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Google announced a new 'Android L' design for its mobile operating system today, and it's got a new layered, shadowed look.
2014-06-25
Android L seeks to unify the Android experience on phones, tablets, and smartwatches by using a new "Material Design" aesthetic.
"Material surfaces slide around with the physics of card stock," said Google's Vice President of Design, Matias Duarte. "But they respond to touch with splashes of virtual ink that are like ripples in a pond."
Android L is only available as a developer preview at the moment, but Google has mentioned that it will arrive this fall.
Here's a comparison of how the old Android Mail app looks like compared to the Material Design version.
Youtube
Here's how Android L will look like at the home screen.
Karyne Levy/Business Insider
The user interface is cleaner, and it does have a slightly flat look like iOS 7, but the emphasis on shadows and physics effects gives the UI a unique spin.
Google
The phone dialer has "bold material colors and shadows," and the dialer button is actually elevated above the rest of the UI.
Screenshot
A new feature called "Nested Scrolling" allows recent calls to fade away as you scroll, and menu bars to lock into place naturally.
Google
Notifications in Android L are prioritized now, so that only the most important notifications are brought to your attention. Double-tapping a notification launches the app, but for notifications that aren't as pressing, a simple swipe will dismiss them.
Google
A new lock screen unlocks your phone as you swipe at notifications, saving time.
Google
"Personal Unlocking" enables a device to determine if it is in a trusted environment. For example, it will detect whether or not it's in your hand or on the table near you. Or, if you're wearing a smartwatch, it will use Bluetooth to know it's in range. If the phone doesn't know it's near you, it will present a PIN for you to unlock the device.
Youtube
Here's how the new web browser looks.
YouTube
Improvements to the Chrome browser means that open tabs in Chrome can now be added to Recent Apps, so you can view them all in one place. Links in Google Search can also take you directly to an app such as Open Table.
YouTube
Project Volta, a new feature that helps optimize and improve battery life, allows developers to go under the hood with "Battery Historian" and see how battery usage is affected by particular apps.
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Steven Tweedie is a Deputy Executive Editor at Business Insider. He launched the Business News desk in early 2020 and helped grow it into the Trending and Tech News desk, a fast-paced reporting powerhouse that tackles the biggest business and tech stories of the day in an approachable way. He now oversees the Business News desk, Corporate team, and Weekend desk. He works out of the New York newsroom and helps train fellows and new hires at all experience levels in addition to his daily editing duties.He began his career covering app startups and gadgets on the Technology desk at BI. His past reporting and scoops have been cited or syndicated by publications including the WSJ, Associated Press, CNN, Bloomberg, The Guardian, and Forbes. He attended the University of Michigan, where he studied economics and writing, and now lives in Astoria.Have a news tip? Email Steven from a non-work email at stweedie@jkmperu.comFollow him on X and Threads for the latest.
