Google unveils Android L with colorful new 'Material Design' UI, creating 'depth' within pixels
At its I/O conference on Wednesday, Google took the wraps off Android L, its latest-generation mobile operating system, which has once again been redesigned with a new, colorful look dubbed "Material Design."
Material Design actually goes beyond Android L and represents a new look and feel for all of Google's platforms, extending from phones to tablets and to the Web and desktop. Introduced by Android chief Sundar Pichai as featuring a "fresh, bold and new look," Android L was created with the idea of creating perceived "depth" within pixels.
To allow developers to tap into the new user interface, Android L allows them to specify an "elevation value" for any item within the UI. The operating system then gives correct perspective and proper real-time shadows to that element.
Android L also gives developers the ability to create seamless animations when transitioning between screens. And a new feature called "palette" automatically reads the colors in images to make the user interface around them match.
Material Design comes with new style guidelines for developers for phones, tablets and the Web.
Android L also comes with a new personal unlocking feature, which can allow users to bypass security mechanisms based on a variety of factors. For example, Android L might allow a user to unlock their phone because it knows they are located at home, or because it is connected to a trusted device like a Bluetooth smart watch.
Android L also comes with a new "Extension Pack" that offers what Google claims are "PC gaming" capabilities on high-end smartphones and tablets. To showcase this, the company showcased a demo from developer Epic Games, a company that has also taken the stage to show off mobile titles at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.
Google also revealed that Android L has a new battery saver mode that can be configured to maximize battery life. Notifications have been improved as well, allowing users to quickly respond to calls or texts while running other apps.
And Android L also has a new feature called "recents" that acts as a place for users to quickly access applications and websites. Open Chrome tabs are listed separately, and any application will be able to have multiple in-app items displayed in this view. Google Search will also now be able to grab information from within applications.
The Android L developer preview will be available for developers Thursday with a system image that will run on the Nexus 5 handset. It will debut on phones and tablets for end users this fall.
Material Design actually goes beyond Android L and represents a new look and feel for all of Google's platforms, extending from phones to tablets and to the Web and desktop. Introduced by Android chief Sundar Pichai as featuring a "fresh, bold and new look," Android L was created with the idea of creating perceived "depth" within pixels.
To allow developers to tap into the new user interface, Android L allows them to specify an "elevation value" for any item within the UI. The operating system then gives correct perspective and proper real-time shadows to that element.
Android L also gives developers the ability to create seamless animations when transitioning between screens. And a new feature called "palette" automatically reads the colors in images to make the user interface around them match.
Material Design comes with new style guidelines for developers for phones, tablets and the Web.
Android L also comes with a new personal unlocking feature, which can allow users to bypass security mechanisms based on a variety of factors. For example, Android L might allow a user to unlock their phone because it knows they are located at home, or because it is connected to a trusted device like a Bluetooth smart watch.
Android L also comes with a new "Extension Pack" that offers what Google claims are "PC gaming" capabilities on high-end smartphones and tablets. To showcase this, the company showcased a demo from developer Epic Games, a company that has also taken the stage to show off mobile titles at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.
Google also revealed that Android L has a new battery saver mode that can be configured to maximize battery life. Notifications have been improved as well, allowing users to quickly respond to calls or texts while running other apps.
And Android L also has a new feature called "recents" that acts as a place for users to quickly access applications and websites. Open Chrome tabs are listed separately, and any application will be able to have multiple in-app items displayed in this view. Google Search will also now be able to grab information from within applications.
The Android L developer preview will be available for developers Thursday with a system image that will run on the Nexus 5 handset. It will debut on phones and tablets for end users this fall.
Comments
Look at this presentation slide. They’ve ground up all their shame into a powder, snorted it, and then self-drove around the neighborhood leaving flaming sacks of dog doo on the porches of Apple employees.
Hey, look. DO NOT DISTURB. Wonder where they got that idea.
Android L: Loser. And all the myriad variations we’ll come up with.
3rd party developers?
Wow, look at all of those geeks and perverts in that one picture, sitting there wearing Google Glass on their faces.
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And Android L? What kind of a lame name is that?
The biggest news from skimming the Verge seems to be the new ART runtime, meaning the clunky Dalvik VM is gone and Android is now 64bit. Also security patches are now pushed via Play instead of fragmented OS updates (if you ever get them) so that's a good thing for those stuck over there.
And Android L? What kind of a lame name is that?
Comes after K. You know, Lemon Merengue, Lemon Drop. L…
Not too many candies that start with L that don’t end in -emon, huh.
Comes after K. You know, Lemon Merengue, Lemon Drop. L…
Not too many candies that start with L that don’t end in -emon, huh.
So they decided to drop the candy theme, and just call it L instead?
I don't know of any candy called 'L'.
I'm thinking Lollipop. It even suits the more colorful UI since lollipops come in many colors and flavors.
Comes after K. You know, Lemon Merengue, Lemon Drop. L…
Not too many candies that start with L that don’t end in -emon, huh.
Lollipop would be the obvious one, but perhaps they couldn't tolerate the 'suck on that, Apple' headlines that would follow from tech 'journalists'?
Wow, look at all of those geeks and perverts in that one picture, sitting there wearing Google Glass on their faces.
" src="http://forums-files.appleinsider.com/images/smilies//lol.gif" />
And Android L? What kind of a lame name is that?
Geeks, yes, perverts, no. If someone wants to take creepy photos of people without them noticing, they're not going to use a camera attached to the side of a pair of glasses.
Smartwatches with cameras, on the other hand...
If someone wants to take creepy photos of people without them noticing, they're not going to use a camera attached to the side of a pair of glasses.
Actually, I'd say that it's the ultimate device for a pervert, because it's so obvious and up front, and does not need to be hidden.
Comes after K. You know, Lemon Merengue, Lemon Drop. L…
Not too many candies that start with L that don’t end in -emon, huh.
So they decided to drop the candy theme, and just call it L instead?
I don't know of any candy called 'L'.
Licorice?
Actually, I'd say that it's the ultimate device for a pervert, because it's so obvious and up front, and does not need to be hidden.
I feel like the ultimate device for a pervert is the smartphones we already have. A smartphone is ubiquitous and ordinary, it doesn't attract any attention, it's not memorable, and you've got a legitimate reason for holding it up to look at it. Glass shares the advantage of being able to point it all over the place, but it sticks out like a sore thumb - particularly since people will see someone wearing it and assume they're some sort of Glasshole / creep.
(A phone also doesn't cost $1500, unless you buy one of those incomprehensibly expensive $10000 Android phones http://www.stuff.tv/vertu/vertus-6750-android-phone-gets-you-all-best-clubs/news )
Lollipop
Licorice?
Lutefisk.
That IS iOS.
Did these toggle designs previously exist on Android? Because they remind me of iOS 7.
It reminds you of iOS 7 because it is iOS 7 - look at the top bar!
They’ve ground up all their shame into a powder, snorted it, and then self-drove around the neighborhood leaving flaming sacks of dog doo on the porches of Apple employees.
Hey, look. DO NOT DISTURB. Wonder where they got that idea.
Android L: Loser. And all the myriad variations we’ll come up with.
I think it was from an app on Cydia.