Google's Next Big Android Update Can Force Dark Mode and Icon Themes (theverge.com) 25
Google's Android 16 QPR2 beta 1 is rolling out with new customization features, including the ability to force dark mode and icon themes on apps that don't support them. The update also adds enhanced parental controls, better data migration, PDF editing, and Bluetooth audio sharing, with a full release expected in December. The Verge reports: The beta includes a new dark theme option that will "intelligently invert the UI of apps that appear light despite users having selected the dark theme" when enabled, according to Google's announcement, forcibly making apps that don't natively support the feature to appear darker. Google says this is "largely intended as an accessibility feature" for users with low vision or photosensitivity, and will also automatically darken app splash screens and adjust status bar colors to match the darker theming.
Another feature will allow users to forcibly apply themed icon colors to apps that don't natively support them. Android's icon theming currently only works if app developers have provided a monochrome version of their app icon that can be adjusted, which is annoying for users who want to apply a consistent aesthetic across their entire home page. Auto-themed app icons spare developers from adding this capability manually, removing the hassle for users to customize their phone's theme. The full list of features in the QPR2 beta 1 update can be found on the Android developers' blog.
Another feature will allow users to forcibly apply themed icon colors to apps that don't natively support them. Android's icon theming currently only works if app developers have provided a monochrome version of their app icon that can be adjusted, which is annoying for users who want to apply a consistent aesthetic across their entire home page. Auto-themed app icons spare developers from adding this capability manually, removing the hassle for users to customize their phone's theme. The full list of features in the QPR2 beta 1 update can be found on the Android developers' blog.
Re: So what? (Score:2)
At least playing a MIDI file does something useful.
I could force the Hotdog Stand theme on Windows 3.1 applications.
Dark mode is unreadable. (Score:1)
Damn. I don't want to buy an iPhone, but I may have to, because I cannot read dark mode text.
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Nobody's forcing you to use it.
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Yeah, I was just triggered, because some apps already show up in dark mode without my wanting it. When I looked at the story again, the forcing was applied to the apps, not to the user.
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RTFA...
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I did, which part didn't you get?
"The beta includes a new dark theme option that will “intelligently invert the UI of apps that appear light despite users having selected the dark theme” when enabled"
So if you enable dark mode, and then enable this new option, Android will try to turn apps not complying with dark mode.
If you don't want to use dark mode, just don't enable it.
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"The beta includes a new dark theme option that will "intelligently invert the UI of apps that appear light despite users having selected the dark theme" when enabled"
Which word in that was confusing to you?
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Damn. I don't want to buy an iPhone, but I may have to, because I cannot read dark mode text.
You need to buy an iPhone because Google is giving you the option and control over how your device looks? Is that what you just said? At that point isn't it simpler to get a parent to setup your device for you and then lock it down with parental controls?
Yes but can I set my own colors? (Score:3)
I'm really tired of the nasty pastel colors. Please just let me set my own colors. Not pastel colors, but real colors. If I want a bright color and better contrast, I should be able to do that. The old Material look and feel worked great with saturated colors. Currently I make do with an app that forces the UI to adopt greyscale for most UI elements. Contrast still sucks, but at least it's not those sickly pastel colors.
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And replacing checkmarks with switches, which do not have clear labels, such that despite the physical metaphor they need color to show their state.
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Enormous round floating buttons that somehow still manage to be hard to find, because they look different than all other buttons (consistency used to be a thing in UI design) and visually merge into the equally unusable list item below them. It's dreadful both ways.
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Honestly, I miss the days of skeumorphism. Sure the felt and leather was excessive, but to me it gave texture and depth to things. At the very least it also got rid of the whole hiding controls because they're just blocks of text look by replacing them with buttons that look like buttons.
Plus the faux 3D shading and everything. Granted, the current design probably makes things a bit easier to find on the screen but I do miss the textures and such.
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I'm with you. Bring back the Fisher-Price themes, now!
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My phone UI has ever looked like a Fisher Price toy. But it is possible to have a nice looking UI with good contrast and decent colors. Pastels just aren't to my liking at all and the older I get the more I have a hard time with low contrast.
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I mean never looked like a Fisher Price toy.
Pastels will look dated very quickly. Like 60s orange and green kitchens.
Even Windows 3.1 had color configuration. (Score:2)
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Yes, we need to return to the days of Hot Dog Stand! [media.mas.to]
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Color configuration for whom? Windows 3.1 didn't offer any color configuration ... for developers. That said I don't miss the UI clusterfuck that was Windows 98 era. At least Winamp was acceptable but god most programs looked like trash.
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At least Windows 9X had color configuration for developers.
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Yes indeed, but most developers ignored the system-configurable colors.
For the color configuration to work, developers had to choose to use the configured colors using specific color codes. Even Microsoft's own software didn't do this, so it eventually went away.
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Wait. What century are we in? Oh right, you can choose any color you want so long as it is black or white. Well, sometimes black - but we are forcing it on apps that are not inclusive.
Yep, easy to find and configure... I can't say the same for any modern operating system, I'm not sure the option exists in Windows, pretty sure it doesn't in Mac and Linux devs will scoff "colour... you want colour" so it will require a kernel rebuild at the very least.
My concern with this is, is it a "can" or a "will". One of the things that keeps me on Android is that most things are optional, lots of things you can do on Android, not a lot of things you must do. That and I'm not spending £1,000
parental controls (Score:3)
>"The update also adds enhanced parental controls"
Which are still too weak. There appears to still be no site whitelist ability. Nobody should be handing a uncontrolled, internet-connected device to a child, where they can browse most anywhere or contact (or be contacted by) just anyone, without supervision. Relying on blacklists isn't enough. Screen time limits wouldn't be a problem if it was locked down in the first place.
Really, it needs to restrict so no app can be installed without approval, no non-local searching/AI, whitelisting of all browsing, no social media, no ability to text/call to/from or "share" photos/files with people outside the contact list, and no ability to modify contact list without approval.
But it is a step in the right direction. Parents desperately need more options as they are finally realizing the dangers.