Google changing UX around android apps ?
Lately i've notice that android apps created by google use different UI patterns from the "standard" look that we know since 1.0.
25px boring grey title, listviews with black backgrounds, shadows here and there, gradients. Here are, two very simple app to illustrate the look.
From 2.0 i started notice change in direction - first was change of icons from angled shadow look to a flat beauty. Now i think it's a part of bigger picture. Let's take a look at three apps created by google. Google IO, Twitter and Facebook. I took two screen shots of each app.
What they have in common:
1) Each app have a launcher page from which you select your further action.
2) Standard title is gone and replaced by large title with some actions on it. No or very little gradient and very flat look. I want to say almost the look that MS showed on WP7 demo, but i like this one little bit better.
3) Software search button migrated it's way to the title bar. Which make me think that we should expect devices with no hardware search button and we need to start prepare for it.
4) In two apps refresh made it's way to the title bar as well. "Put most important functions to the title bar" ?
5) Not on the screen shots, but tabs lost gradients as well and now flat.
6) Widget is basically the same.
Overall i really like the new look - small concern that custom title makes standard android title in the shape it's now completely useless.
