the visual style of The Android is updated every year, as new versions are released, and now we can check the changes with your own applications Google. Once the Android 7.1 is on the way, expected to be released along with the next devices Pixel and Pixel XL, there will be included the “Pixel Launcher” – that leaked. To align to your most recent design, Google seems to adopt a new standard for the home screen, which wraps everything in circles.
To check out these new visuals, the Android Police has reviewed not only a single APK, or even a set of closely related, but it has opened almost all the APK that Google distributes actively. The contents found are probably for the Pixel Launcher, but there is very little information about it.
First of all, we will see changes mainly visual that we can see in the Pixel Launcher, and then a dip in components much more functional with the return Shortcuts Launcher.
All round
The new icons are different in their circular form, which makes it seem like the buttons floating action (FAB). This began the appear with a pair of applications in a system image of the Marlin that was leaked, specifically in the apps of the calculator, and camera, but, since then, it has evolved to many of the other Google applications.
While most of the changes with the next API are still unknown, some notable differences could be found in the AndroidManifest. The new property found in the code, call roundIcon appears in the tag . As well as the property icon the roundIcon point to an image – always one of the new icons that look like a FAB. Here is an example taken from the update Duo 2.0 that arrived yesterday.
square Icons, the originals are included next to their respective versions of the circulars.
it Is evident that some of the icons have received considerably more attention than others. A little more than half of the list is composed of white balls with the original icons in the center. The apps of Google Play in particular (Music, Movies, and TV, and books) still seem a little “simple”, reduced to fit within the circles.
however, some of the icons have been carefully redone and some have undergone modifications more thoughtful. It is possible that many of the less worked out to be just to occupy the spaces reserved until the designers of Google can produce the versions properly refurbished.
As for the Calendar app, you deserve a bit of special attention. Unlike other Google applications, it provides a special ability to change its icon based on the current date. This feature is currently limited to the Pixel Launcher leaked, but other launchers could easily copy this feature.
also Interesting to note that the calendar app actually does not include a default icon that is round as all of the other applications mentioned above. Instead, it provides a circular base, and the 31 digits required to generate an icon with the date, inside the circle.
With this, the Pixel Launcher and the Calendar app get a single connection. The launcher uses a class called DynamicIconProvider to access specifically the application of Google calendar and request the resources needed to build the final image, displaying the current date. In other words, applications of third-party calendar, or any app that you may want to regularly change your icon, will not be able to reproduce this behavior.
Keep in mind that the launcher Pixel has not yet been released officially, so it is too early to assume this feature is even available at release or sometime in the near future.
Also remember that the icons presented here are expected to be presented primarily in the Pixel Launcher and you can have any relevance in the Android 7.1.
then, we’ll see about the shortcuts is definitely a feature that comes with Android 7.1 and the Pixel Launcher has little influence on this, being that it will most probably have support for the API and will likely be the first to bring the news (unless the New is faster), but its relevance goes up there.
Launcher Shortcuts
the Case now on the side more functional, Launcher Shortcuts will return with Android 7.1. The API of the launcher was introduced with the second Android N Developer Preview, and quickly gained attention, such as a “copy” of the Home Screen Quick Actions in iOS 9, and it has inspired many theories that screens sensitive to pressure would be a default in Android.
For those who missed out this feature in April, Google seemed dedicated to bring you the Shortcuts Launcher with a new model of interaction to the home screen. The simple icons that you always know would be able to show more information easily, fast action and intelligent shortcuts to various parts of an application. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
a Few weeks later, Google confirmed the rumors that the API of the Launcher Shortcuts would be removed in the fourth preview for developers, and does not come with the final version of Android 7.0, but would probably appear in a future version of the system. It seems that the wait will not be long.
Shortcuts and dynamic fixed
The basic function was divided in the so-called “shortcuts dynamic” and “fixed”; literally, the English, Dynamic and Pinned - basically, shortcuts would be created dynamically by an application, and then users could permanently attach them to the start screen.
This concept, and the API was simple enough, but the original implementation had a weakness remarkable: once the registry of shortcuts happen in code, it would be necessary for the applications to be executed at least once and then begin to create them.
This may not seem like a serious problem, since many start an application soon after you installed from the Play Store, but that changes when a phone is newly restored. In this scenario, a few shortcuts would be up to that many of the applications to be started manually.
The new implementation of the Launcher Shortcuts includes a solution to these shortcomings. Developers will be able to create an xml file with a set of pre-defined. When an apk is installed, the operating system will look for a meta tag, simple in the AndroidManifest with the name android.app.shortcuts and a feature filled with an indication pointing to the xml file.
Developers will be able to set an icon, label, short and long, an alternate name if the shortcut is currently disabled, an ID of the shortcut to interact through code, and a flag to state if the shortcut is enabled or not.
it is Not clear if the shortcuts fixed will be considered a supported feature. In fact, there is very little evidence that suggests that Shortcuts Dynamic will be supported or will work as they did before. However, it is highly unlikely Google would remove the ability to create shortcuts by code to be very useful and very powerful.
Apps that already support the Launcher Shortcuts
Ten applications currently already have these settings for the Launcher Shortcuts. The first is Google Calendar. This list does not include any shortcut that is generated dynamically that can be added later by the code. Most of these shortcuts will lead the user to navigate to a specific location in the application, or they launch a specific action, such as going directly to a list of your library in Play Books or create a new event in the calendar.
So, this probably leads back to comparisons to previous questions about how to Launcher Shortcuts will arrive for the users. There will be screens pressure sensitive? Will we have to use gestures such as a long tap or swipe? It offers special modes to access the shortcuts? The answer to each of these questions is, at least, probably.
anyway, there are a lot of news to wait for, and a new set of icons next to the return of the Launcher Shortcuts are just the tip of the iceberg among all that we will see with Android 7.1 (API 25) and the new Pixel.
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