Today during its I/O keynote speech, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) unveiled the next version of Android, which features a new interface among other updates. The search giant says the new interface has a “material design,” which it will bring into all of its offerings: mobile, hardware and desktop.
Google goes flatter than ever
The L Release of Android is even flatter than previous versions. It features color blocks, and the outlines are very minimal. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) executive Sundar Pichai said the reason they designed the new operating the way they did is because they are expanding the experience “beyond mobile” and to the other major platforms.
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) said the L developer version will be available for download right from Google tomorrow
Detailing the Android changes
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) changed the user interface quite a bit. One of the big changes is Polymer, which now brings new default colors, a different grid structure and new typography. Management for the search giant also enhanced the notifications feature, adding more options and what management calls “analyzed user behavior” in the device’s lock screen.
Other big changes in the new Android version include new animations that transition between apps. In fact, animations are quite a big change in the L version of Android. Management browsed the web to show off a wide variety of animations and the Chrome browsing tabs, which they made part of the user’s recent apps listing.
Google shows benefits for developers
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) management explained that they have improved touch latency in the new Android version. This will enable developers to make their apps react more quickly to touch. Google also improved overall performance by replacing the previous Dalvik runtime with Android RunTime, which management said doubles the performance of all apps. In addition, the company added something it calls Project Volta, which shows users more stats regarding their battery usage and whether they need to recharge soon.
The developers who attended I/O were happy to learn that all Android apps will now connect directly to search results from Google. The L version will open up apps that are relevant to whatever the user is searching for. Previously, that feature had been limited to just a handful of apps.
