goal post moving.
I don't think so, this has always been the limitation and why things like Windows ARM and Windows Phone fail over and over again. The interface part is easy, I guess, the application part is not. If you can figure out the application part, then you have a real shot at disrupting the market.
So far, only Apple has figured out the applications part on MacOS, and only partially. They still have wierdo iPadOS. Microsoft is doing Windows on ARM... again. We'll see how long that lasts.
Re: Android 16 is here
#196Not available for Pixel/XL, Pixel 2/XL, Pixel 3/XL, Pixel 3a/XL, Pixel 4/XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, or Pixel 5a. I have Pixel 4a and I wanted to get Android 16 to get the smaller notification tile buttons back.
Nice to see someone still using a 4a. I'm still rocking a 3a XL with lineage (massively resisting the urge to upgrade to a Pixel 9). I'm quite certain they'll do a lineage release for our phones for Android 16, hoping to use my phone for as much longer as possible!
Re: Android 16 is here
#197Yay! Less control, more limitations and background shenanigans.
Anyone ever stop to notice how skillful google is at putting lipstick on pigs?
To watch their artisans in action, simply do:
Settings/System/DeveloperOptions/RunningServices and tick Show Cached Processes after absorbing that in your immediate view, which will have included the 23 running processes under Play Services.
Yeah yeah. There has to be lots of stuff in such a glorious suite. Of course it's crawling with things completely irrelevant to the user. We all know this. But can it ever go too far?
I honestly don't feel more secure since that amazing update that blocks access to directories even through USB. Blocking Ghost Commander is one thing, but USB?
I won't make a scathing list of complaints here. Each update tends to beg the task though.
Edit: It's really complex, right? Google is honest and forthright. So they'd never lie about absolutely needing Precise Location to use Maps. Clearly it's necessary. While using pure GPS appears for all practical purposes to do everything I need, in truth, not having Scanning activated threatens much destruction and a subconsciously worse navigation experience. I've read the arguments for why the End will come if Scanning access isn't given, but I stopped using Maps, and Scanning too, and things seem fine. Try to figure this one out. And how the F do I get my files out of the Audio Recorder directory? I must Share them, via email. No access unless Shared, over the Internet. If this isn't an upgrade, I'm lost. I'm just going to guess this new version has an embedded uninterruptible LLM that tells the user what they want and how to use the device. Because that's something Google doesn't believe the user is capable of.
Re: Android 16 is here
#198Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree. It is clear, functional, and reminds me of staged doctor’s offices in commercials for prescription drugs. Apple now is entering their Windows XP design era. Once things get too gaudy they will introduce Flat Glass or pretend like they invented straight lines and sharp corners. But at least that seems to have a personality.
> Apple now is entering their Windows XP design era. Is Windows XP universally understood to be bad design? I remember it as somewhere between blandly unremarkable and slightly pleasant.
The "Fisher-Price" design language was unpopular, but ISTR you could turn off most of the eye candy and get a the Windows 2000 design language. Pretty sure that was like the first or second thing I did with both XP and Vista.
Re: Android 16 is here
#199Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
I agree. It is clear, functional, and reminds me of staged doctor’s offices in commercials for prescription drugs. Apple now is entering their Windows XP design era. Once things get too gaudy they will introduce Flat Glass or pretend like they invented straight lines and sharp corners. But at least that seems to have a personality.
You likely mean the "Aero" stage.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Aero
While many express nostalgia for Aero in Windows 7, Microsoft dismissed it in fairly harsh terms:
'Microsoft called the Aero interface it once championed and poured so much love upon "dated and cheesy".'
https://www.theregister.com/2012/05/21/windows_8_aero_dead/
The thing with [Microsoft's] dictated GUIs is that they all end up on the trash heap.
Some people have affinity for a GUI aesthetic. I liked Motif and CDE. Ripping them away for the garbage pile is a supremely foolish thing to do, as it can drive users away.
Apple, and Microsoft, will surely add more to this pile shortly.
Re: Android 16 is here
#200Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm on the other camp. I'm so tired of the boring flat design, I'm actually considering switching to an iPhone.
Are you not worried about accessibility issues?
No. Like always, there will be visual accessibility features such as high contrast, reducing screen motion, dark mode, and reduced transparency. I never had to use them, but according to a family member who is blind, Apple is excellent in terms of accessibility.