Google put a Android show Today to offer an overview of its upcoming interface changes with Android 16, in addition to a multitude of new Gemini. He has not shown no new devices performing the new look; Instead, Google offered advice to developers and an explanation of its global design philosophy. This philosophy seems very … purple.
The new expressive directives of material 3 require in -depth use of color (in particular shades of purple and pink), new forms in a variety of sizes, new motion effects when you act and new visual indices that come together and contain elements on the screen.
Google says that he has done more research on this design overhaul than any other design work she has done because he has brought her material design philosophy to Android in 2014. He claims to have conducted 46 studies with more than 18,000 participants, but frankly, I am not a UX designer, so I don’t know if it’s a lot.
Google equipment 3 is the new Android 16 look
After all this work, Google landed on this subject: expressive Material 3. The most notable features, once you have exceeded light colors and – AHEM – are the new motion effects.
For example, when you slide to reject a notification, the object you slip will be clear while other objects will blush slightly, which makes it easier to see. The other nearby notifications will move slightly when you slide their neighbor. Basically, there will be much more organic appearance movement in the interface, in particular on swings and control levers.
There will be new styles of the type also integrated into Android 16, with the possibility of creating variable or static fonts. Google adds 35 additional forms to its interface library so that the developers can build, as well as an extended range of default colors.
Google did not say that its new language of expressive design of the 3 material targeted iPhone fans, but the advice is there. The next version of Android will not be cleaner and more organized, instead, Google wants to connect with users at the “emotional” level. According to Google’s own research, the group that likes the newest look is the most than 18 to 24 years old, that is to say the most faithful fans of the iPhone.
In his official blog article, Google says: “It’s time to go beyond the” clean “and” boring “conceptions to create interfaces that connect with people at an emotional level.” This connection seems to be much stronger among young people. Google says that each age group preferred the new expressive look of equipment 3, but the 18 to 24 were 87% in favor of the new look.
The Apple iPhone fans base is the strongest in this age group, if not the generation that is even younger. It makes sense that Google makes major modifications to Android. In fact, this refreshment can be late. We have not seen many new inspiring features in smartphones since they started to fold, and foldable phones have not taken exactly alorage. I am surprised that Google waited so long to improve the software, because there was no huge hardware innovation in the pipeline (temperature sensors, anyone?).
Material 3 expressive comes to more than Android phones
The new material 3 Expression Look will not be limited to Android 16. Google says that Wear OS 6 will obtain a refreshment of similar design, with more colors, movement and adaptable buttons that modify the shape according to your watch display.
OS Wear watches will also be able to use dynamic colors themes, as are Android phones. Start with an image or photo and wear an operating system with a matching color theme for your watch to complete what he sees.
Even Google applications will begin to seem more expressive. Google says that applications like Google Photos and Maps will receive an update in the coming months that will make them look more like Android 16.
Google borrows some iPhone features for Android 16, including a locking mode
Google has also demonstrated live updates, a new feature that borrows from the iPhone to show you the progress of events such as Uber Eats delivery. The iPhone does it on the dynamic island, and Google adds this feature at the top of the Android 16 display.
Security was a big goal of the Android show, starting with new call protections and SMS scams. Google secures its phones against certain common crook tactics. For example, crooks could call by pretending to be your bank and may ask you to relaunch an application.
With Android 16, you will not be able to deactivate the reading of Google Protect App-Scanner or Sireload no application while you are on a telephone call. You will also not be able to grant authorization to accessibility features, a current bypass solution to obtain access to the backdrop of a phone.
Google’s messages application will also become smarter on SMS scams. He will filter the scam messages that ask you to pay late road costs or try to sell you crypto.
Google also allows advanced protection, its own version of the Apple locking mode, on Android 16. Advanced protection is a super safety mode which offers the highest level of protection against attacks, whether on wireless or physically via the USB port.
Basically, if you are a journalist, an elected official or another public personality and you think that a government is trying to hack your phone, Google’s advanced protection should completely lock your phone against external threats.
If you don’t need a lot of security but you always want more peace of mind, Google improves its old search feature. Android 16 will present the Find hub, which will be a much more robust location to follow all your devices, including Android phones, mobile devices and accessories that use an ultra-large band (UWB), similar to Apple aerait.
Google introduces new UWB capabilities to help find it nearby objects, and these will take place on the Motorola motorcycle tag first in the coming months. The new HUB Find can also use satellite connectivity to help locate the devices and keep informed users. In addition, if you lose your luggage, Google works directly with certain airlines like British Airways to allow you to share your beacon information so that they can get the bag they lost.
Gemini comes to your car … and your TV … and your watch, and …
Today’s Android show was not all about Android. Google has also made big announcements on Google Gemini. Gemini arrives at many more devices. Gemini come to wear bone watches. Gemini arrives on Android Auto and the cars that run Google natively.
Gemini arrives on Google TV. Gemini even arrives on Google Android XR, a platform for XR glasses that do not even exist (or at least you cannot buy them). For a brief moment in the Android show, we saw Google’s future glasses.
You can speak to Gemini Live and have a conversation in your car on the way to work. “Hey Gemini, I need advice to ask my boss a promotion!” Or “Hey Gemini, why is my life so empty that I speak to a machine in my car when I could listen to music or a real crime podcast?”
I can look like an AI skeptic, but Google’s own suggestions are just as dystopian. Google says on the path of your reading club, you could ask Gemini to summarize this book that you read a long time ago (and especially forgotten) and to suggest discussion subjects. It doesn’t look like a reading club I want to join.
Google did not offer any specific calendar for any of the features mentioned in the Android program, and only said that these concepts would appear in the coming months. It is unusual that Google shares so many news before Google E / S, which takes place from May 20 to 21 near its seat in Mountain View, California. I will be on the stage at Google I / O with our news chief Jake Krol to collect something new.
With the launch of Pixel 9a already passed, and now the Android team reversing all beans, I suspect that Google I / O will be mainly on AI. Google puts these songs away so as not to waste time asking questions about new phones when he wants to talk more about Gemini and all new AI developments. Or maybe, even better, the Android XR News today was just a suspicion of what will happen. Stay listening, we will know more next week!
