Android's GUI Identity Crisis - Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Been playing with Jelly Bean for a couple of days now, and can't help feel that it's almost got a split personality when it comes to the graphics..
Some of the Android menus are the ICS style black and neon blue, but there are more and more screens creeping in with the new Google style white / grey look
Do you think Android's going to move more to having a consistent white / grey look as it gets developed? Or are we going to be left with mixed system themes for a while?

scooby359 said:
Been playing with Jelly Bean for a couple of days now, and can't help feel that it's almost got a split personality when it comes to the graphics..
Some of the Android menus are the ICS style black and neon blue, but there are more and more screens creeping in with the new Google style white / grey look
Do you think Android's going to move more to having a consistent white / grey look as it gets developed? Or are we going to be left with mixed system themes for a while?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They introduced the new Intent Action launcher (the white one, 1st screen) to avoid the data tapping Apple's patent. However I like the Holo Light theme, I think that Google is playing with Light and Dark theme not to bore the users.

scooby359 said:
Been playing with Jelly Bean for a couple of days now, and can't help feel that it's almost got a split personality when it comes to the graphics..
Some of the Android menus are the ICS style black and neon blue, but there are more and more screens creeping in with the new Google style white / grey look
Do you think Android's going to move more to having a consistent white / grey look as it gets developed? Or are we going to be left with mixed system themes for a while?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holo Light and Holo Dark both follow Android Design Guidelines.

The Nexus 7 uses an IPS screen, which does whites well but blacks can look not as good as on AMOLED screens.
That may be another reason for more white. Im not a fan but I see the need for comprimise. I wish we could toggle the theme between light ahd dark Holo in Google apps, though.

I'm also no fan of the mixed themes. I really always think how cheap it looks when it switches colors. I think the system should have a switch for either everything black or everything white. I'm missing the feeling that I'm on a professional system when it comes to software ui.
On the other hand it totally sucks that even bigger developers like tapatalk for example just don't follow these rules... So many NEW apps just look ugly... Hope this will change sooner or later...
Gesendet von meinem Jelly Belly mit Tapatalk 2

Messaging and contacts had the same white theme in ICS, so this style isn't new to JB. It is kind of a design clash, but not one I find very annoying as they do work together.

speedyink said:
Messaging and contacts had the same white theme in ICS, so this style isn't new to JB. It is kind of a design clash, but not one I find very annoying as they do work together.
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You're right about the messaging app. This works for me too. But the contacts has the blue bar at top and overall blue lines which makes it look totally different....
Gesendet von meinem Galaxy Nexus mit Tapatalk 2

Your right some kind of theme selection would be nice. I'm guessing they went from more black to more white because their launch device went from a amoled screen to an lcd. A bummer for battery life on the Gnex. The good news is cm and aokp should have the theme manager integrated at some point.
Sent from my cm_tenderloin using xda premium

T-Keith said:
Your right some kind of theme selection would be nice. I'm guessing they went from more black to more white because their launch device went from a amoled screen to an lcd. A bummer for battery life on the Gnex. The good news is cm and aokp should have the theme manager integrated at some point.
Sent from my cm_tenderloin using xda premium
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But it sure would be nice of google to give us more choice on the front end, a dark, light and maybe blue and red toggle theme switch would be so freaking awesome and make the "unique" apple homescreens just look even more ridiculous.
butter and jelly please...

anton2009 said:
Holo Light and Holo Dark both follow Android Design Guidelines.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe so, but it still looks inconsistent.
I would've thought it would make more sense for all system screens to be one theme or the other rather than mixing them.
Surely it wouldn't be too hard to program it so the user could select a dark or light theme then have it applied across the whole system?
Sent from my Jelly Belly using xda app-developers app

scooby359 said:
Maybe so, but it still looks inconsistent.
I would've thought it would make more sense for all system screens to be one theme or the other rather than mixing them.
Surely it wouldn't be too hard to program it so the user could select a dark or light theme then have it applied across the whole system?
Sent from my Jelly Belly using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it would be more uniform, but not much flavor. I agree, I do like holo dark, and sometimes wish it could be applied system wide (which is why I install themes and inverted gapps) but I think this way it gives developers more options as to how to design their apps, because some might like it lighter or darker.
Link

I like the mix of colours :thumbup:
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

scooby359 said:
Maybe so, but it still looks inconsistent.
I would've thought it would make more sense for all system screens to be one theme or the other rather than mixing them.
Surely it wouldn't be too hard to program it so the user could select a dark or light theme then have it applied across the whole system?
Sent from my Jelly Belly using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Microsoft accomplished it. The interface looks so nice only thing I hate about it is too much text... Everything is text. Mostly no icons. Kind of boring. But let's not talk about win phone 7...
Gesendet von meinem Galaxy Nexus mit Tapatalk 2

I hate ICS blue so I like this new white/gray theme.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

White/Gray/Black > ICS Blue.
I feel like the contrast goes well with the display.

Related

Black SMS and Black Gmail

Hey all!
So back when I owned a Nexus S, someone made black versions of SMS and Gmail to appease the amoled screen, and the fact that it uses less power when switched to black.
So I have a question for you all... would you like to see these applications (and possibly more) dressed in black?
Opinions below!
Z
Sent from a yakju GSGN
Pure black with cyan or blue accents, and I would be on that like white on rice
bacardee said:
Pure black with cyan or blue accents, and I would be on that like white on rice
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Click to collapse
I couldn't agree more on your vision of what these apps could look like. It would be perfect. And they would look very smooth, visually.
Sent from a yakju GSGN
Absolutely agree with the other poster that black with the blue highlights would be REALLY nice. Why they didn't match them to ICS is ... odd.
Something like the pic on right http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1375255
would look great
smashcz said:
Something like the pic on right http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1375255
would look great
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly... right around that idea would be perfect. If any of you have an older Gingerbread phone, I could upload the black apks I have sitting in my computer. Maybe we could check those out and get an idea of how to do this.
Sent from a yakju GSGN
ztm.000 said:
Exactly... right around that idea would be perfect. If any of you have an older Gingerbread phone, I could upload the black apks I have sitting in my computer. Maybe we could check those out and get an idea of how to do this.
Sent from a yakju GSGN
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already done black sms, here is the link
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1423638
Ex dialer and handcent both have black options.
Would love it
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Heck yes!!
I hate all the white in Gmail and other apps.
I'd drive 60 mph on a Jet Ski in golf ball size hail for a black themed GMail app.
koolshaggy said:
I'd drive 60 mph on a Jet Ski in golf ball size hail for a black themed GMail app.
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Click to collapse
Lol I may consider doing that then... Hmm...
koolshaggy said:
I'd drive 60 mph on a Jet Ski in golf ball size hail for a black themed GMail app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ICS Gmail... Blacked Out! http://rootzwiki.com/index.php?/topic/13165-ICS-Gmail...-Blacked-Out!
ICS Gmail... Blacked Out!
MMS (Messaging app) Inverted (Black background with white text) http://rootzwiki.com/index.php?/topic/12628-MMS-(Messaging-app)-Inverted-(Black-background-with-white-text)
MMS (Messaging app) Inverted (Black background with white text)
jerrycycle said:
ICS Gmail... Blacked Out! http://rootzwiki.com/index.php?/topic/13165-ICS-Gmail...-Blacked-Out!
ICS Gmail... Blacked Out!
MMS (Messaging app) Inverted (Black background with white text) http://rootzwiki.com/index.php?/top...p)-Inverted-(Black-background-with-white-text)
MMS (Messaging app) Inverted (Black background with white text)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Installed and working great.
Quick question, when we install these modified apps, can we still pull the updates to the apps? Like if for some reason the gmail app is updated and we're using the modified version, we can still download the update, it would just overwrite our modified app, right?
koolshaggy said:
Thanks! Installed and working great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cancel that. My Send button is gone, as well as my options to Reply All and Forward.
I tried this but it makes it almost impossible to tap the check mark so you can take multiple emails .. and any coloured html mail graphics look .. sub-optimal. I'd LOVE a blacked out version but the one at the link above is just not usable as a daily driver.
Does this work with Jelly Bean?

What Color Would You Like To See in a Theme?

Hello All!
From the excellent feedback I received from Black Exodus I've decided to take on another theme project. But I sort of need your help. So, its a simple question, what color do you like to see in a theme? For example the status bar, clock, & overall UI. Black Exodus got more viewers than I anticipated. It seems something minimalistic is in the cards for my next theme, but what color?
You decide!
A poll has been setup with the basic colors. If you have a complex color that isn't in the Poll list. Put it in the comments.
Cheers,
-N
Would really like a variation of Black Exodus where instead of white on black, you use ics blue on black.
vapotrini said:
Would really like a variation of Black Exodus where instead of white on black, you use ics blue on black.
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Click to collapse
Not actually a bad idea Some Blue elements work good with Black Exodus.
I'd vote for Black Exodus IF it had less transparent menus. Really nice theme, but menus sometimes are very hard to read.
A second option would be dark blue, it should look really good on SAMOLED screens
ICS dark theme all over (mms, contacts, email, calendar...) the inconsistencies of ICS is the only critic point for me.
Gesendet von meinem LT15i mit Tapatalk

[REQ] white theme

Hi there devs
so i have a simple request (i think) i would like a white theme that is just like stock ICS... so leave all the blue, and such, just turn the black into white (with the exception of the nav bar and status bar) everything else, either white or a light grey (kinda like MIUI is but except having the orange have the stock ICS blue, i would go to MIUI but 1. i hate orange, and 2, i have market place issues with MIUI)
i really hope someone can take on this project and do this for me... i knwo alot of other users might like the same thing...
thanks in advance, and of course donations will be given for the hard work
Like this?
If so you can download that from Nitroz, HERE
No... I don't want the blue accent changed to white. I want all the current black backgrounds white/light grey. Etc. You go into settings the whole background is black. I want white/light grey.
And I want the icons to stay ics stock. Not to change.
Get what I mean?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
c_86 said:
No... I don't want the blue accent changed to white. I want all the current black backgrounds white/light grey. Etc. You go into settings the whole background is black. I want white/light grey.
And I want the icons to stay ics stock. Not to change.
Get what I mean?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't exactly meet your criteria but this is the closest to white you're gonna get: http://rootzwiki.com/topic/20805-th...-formerly-known-as-un-blacked-out-by-bgill55/
Also, this Sense 4 theme (which I use and love) is going to be released in white (apparently) so check it out and stick about for more updates if interested: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1548618
and ya i saw that ghost one... dont like that at all... like i said above, looking for the exact same thing as AOSP black but for someone to turn the menu backgrounds (eg settings) into white...
ya i am using the sense theme now. i like it, but wanting to try the white one... but i dont like the green of it... hence why i would like what i mentioned above made... i'm sure there are plenty out there looking for AOSP white holo...
I second this. Black is nice, but its nice to have a white based theme. Not completely white. Just white menus, and stock ICS apps that look right with white and respective font color to meet the white.
exactly! so like the contact app is right now.... when you open it it was a white/light grey... i want that everywhere like in the setting... that background in the setting screen, call log, dial pad, etc etc etc but leaving the blue ICS signal meter , etc, etc as it is
I want a white theme too
I want white on my nav bar around the buttons.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2 Beta-4
Try miui
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Drift spunk said:
Try miui
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
read my posts.
No one wants to take this on? I got $20 for the dev that does.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
That challenge would be incredibly difficult. I think BGill's theme is the closest you're going to get from a guy who started Android theming.
that makes me sad and im sure alot of others... do you got a link to that theme you are refering to?...
c_86 said:
that makes me sad and im sure alot of others... do you got a link to that theme you are refering to?...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its the one someone posted on the first page, its a RootzWiki link. I don't have it to hand at the minute, sorry.

[Q] Change the color of the UI in ICS - JB ROMS

I am really growing tired of the whole Black and Blue menus and notifications of android
Is there i was i can change the colors of the lines?
Or maybe like change the settings to the Htc white one which is very pretty imo
MoonMaster345 said:
I am really growing tired of the whole Black and Blue menus and notifications of android
Is there i was i can change the colors of the lines?
Or maybe like change the settings to the Htc white one which is very pretty imo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download themes from the market. Its the same as cm7 only the theme chooser is in the settings instead of apps.
Sent from my Incredible 2

[REQ] Google Now Theme (or a bright one!)

I know that dark themes preserve battery, but I'm looking for a bright/light theme, something more aligned to recent Google Now graphics. I tried to search trough Theme Chooser but didn't fin nothing relevant, everything tends to be dark. The only one that looks cool and is brighter that most of the themes around is MIUI Concept v5 (http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/5628/conceptpre.png) but definitely not in Google Now style.
Has someone found a decent bright/light theme?
Sorry, not here to share any themes. Just wanted to let you know, that the Nexus 4 doesn't care whether it is running a dark or a light theme, there are no differences regarding battery usage.
A dark theme will only help you preserve your battery charge if your phone as an amoled screen. This is due to the fact, that the amoled screen actually lights all pixels separately and any black or dark areas on your screen therefore need much less energy to be displayed.
On a conventional LCD display the entire display lights up evenly, so you can not save battery charge by switching to a dark theme.
where can i find the miui v5 theme?
Miui v5 theme: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2116796
Inviato dal mio Nexus 4 con Tapatalk 2
I would also like to know this. Getting a bit tired of the gloomy blacks and blues..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1876760
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2184911&highlight=white+ice
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1865943
.http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1853132
.http://rootzwiki.com/topic/30087-themethemechooser-ghost-unblacked/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2112907
Go here for all themes
.http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1801752
I've been using the Chrome OS theme for a while, but hoping for a full Holo-Light theme. Holo-Dark just feels unpolished compared to Light
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Some nice themes in this thread, thanks!

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