Google has started to roll out a fresh look for its sign-in and sign-up pages. To be honest, the change isn’t huge, but for anyone who logs into Google services often, it’s a nice little update. Basically, Google has tidied up the design a bit. This new design hasn’t changed how anything works, but it’s part of Google keeping things looking modern.

These pages are a part of Google’s ‘Material Design’ UI, released in 2014

The update makes the sign-in page look more like what Google calls Material Design, a design style they’ve been using since 2014. Now, the page will adjust to fit your screen better, whether you’re on a computer or using your phone. However, if you’re using a really old browser, you might not see the new design.

The last big change Google made to this page was in 2015 when they decided to ask for your password on a second page. They did this to get ready for new ways to log in that might not need a password and to make things easier for people with more than one Google account.

Google says this new design is here to stay, just like when they updated Gmail to show everything in one view. They started introducing the new sign-in page on February 21, and they plan to have it up for everyone by March 4, 2024.

Even though this update might seem small, it shows that Google wants to keep making things better for users, even in little ways. By making the design cleaner and more flexible for different screen sizes, Google is trying to make sure everyone has a good experience, no matter how they’re accessing their services.

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(VIA)

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Gmail is one of Google’s biggest assets. The company has introduced various updates to its Gmail app for Android. This time, a new update is finally bringing dynamic theming to the app icon in email notifications. With the release of Android 12 and its revolutionary UI design called Material You in the year 2021, Google introduced dynamic theming, allowing UI elements to borrow colours from the active wallpaper for a more layered, connected experience. While many apps have adopted this feature, the app icon in Gmail’s notification shade remained without a theme, looking out of place. However, with the latest version of the Gmail app (2023.05.28.54044.3362), this issue has been addressed.

Users can download the APK file and sideload it if they want the update earlier

Google is known for being an early update provider to its own first-party apps, which makes sense. Gmail has been no exception. The app embraced Material You in September and introduced dynamic color for its widgets shortly after. However, the app icon in the notification shade retained its traditional red colour for unread emails. It is important to note that this is different from the status bar icon. This is the Gmail icon that accompanies the email notification in your status bar when you pull it down.

The new update now allows the Gmail app icon in email notifications to dynamically match the accent colours of the Quick Settings toggled on. These accent colours are derived from the user’s active wallpaper, resulting in a more harmonious visual experience across the Android system.

To get this update, users can choose to sideload the APK file from APKMirror since the exact timing of its availability on the Google Play Store is uncertain. By manually installing the updated APK, users can enjoy the new dynamic theming feature for the Gmail app without having to wait for it to be pushed as an update or auto-update.

This development showcases Google’s commitment to fixing even the tiniest flaws in the UI, contributing to a better user experience and staying true to Material You. With the Gmail app now blending in with the colour scheme, users can now enjoy an aesthetically appealing notification experience on their Android devices.

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(Via)

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WhatsApp, the globally popular messaging app, is set to undergo some notable changes in the near future. Recent reports have revealed that WhatsApp will be introducing the much-anticipated Material You Design toggles, aligning with the latest UI trend. While WhatsApp has been lacking prominent Material You Design elements, this update will give the app a more modern and appealing look.

Material You Toggles to Arrive in Future WhatsApp Release

The latest Android beta version, v2.23.10.6, offers a sneak peek at the upcoming Material You toggles for WhatsApp. Although the feature is not currently available to beta testers, it will be introduced in a future update. These new toggles exhibit a sleek design and are expected to enhance the overall user experience. When the toggle is turned off, it displays a light-gray indicator and outline. Conversely, when the toggle is on, the outline disappears, and the toggle adopts WhatsApp’s signature green color, with a dark gray fill. The appearance may differ slightly if the light mode is enabled.

WhatsApp’s recent updates have been focused on improving user functionality and security. Among these updates is the forthcoming screen sharing feature for Android phones, allowing users to share their screens during conversations. Additionally, WhatsApp is rumored to be introducing usernames and a redesigned settings page to further enhance usability. Moreover, a recent addition to the app is the password reminder feature for end-to-end encrypted backups, providing users with added security measures.

As WhatsApp continues to refine its features and design, users can look forward to a more visually appealing and intuitive messaging experience with the integration of Material You UI elements.

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(Source)

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Google has started to roll out the new Material Design 3 user interface (UI) for its Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides applications. The update aims to simplify the UI, reduce clutter, and enhance collaboration.

The redesigned UI for Google Drive features a white container with rounded corners displaying lists and grids of files. The section headers are more prominent, and line separators have been removed. The new design also includes filters for file types, last modified, and people. The left sidebar features a pill-shaped indicator highlighting the section being viewed, while the elevated “New” button appears just above. Google has added functionality that enables users to hover over a file in the list view to reveal shortcuts to share, download, rename, and open the menu.

The UI of Google Docs, Sheets and Slides now features a pill-shaped toolbar with a light blue background. The suggestions button and comments feature a light blue background, and the top bar features a blue sharing pill and buttons without containers at the right.

The new design rollout will occur over the next 15 days, with all users expected to receive it by March 25th. The update will be available for all Workspace and personal users, as well as for those on the legacy G Suite Basic and Business plans. Google says the redesign will offer a simpler, more streamlined UI emphasizing the most loved tools within the products, helping users work more efficiently with the tools they know and love.

The Material Design 3 UI for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides is similar to Gmail’s new look, reflecting Google’s efforts to streamline core collaboration journeys across its products. With this update, Google aims to make it easier for users to collaborate and work more efficiently while maintaining a familiar and easy-to-use interface.

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(Via)

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Samsung Galaxy watches are pretty popular in the market. After Apple watches, these are the ones on which you can rely With Android 12, Google introduced the Material You design language to smartphones and tablets. Samsung debuted its own Material You-inspired Color Palette feature with One UI 4.0 and provided even greater UI customization in One UI 5.0. Google intends to eventually make Material You available on Wear OS wearables.

Google is trying to provide Wear OS-based smartwatches with delightful dynamic colour customizations, according to new code discovered in the Android 14 codebase. 9To5Google has discovered a new string inside Android 14’s settings for smartwatches named “DYNAMIC COLOR THEME ENABLED.” Android 11 serves as the foundation of Wear OS 3, which is now used by the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5 series. Since Material You debuted with Android 12, Wear OS 3 has never received it.

So we may get the support of dynamic theming in the Galaxy watches via the next major update. This could be very good news for the existing users or the ones who are planning to buy the Galaxy watch in the future. Google may directly switch to Android 14 with the upcoming major release of Wear OS. Samsung may eventually add Material You to its Wear OS-based smartwatches with the next edition of One UI Watch, much as how it did with the Color Palette feature in One UI 4.0.

However, none of the information has been confirmed yet so we suggest you take this info with a pinch of salt. If we get any further information regarding this, we will update you as soon as possible. That being you, what do you think about this? Do let us know by dropping a comment in your words down below. Thanks a lot for reading the post till the end.

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Google has been working hard to ensure that the Material You theming engine is implemented properly across the UI. The Material You is basically a wallpaper-based theming engine which picks up colour from the wallpaper and then applies it across the UI to give an updated and modern look. Now, the brand has reportedly redesigned the Material You for Google App and it makes the UI look better. The latest update carries the changes done in the theming for the particular app and ensures that it gets properly benefited from Material You.

With pill-shaped indicators and a more Material You-aligned bottom bar, the Google app now better complements the new Search filters carousel design. While Gmail utilises something even more minimalist, this is the short version as opposed to the typical tall variety seen in almost every other first-party software. There is no usage of Dynamic Color; instead, a blue accent is provided. The Google app for Android is the most recent to acquire a cutting-edge account switcher, following Messages and the web. In the Google app, tapping your profile avatar now displays a switcher that makes use of Material You with Dynamic Color.

The theming helps to visually separate items on lengthier lists that include settings. The account switcher, Search history, Delete recent 15 minutes, Results about you, and Reminders are all located in the inside container. The top of the page has the Google logo, and the words “Your data in Search,” “Settings,” and “Help & Feedback” are underneath.

Last but not least, the Google app Settings have undergone a significant redesign with a dark layout and an AMOLED black background. Although the header may be bigger, it appears that there are other Materials You settings. The menu items General, Notifications, SafeSearch, Personal results, Personalization, Google Assistant, Voice, Language & region, Privacy & Security (which recently arrived and is broken), and About are still placed in the same order beneath the pill-shaped search bar.

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We are back again with our new list of top stories from the previous week. Lots of things happened last week. Most importantly, Samsung announced its flagship smartphones and tablets of 2022. Then, out of the blue, Google dropped the first Developer Preview of Android 13.  At the same time, the search giant ended support for one of the Pixel series. Let’s take a look at these and a lot more in our ‘latest Top Stories from Last Week’ segment.

Before we continue, we would like to inform you that the stories selected here are based on our opinion. Further, they are listed in no particular order.  Since everyone’s choices differ from others, we would like to know your picks in the comment section below.

Top Stories from Last Week

Galaxy S22 series – The next big thing from Samsung

Samsung’s next big thing is finally here in the form of the Galaxy S22 series. The South Korean tech unveiled its latest flagship smartphones with a fanfare at the Galaxy Unpacked 2022 event on February 9 (Wednesday).

The company has introduced multiple changes in the new models. Firstly, all three devices arrive with a new design. The Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22+ are only slightly different from their predecessors, whereas the Galaxy S22 Ultra has been completely revamped with a built-in S Pen. In fact, the latter is more of a Galaxy Note than a Galaxy S.

The two cheaper models come with updated primary and telephoto cameras. The plus and ultra offer the brightest display on a smartphone. Finally, in some markets, these phones are powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2200 SoC with AMD RDNA architecture-based Xclipse GPU.

Galaxy Tab S8 series – Notch and a 14.6-inch screen

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Tab S8 series alongside the Galaxy S22 series. The family consists of three models like the phones – vanilla, plus, and ultra.

Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra, the first ‘Ultra’-branded tablet from Samsung, has a massive 14.6-inch AMOLED display. The screen also includes a notch housing two cameras.

The Galaxy Tab S8 and the Galaxy Tab S8+ are regularly sized tablets. But the vanilla variant has an LCD panel instead of AMOLED like the other two. 

All three are powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. They also have support for the S Pen stylus.

Android 13 Developer Preview out ahead of Android 12L Stable release

Even before Android 12L could hit the stable channel, Google has already released the Android 13 Developer Preview. Anyone with Pixel 4 or above devices can try out the upcoming version of Android.

Android 13, which is codenamed Tiramisu, is a polished version of Android 12. So don’t expect major changes like the transition from Android 11 to Android 12.

According to a timeline shared by Googe, beta builds will be out around April, followed by stable in June or July. Anyway, this schedule is only applicable for Pixels.

Dynamic theme coming to non-Pixel devices

Google has officially revealed that the Android 12’s monet dynamic theme engine will be soon available on devices from popular OEMs like Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and others. However, the search didn’t give a specific timeline.

Ahead of this announcement, a report had already disclosed that the Android 12 dynamic theming engine will be a requirement for GMS approval from March 14. This means the feature should come to non-Pixel devices in the next few weeks, at least, in the form of beta.

Google ends support for Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

The Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3 XL received their final software update last week. The system update merely brings February 2022 security patches.

The Pixel 3 series debuted in October 2018 with Android 9.0 Pie. Throughout their lifetime, the handsets received 3 Android updates (up to Android 12).

The Pixel 3 XL has made a name for itself in history for its ‘bathtub notch’.

OnePlus plans to discuss OxygenOS 13 with users

OnePlus and OPPO are expected to introduce a unified operating system based on Android 13 later this year. Ahead of that, the former has scheduled an Open Ears Forum (OEF) to discuss the said software with its userbase.

As of now, OnePlus is still calling it OxygenOS 13 based on Android 13. Perhaps, the name change may happen once the software reaches the release phase.

That said, the event is planned for February 28 and the registrations for it are open until February 18.

Bunch of upcoming Motorola phones leak in renders

Popular leaker Evan Blass shared press renders of five forthcoming Motorola smartphones on February 9. As he does with Motorola leaks, he merely described the codenames of these phones instead of their actual marketing names.

These handsets called Hawaii+, Dubai, Rogue, Rhode, and Austin belong to multiple price segments. For instance, one of them has an under-display camera, while another features a thick chin.

We expect to learn more about these devices in the coming days.

Infinix debuts its first 5G smartphone – ZERO 5G

Infinix ZERO 5G made its global debut in Nigeria as the brand’s first 5G smartphone. It is a mid-range offering with some interesting set of features.

The 6.78-inch 120Hz display (LCD) touting handset is powered by a MediaTek Dimesnity 900 SoC coupled with 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 storage. Unlike most phones in the segment, it sports a 13MP 2x telephoto camera.

In addition to a dedicated MicroSD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack, the device is backed by a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging.

Realme grew stronger globally in Q4 2021

A Canalys report revealed that Realme entered the top 5 in 30 markets globally. For the first time, the brand made it to the list in key markets like Germany, Peru, Colombia, and Western Europe.

In India alone, the company grew 48% YoY. As a result, its market share rose to 17% in the region. In Western Europe and Europe, it registered growths of a whopping 1365% and 450% respectively.

Hope for new BlackBerry smartphones dies

In January, OnwardMobility reassured that a 5G BlackBerry smartphone with a keyboard is on its way later this year after being delayed. Within a few weeks, a report from last week revealed that this project is dead.

It is said that OnwardMobility has lost its license to use the ‘BlackBerry’ name. The once-popular smartphone maker is reportedly distancing itself from its glorious days after selling its mobile patent portfolio in early February.

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Along with the introduction of Android 12 came one of the most intriguing features offered on the new OS called Material You. With the help of the ‘monet’ theme engine, the new feature extracts colors from the current wallpaper and splashes it across the system UI and supported apps, giving users greater control than ever over what their phone’s software looks like.

So far, the feature has mostly been available on Google Pixel devices. But now, Google has officially announced that devices from Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Realme, Xiaomi, Tecno, “and more” will all be getting the feature.

Yesterday (February 10, 2022), Google’s Android product manager Rohan Shah took to the Android Developers Blog to make the announcement stating “As more Android 12 devices land in the next couple months, our OEM partners are working with us to ensure that key design APIs, especially around dynamic color, work consistently across the Android ecosystem so developers can have peace of mind and users can benefit from a cohesive experience.”

Although the post didn’t mention any specific date or timeline on which Android 12 smartphone users can expect the feature to drop, however, considering how rocky the release of Android 12 has been so far, it does bring a sense of relief that Google is working closely with other OEMs to integrate the feature on their custom Android skins.

Earlier this week, a report surfaced stating that dynamic color themes will become a requirement for phones getting Android 12. “Referencing internal Google documentation, our source says that starting on March 14, Google will require that any new Android 12-based software builds submitted for Google Mobile Services (GMS) approval implement a dynamic theming engine that meets certain requirements.”

So it appears like the dynamic theming feature is here to stay and will soon be available on all Android devices running the latest Android 12 OS or higher in the future.

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Google has slowly but steadily been upgrading its software catalog to be Material You-compliant. Chrome OS and Search are among the latest to show hints of the new design language — but it doesn’t just end there. A new report suggests that dynamic theming will soon be turning compulsory if any Android 12 Android phone or tablet is to ship with Google services.

The source, which has spoken to Android Police, has picked off the information from internal Google documentation. It says that starting March 14, Google will require any new Android 12-based builds submitted for GMS (Google Mobile Services) approval to implement a dynamic theming engine. Certain conditions will be put in place alongside such as the ability to generate five tonal palettes based on a single source color.

It could be possible that this requirement will be going live with the release of Android 12L. The monet engine currently remains a Pixel-exclusive thingy and is yet to go full open source, but Android 12L is expected to integrate it fully into AOSP.

Manufacturers will thus have to create their own compliant dynamic theming engines or directly implement Google’s monet.

Android expert Mishaal Rahman says that some manufacturers like Xiaomi and Motorola have already started monet-related patches from Google’s internal Android 12L repository. Other manufacturers like Samsung chose to go with their own implementation of dynamic wallpaper-based theming, which while isn’t powered by monet, uses very similar logic.

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