That's a thing with Google's designs as of late. The contrast in design elements (color) isn't nearly as it should be. They're always assuming everyone has 100% sRGB screens, or they're just taking it too far. I've always had a hard time with their Calendar app, one of the reasons I always stick with SPlanner (that, and because it has much more features)... Lately, they've been over exaggerating simplicity at the expense of practicality and features. *Some* of their newer apps aren't nearly as useful as they used to be.
Wouldn't it be great if Google Reader would still exist and deliver your news?
And yes, what about Google Now?
Trying to make sense out of what Google does sometimes feels like wrestling jelly.
A News and Weather app could complete Google Now nicely if it were more of a "Google Here" app, delivering mainly local news, maybe integrating somewhat with Google+. Google Now is basically all about the user and his data and such a local news and weather app should be about "everything else around me here". Maybe revive something like Latitude in it, so you get an alert (as "local news") when someone is near you.
But another app that displays the weather and general "curated" news? I would expect Google to come up with something better here.
old one made better use of vertical real estate. I don't know what the deal is with everyone going "hey we have larger screens, let's add a bunch of filler space"-- Windows 7 File explorer status bar on the bottom, etc
Uhm. Misplaced comment? Some people want dark theme options for the sake of battery life. I ran quite a few blacked out apps for a couple of weeks on my note3 and battery life doubled because thescreen oh so much less power. Then there's the too much white is too bright crowd. Not enough contrast and a bugger at night. Then there's the crowd like me. I want it all. Power savings of dark/black themes and the easier on the eyes. Some of like android because of the options. Lately our choices seem to slowly be creeping the way of iOS. Not good. I am seriously hoping a 3rd contender steps up to the plate. I wouldn't mind Ubuntu touch on an oled screen.
The better apps I've seen have an option to switch between white on black, or black on white. Google's apps don't. :( I kinda wish Samsung would make an Android utility which let you invert the colors at the OS level on an app-by-app basis.
I pulled my old OLED phone out of storage to lend to a friend (who wanted to try out Android before getting an Android phone). It's shocking how clear and clean OLED is with its inky blacks. And I'm coming from a Nexus 5 which supposedly has one of the better IPS displays. I'm definitely going back to OLED with my next phone.
Carbon ROM has a neat feature called 'dark mode' - they basically use the holo dark for the whole OS. Unfortunatelly I haven't been able to test it yet (Moto X still isn't rooted...), but it looks nice as hell. Maybe it's worth checking out =)
Well said. The move towards flat, colorless, white background designs for everything is sad, taking no account of device design or use case scenario.
Apparently flatness, whiteness and no graduation or shading is required for everything, even though it's worthless on a desktop/laptop and wastes the benefit of oled screens used by android's biggest selling player.
Back to the old "I use it this way, therefore you all will too" ux designer mantra.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
23 Comments
Back to Article
Yofa - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
shout out to manitoba!jeffkibuule - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
The old app looked like someone had beaten it with an ugly stick. A relic of a bygone era.pixelstuff - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
I haven't downloaded it yet. Did they get rid of the temperature / rain graph? That was my favorite part of the old app.Brandon Chester - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
No no. You can view it by pressing the downward arrow on the forecast cardWitchunter - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
I actually like the old one more. Much more easier on the eyes.Flunk - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
Funny, I thought Google had discontinued this app because they rolled all the functionality up into Google Now.lilmoe - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
That's a thing with Google's designs as of late. The contrast in design elements (color) isn't nearly as it should be. They're always assuming everyone has 100% sRGB screens, or they're just taking it too far. I've always had a hard time with their Calendar app, one of the reasons I always stick with SPlanner (that, and because it has much more features)...Lately, they've been over exaggerating simplicity at the expense of practicality and features. *Some* of their newer apps aren't nearly as useful as they used to be.
toyotabedzrock - Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - link
Google now is odd looking and my Nexus 5 has this app but it is not listed as an installed app for some reason.uhuznaa - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
Wouldn't it be great if Google Reader would still exist and deliver your news?And yes, what about Google Now?
Trying to make sense out of what Google does sometimes feels like wrestling jelly.
A News and Weather app could complete Google Now nicely if it were more of a "Google Here" app, delivering mainly local news, maybe integrating somewhat with Google+. Google Now is basically all about the user and his data and such a local news and weather app should be about "everything else around me here". Maybe revive something like Latitude in it, so you get an alert (as "local news") when someone is near you.
But another app that displays the weather and general "curated" news? I would expect Google to come up with something better here.
soccerballtux - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
old one made better use of vertical real estate. I don't know what the deal is with everyone going "hey we have larger screens, let's add a bunch of filler space"-- Windows 7 File explorer status bar on the bottom, etcnathanddrews - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
"See how light and airy it is? That's what you want! Trust us!"I'm just upset that they are moving back to black text on white. It's like they want OLED to fail...
pixelstuff - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
If OLED can't display black text on white then it deserves to fail.pukemon1976 - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
Uhm. Misplaced comment? Some people want dark theme options for the sake of battery life. I ran quite a few blacked out apps for a couple of weeks on my note3 and battery life doubled because thescreen oh so much less power. Then there's the too much white is too bright crowd. Not enough contrast and a bugger at night. Then there's the crowd like me. I want it all. Power savings of dark/black themes and the easier on the eyes. Some of like android because of the options. Lately our choices seem to slowly be creeping the way of iOS. Not good. I am seriously hoping a 3rd contender steps up to the plate. I wouldn't mind Ubuntu touch on an oled screen.ABR - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
Try a Windows phone.Solandri - Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - link
The better apps I've seen have an option to switch between white on black, or black on white. Google's apps don't. :( I kinda wish Samsung would make an Android utility which let you invert the colors at the OS level on an app-by-app basis.I pulled my old OLED phone out of storage to lend to a friend (who wanted to try out Android before getting an Android phone). It's shocking how clear and clean OLED is with its inky blacks. And I'm coming from a Nexus 5 which supposedly has one of the better IPS displays. I'm definitely going back to OLED with my next phone.
jvl - Thursday, September 4, 2014 - link
Carbon ROM has a neat feature called 'dark mode' - they basically use the holo dark for the whole OS.Unfortunatelly I haven't been able to test it yet (Moto X still isn't rooted...), but it looks nice as hell. Maybe it's worth checking out =)
Hairs_ - Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - link
Well said. The move towards flat, colorless, white background designs for everything is sad, taking no account of device design or use case scenario.Apparently flatness, whiteness and no graduation or shading is required for everything, even though it's worthless on a desktop/laptop and wastes the benefit of oled screens used by android's biggest selling player.
Back to the old "I use it this way, therefore you all will too" ux designer mantra.
SpartanJet - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
They make some ugly widgets.lurker22 - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
Only available outside USA?jmunjr - Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - link
I use the new and weather apps all the time and like it. I won't be updating it unless the new one at least lets me go to a black/dark theme.toyotabedzrock - Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - link
Not available to people in the US. :-(UpSpin - Wednesday, August 27, 2014 - link
Quote: 'Like all of Google's updates, it may take some time before your device receives it. 'I live in Germany and I also don't see the app in the Play Store. So keep calm :-D
harry112334 - Friday, August 11, 2017 - link
thanks for sharing man such a nice article keep sharing https://appvn.me/