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Too much monochrome in Lollipop?

Completely agree with the OP. Google is moving to a function after form, style uber alles interface. The new Calendar app is a prime example, with less useful information, but lots of space wasted for meaningless graphics.

The thing is, Google sometimes gets it. Using different primary colors for different apps helps distinguish what you're looking at quickly (except they use the same color for gmail and Google+, which is stupid). But in most other respects Lollipop is a step backward in usability.
 
RickPJ said:
Sure, of course, but that's not really the point.

What I'm doing is challenging Google's assertion that "everything in Lollipop has been improved". Maybe most things, but not everything for everyone. I wonder what Android "M" will bring? More improvements presumably, some of which might be reversions of things in "L".

KitKat introduced lock screen widgets, hailed as a great feature, but now Lollipop's taken them out again. Why? Few people used them. That's not a problem for me, I set some up but also found I didn't really use them. But maybe some users really, really liked them, and are p'd off that they've gone. Who's right?

By the next release Google might also decide that notifications are better in colour, and revert the change - who knows. It will be hailed as an " improvement ", but what would everyone who likes the current monochrome say?

No-one gets everything right all the time, and it's hard to cater to all tastes and requirements!
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I think they should have a mode in settings where you can just screw around with everything involving appearance and functionality. Almost like an Advanced mode for people like us and a regular mode for everyone else. They should take the route that CM did, although I don't know how well it would work.
 
I agree that Calender is a step backwards in function. Looks great aesthetically, but they screwed the pooch on ruining the month view.
 
I'm the opposite with calendar.... I absolutely love it now lol

That's the great thing about Android though.
 
bjacks12 said:
I agree that Calender is a step backwards in function. Looks great aesthetically, but they screwed the pooch on ruining the month view.
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Ouch, only just looked at the stock calendar - very basic. I've used Calengoo ever since 2.3, I always found the stock one far too basic, and with very limited sync.

It's clear to me that Google want to target the lowest common denominator of user (probably 90+% of their demographic), and seem intent on removing any feature that a naive user might find confusing.

I actually think it's short sighted, because the naive user learns and in time becomes an experienced user. It's fine to hide advanced features, but they should still be there to be enabled as and when users start exploring possibilities.

I have no problem using alternative apps with more features, the difficulties arise when limitations are baked into the OS and can't be changed.
 
RickPJ said:
Ouch, only just looked at the stock calendar - very basic. I've used Calengoo ever since 2.3, I always found the stock one far too basic, and with very limited sync.
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Yeah, I have to admit that I've always found the stock calendar very weak, so I probably wouldn't even notice what they do with it.

It's a shame that Google don't do what many 3rd party developers do when they adopt a Material design and allow the user to choose the colour scheme (or at least the Material-styled Google apps I have so far don't - I'm still on 4.4, and uninstall a lot of Google apps, so may not have the right picture yet). The Material design lends itself to that type of simple customisation, and this would allow the user to choose their own balance between a consistent theme vs using colour to identify your current app (which is a concept I quite like).
 
I still use Google Calendar, but I've always done a lot of my appointment entry via desktop. So I guess I use the mobile app in a passive manner, just waiting for notifications and whatnot.
 
FYI, Calengoo is a mobile client for Google Calendar, and gives all the functionality of the desktop (in fact slightly more functionality). And almost mind-blowingly configurable!
 
I'm using my Nexus 6 with Lollipop, and my iPhone 6+ with 8.1.2 concurrently.

Personally I'm extremely pleased with the experience I'm enjoying on my very fast, reliable, highly useful Nexus 6.

Conversely my work issued iPhone 6+ is fine for what it is.

Granted I will admit I'm biased towards Android since its nearly perfect for all I do, and offers me far more flexibility and customization.

I'm not married to any platform nor do I have any desire to claim one is the best, since I respect that we all have different preferences and usage patterns.

But that said, I'm beyond thrilled with my Nexus 5 & 6 Android models. Both running Lollipop I've never been happier...:D
 
I do wish Google would spend more time making what they have BETTER instead of focusing on making everything NEW.
 
Matter of personal preference. I do not mind the new UI changes. But I am not using it at all. But have tried it. I am still enjoying a very slimmed down 4.1.2 :p

Edit: One thing I did notice on all kit kat variants Ive used whether it be stock or aokp,etc,etc and even on some of the "lollipop" builds...is the very amateur way the status bar goes from transparent to black or whatever when an app is open..it often lags to catch up...not seamless at all...looks like some sort of weak hack a kid made lol.
 
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I've heard these complaints since Android v1.0 went to v1.5. There's always changes some like and some don't. Generally, those that don't start asking how to downgrade and those that do can't wait to flash the next version. Thing is, you can't run old versions forever. Nobody is seriously running Cupcake anymore. Sooner or later you have to go to a newer version and get used to it. And people DO eventually get used to it. They find ways to customize it to their liking or just adapt.

Some of the same people complaining about Lollipop now will eventually get comfortable with it, and when M&M or whatever replaces Lollipop, they'll be asking how to downgrade from M&M to Lollipop. Not to knock 'em for that at all, it's just such is the never-ending cycle of software evolution.

As for me, I welcome our new Material Design overlords. I'm liking most of what I see.
 
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The only difference I have seen is notifications, on lock screen and regular pull down. Which I still hate. I see nothing else different, not sure if that is because of Sense or not though...
 
Quite honestly I love the 3d. I've hated flat design since iOS 7 came out. I welcome a UI that does justice to the beautiful screen and fast hardware
 
I don't get this idea that "material design" is 3D - it's the flattest, plainest look I've seen. It's strengths are the colour palette and fonts, but it's still a bit like a kid's paint box.
 
Lollipop needs a theme option. It would be nice to have an earth tone option to replace all the reds, blues and oranges.
 
Perhaps I'm color blind but I have seen nothing BUT earth tones since lollipop or at least (since nothing other than my N10 has 5.0) the material design app updates. Hangouts uses earth tones and elements of my G Watch use them, too. In fact, it's much easier on my eyes than the dark backgrounds and very bright digital blues used in Jelly Bean.

Material Design does indeed incorporate a lot of elements exclusive to flat design, such as round icons, geometric shapes and over-reliance on gesture controls, but there are no overuses of whitespace or pastel colors, razor thin fonts, and any spin on flat design is 3D. The recent apps switcher is 3D, the floating buttons are 3D, gradients make a small comeback to distinguish items such as floating buttons, and animations use 3D until complete. Usually a flip animation similar to a flip clock digit transition. Google app iconsa look 3D (especially calendar, play store, and play movies). Icons and elements have paper textures instead of simple flat colors

It might not be the real notepad with tearing sheets, or the reel to reel podcast player, but it's a start. Google Play Books does have a 3D page turn for those like myself who love skeuomorphism. Lollipop is only the start to something better just wait.
 
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nickdalzell said:
Perhaps I'm color blind but I have seen nothing BUT earth tones since lollipop or at least (since nothing other than my N10 has 5.0) the material design app updates. Hangouts uses earth tones and elements of my G Watch use them, too. In fact, it's much easier on my eyes than the dark backgrounds and very bright digital blues used in Jelly Bean.

Material Design does indeed incorporate a lot of elements exclusive to flat design, such as round icons, geometric shapes and over-reliance on gesture controls, but there are no overuses of whitespace or pastel colors, razor thin fonts, and any spin on flat design is 3D. The recent apps switcher is 3D, the floating buttons are 3D, gradients make a small comeback to distinguish items such as floating buttons, and animations use 3D until complete. Usually a flip animation similar to a flip clock digit transition. Google app iconsa look 3D (especially calendar, play store, and play movies). Icons and elements have paper textures instead of simple flat colors

It might not be the real notepad with tearing sheets, or the reel to reel podcast player, but it's a start. Google Play Books does have a 3D page turn for those like myself who love skeuomorphism. Lollipop is only the start to something better just wait.
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These are the colors you see in 5.0 and the Material Design apps?
 

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What are the material design apps? I've not noticed any color schemes at all, at least not any that are different from 4.4 on my m7
 
Slug said:
If anyone really wants to see what Material is all about, I suggest that they go here. Read through the entire presentation and I'll guarantee that a few preconceptions and/or assumptions will be overturned. :)
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And is some one claiming that lot is NEW? Talk about a massive pile of plagiarised verbage :-(. You'd think that Google had actually invented the whole concept of graphic user interfaces. (They actually came out of Xerox PARC in the late '70s, but the concept was first commercialised by Apple with the Lisa, quickly followed by the Mac).

The concept of representing notional physical objects that can be manipulated in a virtual 3D space underlies the entire development history of GUIs as in Mac, Windows, and the various X-based toolkits.

It doesn't help Google's credibility them trying to claim they invented the wheel.
 
Slug said:
If anyone really wants to see what Material is all about, I suggest that they go here. Read through the entire presentation and I'll guarantee that a few preconceptions and/or assumptions will be overturned. :)
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If only someone there would overturn the idea that they have actual taste when making color claims or that all "material" can just be 1 thin layer deep.

Material design?

More like straitjacket design.

Once again, the people behind the awesome visual control in Gmail and YouTube are telling the rest of the world how it's done.

The site itself is a perfect example. On mobile, top left is the 3-line stack straight from iOS called the hamburger by its cutsie proponents.

And how did we get that?

Google outlawed the menu button. All you need is 3 buttons. Unless you need more, so flicker on a 3-dot overflow button.

That looks ugly and everyone keeps using as the menu button.

Next, Google said to stop that, add screens by swiping, not menu buttons.

But what does their own web page that explains about fluid motion and harmonious have to show for itself?

A button ripped off from iOS with a simple, traditional menu in the ever popular black and white.

Yes. Each component explained has its own color theme on its own unique page - and that's not carried over to the table of contents. It only shows the color that you're on. Sometimes. Yet another consistency violation.

How about the part where materials don't get to stack past 1 dp high in z? That shading matters?

Look at the menu again.

I say again, no actual designers know what Material Design is. :D :D
 
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