Latest news with #UIUpdate
Phone Arena
7 days ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
Google pushes out new Google Search widget for Android with custom shortcut icon
Google has started disseminating a redesigned Google Search widget for Android phones. The previous look for the Search widget was a pill-shaped field with the Google "G" logo on the left. An additional Search shortcut could be seen as you moved toward the right of the pill followed by the microphone icon for voice input. The new look starts with the same search bar in a container with an extra circle that is next to the right side of the container to hold the icon of the custom shortcut you select. So let's repeat what the new look features. The "G" logo, which opens the Google app when tapped, stays on the left with the microphone icon toward the right. That is followed by Google Lens to close the container. There is then a separate circle that you can add a custom shortcut to. This new Google Search widget is a little thicker than the old one. The new look is a 4 x 1 layout instead of the 3 x 1 look for the bar that has been replaced. To select which icon you want for the circle at the very end of the widget, long press on the widget and tap the pencil icon that appears. This will take you to a page where you can select from several themes for the Search widget including System, Light, Dark, Device, and Custom. Tap on Shortcuts to choose the custom icon from these options: None Translate (for text) Song Search Weather Translate (Camera) Sports Dictionary Homework Finance Saved News Keep in mind that this is the Google Search widget and not the iconic Pixel Launcher search bar. It is unknown whether Google will add the new look to the Pixel Launcher search bar although at this stage there are no changes to that search bar. How to set the custom shortcut icon on the new Google Search widget for Android. | Image credit-PhoneArena The Google Search widget is part of the version 16.19 update to the Android version of the Google app. It is a server-side update and if it doesn't show up, try a Force Stop of the app. To put the widget on your phone, long press on the Home Screen and you'll get a box with options including Wallpaper & style, widgets, Apps list, and Home settings. Tap on Widgets and scroll down to Google. Tap on the 4 x 1 search bar widget. Follow the directions we gave you earlier in the story for adding a custom shortcut icon and you will have the new Google Search widget on your Android phone .
Android Authority
23-05-2025
- Android Authority
Google's fresh, clean account switcher is rolling out now to more apps
Joe Hindy / Android Authority TL;DR Google's been developing a new account switcher since last August. The new account switcher is rolling out in Translate, Wallet, and Tasks. This new look appears more like the web version, and recently showed up in Maps. Many of us have multiple Google accounts, and it can be annoying to switch back and forth between them all the time. Thankfully, Google lets users add all those accounts to their apps and devices and switch when needed. However, Google's account switcher has been undergoing a redesign that brings it more in line with the web version, and now that new look is showing up in more apps. The redesigned account switcher is now rolling out to these three Google apps: Translate (version 9.9.58.761479923.3-release), Wallet (version 25.20.761154377), and Tasks (version 2025.05.19.760395213.0-release). We saw it surfacing a few weeks ago in the Google Maps app as well, and an earlier APK teardown revealed it in Calendar and Keep. The previous version of the account switcher involved a lot more taps to actually change to a different profile. You had to view your primary account, then tap 'Manage your Google account,' and then tap your account email to reveal a menu with your other accounts — a bit convoluted and requires a lot of tapping. This new look is much more streamlined and more like what you see on the web. You'll see the profile photo of your primary account at the top with 'Manage your Google Account' underneath, but now there's a collapsable 'Switch account' menu. Tapping this brings up your other accounts, the 'Add another account' option, and 'Manage accounts on this device' setting. It's a lot less tapping, which is always welcome. The new look hasn't hit all of Google's apps yet, but we can only imagine that it'll be a matter of time. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
13-05-2025
- Android Authority
Google Maps users are starting to see the new account switcher on Android
Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Users are starting to see the new Google account switcher in Maps on Android. The redesign brings the UI closer to what you see on the web. Since August 2024, we have been keeping tabs on a new account switcher that's in development for Google's apps. The last time we saw it was in an APK teardown that showed Google was preparing the new UI for apps like Keep, Maps, and Calendar. Now, it seems some users are finally starting to see the redesign pop up. On Telegram, a user who goes by Xsir shared the following screenshot of a new account switcher design. The UI, which was found in the Maps app, appears to match our earlier findings, a design that resembles the web version. Specifically, you can see a profile picture of the primary account, a greeting, 'Manage your Google Account' button, and a collapsible 'Switch account' menu. Xisr It appears the new account switcher has not only rolled out for Xsir. We have seen a handful of other users who have also mentioned the redesigned UI. The change has yet to roll out for our own devices. Which means we're currently seeing the old version, which includes the profile picture that's to the right of the primary account and arrow button, the 'Manage your Google Account' button that's below those elements, other connected accounts, an 'Add another account' option, and the option to 'Manage accounts on this device.' It's unclear how long it will take for this rollout to become available widely. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
06-05-2025
- Android Authority
Survey reveals people are deeply split over Android's Material 3 Expressive design
We recently uncovered Google's work on a major visual overhaul of Android . The company is giving Android a fresh coat of paint using the Material 3 Expressive design language. This overhaul entails copious use of blurred backgrounds, a tweaked notification shade/quick settings panel, and plenty of smaller tweaks. We wondered what readers thought about these changes and posted a poll in our related articles. Here's what you told us. Over 7,000 votes were counted in this poll, and 34.4% of surveyed Android Authority readers said they loved this change. Oddly enough, only a few comments wholeheartedly praised these changes, such as this one from Mossien Awadh: I love it! I think it looks very refreshing and modern and sorta catches up with the competition but in Google's very own way 👍 Reader jon95kent also declared his love for the new look: I love it! This is the change we've been awaiting since Android 13. Finally, AOSP and Pixels are gonna look as polished as literally every other Android skin out there (and a bit like iOS too which I don't mind at all) User itsjuger had mostly positive things to say about this overhaul too: I like most of the changes. I'm an advocate for stock Android, it's clean and gives you the raw experience of Android. However, I personally am not the biggest fan (of) Material UI. I understand the want for simplicity and minimalism, but sometimes I do miss the Aero theme like on Vista and Windows 7. I think it would be a nice change-up from the current Android skin, but I do think their implementation can still be improved. I think this is a good step moving forward to a newer and *clearer* UI. In second place, with 26% of the vote, was 'Android could use a new look, but I'm not convinced that this is it.' This was followed by 20.09% of polled readers saying the overhaul was a great start but that they wanted even more changes. Finally, 19.49% of surveyed users felt that none of these changes felt necessary and that Google should've maintained the current design.
