Database Users

Graphic guidelines and app design.

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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

ADWLauncher EX UPDATED (also 10c today)

It has finally been updated after a long wait, has it been worth it? Probably!
features/improvements:
A new unified Dock bar with both the combined superpowers of the previous ones:
Easily drag and drop icons into it.
Unlimited icons support with paginated scrolling
Options stretch, scale, show reflections, change the background image…
Easy icon management by double tapping them.
Action to show/hide the dock at a glance via gestures/launcher actions
Easier and more user friendly folders.
Drag a desktop icon over another one to auto create a new folder
Visual representation of folder contents with theming support
Options to choose how the folder contents scroll and behave like you do with the app drawers
Single/multi row auto fitting support
New desktop management system while moving items.
Easier visualization of desktop and drag operations
Easier trash can operation
New desktop indicator inspired by IceCream Sandwich
Improved compatibility with ICS devices
Use of hardware acceleration on specific features when possible.
Persistence of the ActionBar visibility on android >3.x tablets by the “hide/show status bar” gesture or launcher action.
Usual bug fixes and performance improvements
More to come!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I can't post links but it's on the market now!

i got it for a dime, what sort of benefits would i get from it over stock honeycomb? or what cool features that set it apart

The new update looks quite good I like the new folder look

macia10 said:
The new update looks quite good I like the new folder look
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 I think the new folders look great too. Over all it is a great update in my opinion.
My only issue is that my Widgets or icons don't sit at the edge of the screen anymore and it just feels like wasted space on the side lol. Not too big an issue but I like my screen to look a certain way haha
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

lbhocky19 said:
i got it for a dime, what sort of benefits would i get from it over stock honeycomb? or what cool features that set it apart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
COMPLETE customization, you can add fancy screen transitions, have as many or as little screens, colums and rows as you want. You can also change icons for any app you want. Custom app drawers. Umm, create custom shortcuts, the list goes on and on lol.
kylec said:
+1 I think the new folders look great too. Over all it is a great update in my opinion.
My only issue is that my Widgets or icons don't sit at the edge of the screen anymore and it just feels like wasted space on the side lol. Not too big an issue but I like my screen to look a certain way haha
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still haven't updated because of the issues people have been complaining about, I may just make a TB backup and update just to see whats going on .

[Q] How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?

How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?
I have an elderly relative who has never used any Android device, or much technology at all to be honest besides old feature phones and television boxes, and we shall soon be purchasing her a Google Nexus 7. We settled on this idea after noticing that the 8GB Nexus 7 model is only £159 GBP, which isn't much more than the Kindle Touch and also offers a slightly larger screen. I am looking to make the experience personal and also easy for her.
Since I am going to use a custom launcher to prevent access to the app menu and simplify the user experience by showing her only the apps she will need to use (preventing access to the settings will prevent her accidentally deleting things), I am looking for a widget which will allow me to add my own custom text set to a custom size to the home screen. With this, I'll separate up the few apps she plans on using. Any recommendations for such an application?
Since this person does not have full function of a second arm, are there any applications which make one-handed operation easier on the tablet's 7 inch display?
Is there a widget which will allow me to add "picture frames" to the home screen? I could put some pictures of the family in these, which will add a nice personal touch.
Are there any keyboards which are good for one-handed use? Please do not say Swype.

Any suggestions to any of my issues I face? Also, any general app recommendations are welcome, but keep in mind who this tablet is for when making suggestions. For example, no messenger apps.

No ideas to any of those applications/features I'm looking to implement?

Twenty minutes before the first bump and between the first and second - get a bit of patience! People aren't lurking on forums waiting to jump on your every post...
1. Yes - Minimalistic Text and others
3. Yes - search Play store for "picture widget"
4. Why not Swype? What makes it unsuitable (that'll make it easier for others to make suggestions.

Swype probably requires two-handing on a device this big.
Honestly, any keyboard that works well with one hand, will also reconfigure so much that you'll essentially have to relearn it.
Messagease and 8pen are good with one hand, but they obviously don't look anything like qwerty. And one-hand typing is really only feasible with phones anyway.
Best bet is just to use voice recognition and hope it really is as up to snuff.

You're probably not going to like my answer, but I tried this (also with a person who had use of only one arm) and it didn't work. I mounted it to a table on a movable arm to make it easy to use.
Beyond the shaking hands and weak eyes, the biggest problem is understanding the UI. To you and I it's not complicated, but we grew up with computers. That's not any sort of judgment; the guy was capable of using a windows XP computer (very very slowly), it's just that switching to a new IU is much more confusing to the older brain than for a younger brain. They just don't have the filters to pick out the important information from the screen quickly, and every step requires conscious thought. This can be very tiring for an older person, and--at least in my experience--older people don't have a lot of tolerance for frustration.
I don't want you to be discouraged by this; I spent weeks on this (and several hundred dollars) and ended up getting him a small laptop on which I installed a simplification program that allowed only basic email and internet. But your relative may be more savvy, have better coordination, or just more interest in making it work. Here's what I'd suggest:
1) "minimalist text" can be customized to put static text on the screen. You'll have to play with it a bit.
2) There's no applications I can think of that make it easier, but I'd suggest giving her some system to mount it where she can both see and reach it. Have her sit as she would when she wanted to use it (chair, table, bed) and figure out how she can use it with her arm resting on something.
3) I think the picture frames widget is included in stock android. I'd strongly suggest against using anything other than a solid-colored background though. Again, it's difficult for an older brain to parse large amounts of information, and older eyes to see past the contrasts. I'm sure there's some way to have a rotating photo widget on some part of the screen in the market though.
4) Swiftkey. It's a bit advanced, but has one major advantage: predictive text. She can enter a few letters and the software will come up with a few words. Often it will get the intended word within a few letters, which can save a lot of inputs. That said, I think the stock android keyboard in JB has this functionality too, so you might hold off and try that.
A few other suggestions:
1) Get a launcher that can be cut down to just one screen. ADW EX does this. And get rid of the elastic screens (allows it to stay static). You said you already have a custom launcher in mind; which one were you thinking of?
2) When AOKP gets their hands on this, they'll allow you to add and change buttons to the notification bar. Get rid of the long-presses, maybe even get rid of everything but the home and back button.
3) Forget the speech recognition stuff. Old voices are not easy to understand for anyone, much less a computer, and convincing an older person to speak slowly and annunciate is not easy. Also, the first time it doesn't work you'll have a very frustrated relative to deal with...
4) Keep it simple. The first time you show her how to use it pick one thing (probably email or video chat) and show her how to do just that. If you take just one suggestion from me it's this. Add something next time, once she gets how to do email or video chat (test her first). Seriously, everyone will end up happier as a result.
OK, good luck! Hope it works better for you than it did for me!

I would say, a very simple background. No live wallpapers. A Big clock widget,
Get her a Bluetooth Keyboard, there is no sense in trying to force an older person to use a touch screen, that requires near perfect fingers. A normal keyboard is something she most likely has seen and used before. So it will feel normal.
A Widget for changing volume. Something with like a large Plus and Minus sign, and a big percent so she can easily see how loud it is.

Brad387 said:
How can I make the Nexus 7 super-easy to use?
I have an elderly relative who has never used any Android device, or much technology at all to be honest besides old feature phones and television boxes, and we shall soon be purchasing her a Google Nexus 7. We settled on this idea after noticing that the 8GB Nexus 7 model is only £159 GBP, which isn't much more than the Kindle Touch and also offers a slightly larger screen. I am looking to make the experience personal and also easy for her.
Since I am going to use a custom launcher to prevent access to the app menu and simplify the user experience by showing her only the apps she will need to use (preventing access to the settings will prevent her accidentally deleting things), I am looking for a widget which will allow me to add my own custom text set to a custom size to the home screen. With this, I'll separate up the few apps she plans on using. Any recommendations for such an application?
Since this person does not have full function of a second arm, are there any applications which make one-handed operation easier on the tablet's 7 inch display?
Is there a widget which will allow me to add "picture frames" to the home screen? I could put some pictures of the family in these, which will add a nice personal touch.
Are there any keyboards which are good for one-handed use? Please do not say Swype.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brad387 said:
Any suggestions to any of my issues I face? Also, any general app recommendations are welcome, but keep in mind who this tablet is for when making suggestions. For example, no messenger apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brad387 said:
No ideas to any of those applications/features I'm looking to implement?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol man, RELAX. Bumping your thread like that is terrible forum etiquette.

I'd refer to your own thread that you opened not long before this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1757848
Aps at startup
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

This might dumb the phone by a lot but: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.kunes.android.launcher.activity&hl=en
Here's a photo widget app that people seem to like though : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thinkjava.androidphotowidgetfree
If you can wait for further development.. flashing MIUI seems to attract a lot of newer android users due to the similarities with iOS. If not you can always get the MIUI style launcher.

Thanks. I will likely use Nova Launcher to keep the amount of screens to a minimum.

darkamikaze said:
This might dumb the phone by a lot but: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=name.kunes.android.launcher.activity&hl=en
Here's a photo widget app that people seem to like though : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thinkjava.androidphotowidgetfree
If you can wait for further development.. flashing MIUI seems to attract a lot of newer android users due to the similarities with iOS. If not you can always get the MIUI style launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

blackhand1001 said:
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fascinating. But this isn't for you; it's for an older person.
OP, the folks pointing out that it's bad forum etiquette to create multiple threads and bump them are right. And considering the time folks put into answering your question, it wouldn't hurt to respond and click the "thanks" button.

thebobp said:
Swype probably requires two-handing on a device this big.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't understand how you would use Swype with two hands even if you wanted to. Swyping requires one continuous swipe with one finger across all of the letters that spell out your word, and besides the actual act of swyping, I don't understand how using it would be any different from using one finger to type on a non-Swype keyboard.

blackhand1001 said:
Yuck. No thank you on miui. I hate the unorganized nature of having every icon on the home screen. App drawer please.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry that you don't know much about MIUI. It's the easiest ROM that I have used and now have it on my Infuse and Nook Color.
I am 66yo and like very simple and clean screens that are easy to use. The attached s/s's are from a 7" Nook Color screen.
1. Home screen.
2. Favorites expanded
3. 2nd Page....only have 2 pages...show all my apps in folders...no app drawer.
4. Reading folder opened
EDIT: You can set up as many or as few folders as you need and name them anything you choose.

dparrothead1 said:
Sorry that you don't know much about MIUI. It's the easiest ROM that I have used and now have it on my Infuse and Nook Color.
I am 66yo and like very simple and clean screens that are easy to use. The attached s/s's are from a 7" Nook Color screen.
1. Home screen.
2. Favorites expanded
3. 2nd Page....only have 2 pages...show all my apps in folders...no app drawer.
4. Reading folder opened
EDIT: You can set up as many or as few folders as you need and name them anything you choose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used miui on several devices. I just find it clunky. I like having an alphabetically sorted app drawer.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I'm working on the same issue for my mom, who just turned 86.
I downloaded Minimalistic Text for her, but I had assumed it would be simple to set up - it isn't.
Am I correct that it's very limited as to what it can display? It appears to be able to display the time, date, temp, and then a few other things not important to your typical 86 year old, such as battery level, cpu speed, etc.
I had hoped I would be able to have it launch apps, so I could for instance, have it show "Email", Facebook", etc.
Older people have difficulty remembering the names of apps sometimes. "K9" for instance, would not mean email to my mom.
Something that would allow you to make app icons larger might help. But I had high hopes for Minimalist Text!
Btw, we did a four way hangout with her yesterday. She has beginning Alzheimer's, but she loves technology!
Edit: I see in the OP's other thread someone mentioned Simple Text . Can that be used on a stock N7? Must I use a different launcher?

amazing idea. is it possible?

hi xda's
i came across with this video that present a whole new control on iphone apps
of course its not real but i believe that its possible for android. can you do somtin like this?
http://vimeo.com/61373732

elada22 said:
hi xda's
i came across with this video that present a whole new control on iphone apps
of course its not real but i believe that its possible for android. can you do somtin like this?
http://vimeo.com/61373732
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We already have that, with a different appearance, but multitasking manager is present since android 4.0...
Unuseful idea in my opinion
Enviado desde mi Nexus 4 usando Tapatalk 2

Android already have this. Only difference is layout. This video = horizontal, ours = vertical.

Might be possible to theme it, which would be cool. I'd like to be able to customize that screen.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

i know android have this but this one looks way better and more effective.
u can actually see a great preview of the app that's running and better use for the screen size.
think about it, u could add an option for a round display like turning a wheel of apps.

elada22 said:
i know android have this but this one looks way better and more effective.
u can actually see a great preview of the app that's running and better use for the screen size.
think about it, u could add an option for a round display like turning a wheel of apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even so, this is almost identical to Sense 4 on the HTC One.

Higher resolution is NOT always better

Particularly when the web browser isn't intelligent enough to deal with it properly.
EDIT: I'm leaving the original post as is, but adding that I discovered the differences between the 2012 and 2013 devices disappeared after the 2012 upgraded to Android 4.3. Web site fonts in chrome display the exact same size on both devices.
Below is a screen shot of the same page in Chrome on the 2012 Nexus 7 (left) and the 2013 Nexus 7 (right). (I'm a new user thus can't seem to post outside links, sorry. Please copy paste that to your browser. And someone please link to the picture?)
farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/9419672088_f5f14cc16e_b.jpg
The 2012 shows the font in a size that I can actually read. The 2013 shows a font so small the device is useless for me in portrait mode for this site. People are so excited about the new 7, but things like this affect usability for me a lot more than whether it's 20% faster. I also don't like the fact that the new 7 is longer and has sharper edges that feel more like they're stabbing you, but that's a separate topic.
I assume what is happening is that the device reports its resolution, and the web site uses it to determine the fame size. The 2013 nexus has 1200 pixels across so the site makes the frame nice and wide, which translates to tiny frigging characters. They may be nice and crisp, but they're still too damn small. This is NOT progress.
Is there any way to increase the font size in Chrome for pages like this? I mean without increasing the fonts on the whole device, and without pinching and zooming. I'm probably going to return my new 7 and buy a 2012 on discount if I can't figure out a way to make it do basic web surfing as well as it's predecessor.
Am I just missing something simple?

a quick solution would be downloading this great browser:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boatbrowser.free
and going into Settings / Page Content Settings / Text scaling.
plus it would allow you to go full screen properly,have some control over text wrapping, use gestures, etc.
Chrome has Text Scaling settings as well (Settings / Accessibility) but i still prefer to use Boat.

browser
uc browser

Good screen shot comparison of the 2 devices.
There are a couple of things;
1) In the nexus "settings:display" I have already changed the system default Font size to "Huge". It seems to improve the size a bit on the forum website you showed.
also,
2) within the Chrome browser itself, you can go to the "Settings:"Accessibility" and increase the text scaling. This will definitely increase the font size.

Then change setting to your liking....
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

andrawer said:
Good screen shot comparison of the 2 devices.
There are a couple of things;
1) In the nexus "settings:display" I have already changed the system default Font size to "Huge". It seems to improve the size a bit on the forum website you showed.
also,
2) within the Chrome browser itself, you can go to the "Settings:"Accessibility" and increase the text scaling. This will definitely increase the font size.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks andrawer. For #1, I don't want everything big. Just certain web pages.
For #2. I overlooked this setting. Unfortunately it (and even #1) affects some fonts but not others. It produces a strange mix of multiple sized fonts. Hrmph.

Personally I like the smaller font and larger layout space as it lets me see the original spacing better.
I understand your point though.

It's as simple as changing font size.....no?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

openwheelracing said:
It's as simple as changing font size.....no?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In theory, yes.
In reality, no.

Just depends on how sites are built. Some sites force a set font size which will look small on high res, other sites scale... Or have a dedicated mobile site, which is preferred.
Mobile sites shouldnt mean sized for a phone, but just touch oriented and better organized for the smaller res.
Sent from Nexus 7 FHD from XDA Premium HD

player911 said:
Just depends on how sites are built. Some sites force a set font size which will look small on high res, other sites scale... Or have a dedicated mobile site, which is preferred.
Mobile sites shouldnt mean sized for a phone, but just touch oriented and better organized for the smaller res.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I hear you. The problem I that not all sites are well designed. And for those sites a high Res screen is actually worst.

funny thing is that xda is one of those "not well designed" sites. I get all sorts of mixes in font size, and that's just between different posts.

Poke_N_PDA said:
funny thing is that xda is one of those "not well designed" sites. I get all sorts of mixes in font size, and that's just between different posts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xda is a very popular mobile device website.
DOES NOT HAVE A MOBILE THEME.

Poke_N_PDA said:
funny thing is that xda is one of those "not well designed" sites. I get all sorts of mixes in font size, and that's just between different posts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats a chrome for android issue actually. The stock android browser does not do this. You can actually install it without root now.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2385928

I have no issues reading web sites and LOVE the high resolution of the New Nexus 7. You could double tap to zoom in many cases if you wanted it bigger or use setting to increase fonts size is you desired.
Higher resolution is NOT always better
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe, but in the case of the Nexus 7 2013 I sure believe it is, and I don't think I'm alone.

RojasTKD said:
I have no issues reading web sites and LOVE the high resolution of the New Nexus 7. You could double tap to zoom in many cases if you wanted it bigger or use setting to increase fonts size is you desired.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've already addressed why neither of those solve the problem.
If you're finding it to work well for you that's great. A lot of other people are too. But for me this is a deal breaker. I need to be able to comfortably view web sites that are important to me, and the 2012 does this just fine. For me the new model is a step backward in this regard.

Chrome see,s to handle the high resolutions poorly(first noticed on my Droid DNA). For example, if you look at Drudge Report on a 1080p+ mobile device, it looks all wonky on the left side. If you look at it using the AOSP Browser, my favorite, it looks just fine.
OP, have you tried an alternate browser?

unremarked said:
Chrome see,s to handle the high resolutions poorly(first noticed on my Droid DNA). For example, if you look at Drudge Report on a 1080p+ mobile device, it looks all wonky on the left side. If you look at it using the AOSP Browser, my favorite, it looks just fine.
OP, have you tried an alternate browser?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried dophin, next, Firefox, boat, and uc browsers. None get it right.
I'm game to try aosp bit its warning me that the developers do not support 4.3 and I am proceedings at my own risk. Hmmm

babumon said:
uc browser
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really like the UC browser for tablets (HD version) but doesn't it feel laggy for you sometimes? Especially when I try to sign in. Whatever I type takes forever to show up so I ended up switching to Next browser for now.

Bottom left change to xda 2013 beta 1024. Problem small font on Xda solved. Both aosp and chrome