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Hey this is my first post here. I've been using a nexus one for a while now and I downloaded quite a few applications. I have to say thought that I was quite disappointed by the graphical diversity that lingers around the android platform. As a vfx artist I like my phone to work but also to look nice and sometimes the two things are not present in android.
So I was wondering if someone is interested in writing down some guidelines to better UI designs and maybe provide developers with some graphical help. My idea was not to copy the iphone ui or the new windows mobile 7 but to take what Google has done and expand it to provide cleaner and more interesting UIs to apps.
What do you guys think, is anyone on board for this?
Sadly, I think that this is probably the largest problem on Android devices. The huge inconsistency of the UI throughout makes Android devices hard to use when compared to, say, an iPhone. For example, the stock GMail app has a white background against black text, but the stock Email app has a black against white background. Both apps have essentially the same functions but the way to perform those functions and manage their settings are completely different.
androidlicious said:
Sadly, I think that this is probably the largest problem on Android devices. The huge inconsistency of the UI throughout makes Android devices hard to use when compared to, say, an iPhone. For example, the stock GMail app has a white background against black text, but the stock Email app has a black against white background. Both apps have essentially the same functions but the way to perform those functions and manage their settings are completely different.
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So they look the same, or did you twist your words?
atoz350 said:
So they look the same, or did you twist your words?
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Well, I was trying to come up with a good example but I guess that it didn't come across as such. I guess another example is the camera application. I mean, its UI and design looks completely different from all the other applications...
I don't mind applications to have totally different designs as long as they are intuitive and make sense in the context of the application and I think a lot of them don't.
It's true though that some more general guidelines like the one they have for the iphone would help some developers to not only keep consistency but also keep the design relevant to the tasks provided by the app.
What do you guys prefer? I think android strenght could be a custom design for each app as long as it's intuitive, a perfectly good example is the gallery application introduced in 2.1
Here are some ideas:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/470566/android-user-interface-guidelines
There is a link there to a good pdf (the link in the question over stackoverflow is dead): https://island.byu.edu/files/AndroidHIG.pdf
Though, it isn't complete but it could be a good base.
janfsd said:
Here are some ideas:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/470566/android-user-interface-guidelines
There is a link there to a good pdf (the link in the question over stackoverflow is dead): https://island.byu.edu/files/AndroidHIG.pdf
Though, it isn't complete but it could be a good base.
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This is great especially the pdf and the gnome guidelines!
Don't forget the Android UI Guidelines.
http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/index.html
I love the speed of my iconia tab but I honestly thought swiping through honeycomb would be a little faster. Does anyone use alternate home launchers with their tablet? I don't know if this is possible or not. I love the interface so I'm content but just wanted to get people's opinion on this and any particular launchers they really like.
Sure is possible. I loaded go launcher ex just to try it out and it worked fine. I would like to know if anyone is using a launcher specifically for tablets though, if there is even any available.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
Yeah, that's what I was really interested in. A launcher built for tablets would be something fun to mess around with. I feel like it could be tailored specifically for tablet functions. Possibly something like new windows 8.
ADW Launcher EX works, and is updated for honeycomb.honestly, though, its nothing revolutionary, none of the launchers are. I went back to stock. It may not be really fancy but it works, and well.
Have you checked out spb shell 3d for tablets? I don't think its out yet, but they have a concept video, and it Looks amazing. There's a thread on here with the link, in the general section.
lord_voldemort666 said:
Have you checked out spb shell 3d for tablets? I don't think its out yet, but they have a concept video, and it Looks amazing. There's a thread on here with the link, in the general section.
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The one in the video doesn't exist, and the one that is out now doesn't work on the iconia. And you're not missing much, I messed with it on an X and it was just plain laggy
I'm using Launcher Pro with great results.
I 've got ADW Launcher on my phone so I tried it on the Iconia. Even though it's a great launcher, for me it didn't cut it. It made the tab look rather like a big phone. It would be nice to have a launcher that preserves the tablet feeling.
I'm sure it's only a matter of time for Tablet specific launchers to roll out.
Personally, however, I feel that they got to step up their game to make something that adds more functionality and is more efficient than what the stock HC launcher provides. I'm not into all the eye-candy - its function over form for me. (pointing my finger at SPB)
It was easy to raise the bar with Eclair on up to Gingerbread as those OS' were built for the phone and those environment were rapidly evolving (and in some cases, differently from manufacturer to manufacturer) - with Honeycomb and the tablet environment third party launcher developers have had the bar raised on them (in terms of usability, efficiency and hardware) so in my opinion, it could be tougher for them to step it up.
Time will tell.
If anything - I would like to see support for skinning the tablet. 1 skinning app, developers build skins - release skins - users downloaded skins - use skinning app to apply skins. Done.
Just switched to it myself and I rather like it,will take some getting used to but it seems alot more feature packed.
So what are your views on the new theme?
(if you don't know how to switch to it scroll to the bottom of a page and in the left corner you will see theme changer switch to 2013 beta)
I'm not fan of the 2010 or 2013 Beta - the XDA Classic suits me and I've been using it since the beginning. The new themes have a too "White" effect for my taste - while the Classic theme is plain and simple for browsing. Just my opinion...
I wonder how many people are using the new themes vs the classic one.
XDA 2013 Beta
I like the 2013 beta. Thanks for pointing it out. The Portal Posts on the right hand side is cool. They should scroll with the page though.
Also, browser resizing is causes some issues. There is a lot of left to right scrolling going on if I don't have my browser in full screen. All in all, a worthy upgrade to the visual styling of XDA.
I had to hit XDA Classic for a moment and whoa... I think I was just transported to 2006!
I didn't know this. Just switched the theme (on the bottom of each page). I like it because the FB, G+, YT-Icons are not wasting space.
And it looks great. Thanks for this hint.
Feels nice .. noticed it only after your post ..
Thanks for letting us know mate...
It is very nice and clean
I don't like the font it's too narrow and difficult to read
After using it for a while I am not to sure I like the grey on white... something is missing, but after all it is only a beta so we shall have to see how the theme develops!
I like it but feel that its somehow to cluttered. Maybe some work on the colour scheme would help correct this. Still really like it though
Thanks for pointing it out, haven´t seen it yet.
What I like:
- Specs in the device "root" directory - just a nice addon!
- Portal posts on the right side - nice!
What I dislike:
- yellow buttons (e.g. "quote")...much too distracting color!
- my eyes are getting tired by the font
All in all: The "old" style is very effectice and clean...the beta seems to be too colorful & distracting for me
jgaviota said:
I don't like the font it's too narrow and difficult to read
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Yup, agree.
zacthespack said:
After using it for a while I am not to sure I like the grey on white... something is missing, but after all it is only a beta so we shall have to see how the theme develops!
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Yeah, the flat grey reminds me of something from the 90s, which is no bueno. I also think it's way to cluttered at the moment, and they should concentrate on making it easy to use and more streamlined.
But it's still beta, and clearly unfinished, so i guess we'll just have to wait and see.
I don't like it so I switched back to XDA 2010. The 2013 theme seems like it was made in the early 2000s, with its cluttered UI and white/grey tone.
I like the idea, it's very modern, but it's too white. It kind of hurts my eyes after all the years looking at the other design haha.
didn't know it was out.
Will try and let you know
I like it, except for the device picture and specs in the root directory.
It looks nice, but every time I go to the root directory to switch between subforums, I have to scroll down to go to the sub forum I want to read.
I would guess 99% of the people that frequent these forums know the specs of the device they are reading about.
Hell I use the original one...the newer ones are too bright for my eyes.
Sent from my GT-N7000
Not too bad but needs more definition
In general the theme is pretty good but as others have mentioned it is very white.
In my opinion the pale nature makes it more difficult to seperate between the various elements of the page. This in turn makes it more difficult for the eye to quickly find the information that it is looking for ie the contents of each post.
I also agree that the page becomes difficult to read after a while due to the combination of the colours and the font/fontsize.
Cheers Roy
Not really a fan of the sidebar. Apart from that, looks clean. 7/10, would use.
carbonassassin said:
I like it but feel that its somehow to cluttered. Maybe some work on the colour scheme would help correct this. Still really like it though
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i agree, it feels cluttered - too many buttons around
Thread closed
There is an existing thread for this discussion, this doesn't belong here.
Despite whatever impressions you may
have gotten from the title, we’re here to
look at a web browser; sorry to
disappoint you. The browser in question
has been developed by XDA Forum
Member aminaked because in his own
words, “I was fed up with the privacy
violations , bloat, instability, and general
stupid functionality of Android browsers.
I decided to make my own.”
The browser itself is pretty minimal, but
contains all the core functionality that
you’ll need to navigate your way around
the net. The primary focus of the
developer has been speed, efficiency,
privacy, and keeping the application as
streamlined as possible. Weighing in at
only 95 KB, I’d say he’s done a pretty
good job. There are no superfluous
functions or bloat of any kind, and you
aren’t even expected to put up with ads.
Features of the browser include:
Crash restore
Undo the closing of a tab
One finger zoom
Infinite tabs
Now before you check out this app, be
warned: Keeping things this small and
fast has a price—eye candy.
Aminaked openly admits that, “I prefer it
to look crappy but run great. Later it can
look and run great.” The general
feedback does indeed seem to be that
this browser is very fast and efficient.
However if you like your apps to look the
part, you may want to give this one a
little time to mature, as it’s currently in a
very early stage of development.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...gle&utm_medium=organic&utm_term=naked+browser
I'll check it out. I've been using dolphin browser mini (black edition) for quite some time, maybe this one will eventually be a replacment. I'll edit this post with what I like/dislike.
*Edit*
Likes: smooth, fast, stable. Minimalist.
- loads pages quickly
- saves passwords, history, cookies if you want it to
- plenty of security type features to play around with
- hides the top menu but not the status bar (me likey)
Dislikes:
- some places I'd like to see more style/color ( I know it's early in development, I'm just putting this here for the future updates)
- the selected tab you're currently viewing will close if you touch it
Great browser for those minimalists out there
Current ROM: CM7.2 Euroskank Cherry Picks | Bravo port by skeevy420
Holo browser is also a great browser.
vikasb32 said:
Holo browser is also a great browser.
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I don't remember of holo that much but I think its In Chinese text or something am I right
This app is incompatible with your TATA DOCOMO LGE LG-P500.
for me this is the best browser ever.
fancccc said:
for me this is the best browser ever.
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its good to help
Since it's taken a very long time for a lot of devs to adapt their apps to HOLO. Is it possible to see it happens the same way? Coz i know there're plenty lazy developers arent willing to make a change. And material design is not compulsory, i guess we have to wait for a long time to see material design to get popular.
plz share your opinion on this!
Not all apps need to follow the guidelines, really depends on what the app does, functionality over form
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk
There is on thing devs hate most that's change because they have to learn it all over again especially if its a huge change
I think it would be very boring if every app was styled the same way.
From what I've seen so far of material design, I'm not that impressed anyway.
meangreenie said:
I think it would be very boring if every app was styled the same way.
From what I've seen so far of material design, I'm not that impressed anyway.
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From screenshots, I'm not seeing the UX benefits, yet. I need to get some usage out of some apps implementing it to make any further judgments.
If you're used the new "semi material" design Google play it seems more appealing to the eyes and performance better.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app