theming Archives

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

Android 16 Beta 4 Arrives with AOD Theming, App Drawer Shortcut, and More

Google's Android 16 Beta 4 is being rolled out to Pixel 6 and newer devices, introducing enhancements aimed at improving user experience and security. Key updates include an enhanced Always on Display (AOD) feature with dynamic theming, the Themed icons toggle moving out of beta, a new Apps list shortcut in the Pixel launcher, and new options in the recent menu for Screenshot and Select. The Gesture Navigation page has been updated with a tutorial demo, and the Quick Settings Media Player artwork has been darkened. Some users have reported the removal of the Battery Health feature from the Battery Settings page, although it is still available on certain devices.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

Google updates Play Books with Dynamic Color

In February 2024, Play Books adopted the Material You redesign, introducing Dynamic Color theming, which enhances its user interface by moving away from a static blue accent color. The new design features Dynamic Color across various elements such as the bottom bar, background, and current tab indicator, while maintaining unchanged reading options. The Library tab showcases the best implementation of the new design, despite some padding issues in other areas. Other Google applications, including Google, Play Store, Google Maps, and Google TV, have not yet adopted the Dynamic Color feature.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

Classic Board Game ‘Labyrinth’ gets a Minecraft twist

Labyrinth, a board game created by Ravensburger and Max J. Kobbert in 1986, has sold nearly 30 million copies globally and was inducted into the Origins Games Convention Hall of Fame in 2024. The game has been re-themed over the years with over twenty different intellectual properties, including Disney and Pokémon. The new version, Minecraft Labyrinth, will be released in August 2025 for players aged 7 and up, retailing for .99 MSRP. It features a maze with shifting cards and allows players to gather items and explore. Currently, copies are available on Amazon UK.

AppWizard

February 3, 2025

Google Phone app gets an unexpected Android 16-inspired redesign (APK teardown)

Google is refining the Settings page for its Phone app in preparation for the segmented Settings menu design expected with Android 16. The update features a visually appealing layout with backgrounds for menu items organized under headers, enhancing visibility and usability. Rectangular sections for each menu item improve touch targets and overall user experience. This redesign was initially seen in the Android 15 Beta 3 update but was removed, only to be reinstated in the Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 release, suggesting integration into Android 16. Screenshots show a light gray background in light theme and dark gray in dark mode, with support for dynamic theming based on user wallpaper. The redesign is not yet active in the current beta but is anticipated in future updates. Other Google applications may also receive similar enhancements as Android 16 approaches.

AppWizard

December 16, 2024

Google Account switcher gets fullscreen redesign on Android, starting with Gmail

Google is rolling out a fullscreen account switcher in its first-party applications, starting with Gmail for Android. This new design replaces the previous overlay style and fully occupies the display, featuring Dynamic Color theming and a simple closure option. Users see their email address and profile image prominently, along with a "Manage your Google Account" button. The interface includes a collapsible list for account management and maintains a "Storage used" line, along with links to the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of service." While this design aims for cross-device consistency, it raises questions about the necessity of a fullscreen interface for quick actions like account switching. The familiar swipe gesture for power users remains available. Currently, this interface is observed in Gmail for Android version 2024.11.24.x and is not yet widely deployed.

AppWizard

December 15, 2024

Google’s full-screen account switcher gets a redesign for Android apps

Google is redesigning its account switcher for Android applications, starting with Gmail, which now features a full-screen design instead of the traditional overlay. This new switcher includes Dynamic Color theming, displaying the user's email address, profile picture, and a "Manage your Google Account" button, allowing users to switch accounts, add new ones, and manage existing profiles. The full-screen design may lead to changes in other Google applications that use the account menu. The updated interface is currently exclusive to Gmail for Android version 2024.11.24.x.

Winsage

December 9, 2024

Microsoft flags Outlook issue in Windows 11 24H2

Microsoft has acknowledged a significant issue affecting users of Windows 11 24H2, specifically impacting Outlook functionality for those using Google Workspace Sync. Users may experience Outlook failing to launch, and attempts to uninstall or reinstall Google Workspace Sync may be unsuccessful, often resulting in an error message related to MAPI. The latest version of Google Workspace Sync (4.3.68.0) resolves this issue, but until users install this update, a compatibility hold will prevent the rollout of Windows 11 24H2. Users still facing the hold after 48 hours of updating should contact Google Workspace Support. Additionally, Microsoft plans to transition from Outlook Classic to the new Outlook for Microsoft 365 Enterprise users starting in April 2026. This new version will feature modern capabilities and customizable options while allowing users to revert to the Classic version if needed. The transition will primarily affect Microsoft 365 Enterprise licensees, with at least 12 months' notice provided for any changes. The shift does not apply to perpetual licenses or on-premises accounts.

AppWizard

November 15, 2024

Seal: A Nifty Open Source Android App to Download YouTube Video and Audio

The landscape of video consumption has shifted towards online streaming platforms like YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu, making local storage of videos less common. Users often prefer to download practical videos such as DIY guides and educational content for offline access, especially with creator consent. Seal is an Android application designed for downloading YouTube videos, built on the yt-dlp framework. Users can paste a video link, customize download settings, and track download progress. Seal supports features like downloading entire playlists and subtitles, but it can only run one download at a time. The app is available for download on F-Droid, with its APK and source code on GitHub.

Winsage

July 25, 2024

If you’re sticking with Windows 10, use this trick to make it look a bit more like Windows 11 for free

A method to bring over certain design elements from Windows 11 to Windows 10 by copying theme resource files.

AppWizard

July 19, 2024

The Fourth Beta of Android 15

Android 15 removes the legacy PNG-based emoji font file (NotoColorEmojiLegacy.ttf) and only has the vector-based file. Developers need to update their apps, libraries, tools, and game engines to prevent compatibility issues with Android 15. Testing apps on Android 15 Beta 4 is recommended to check for functional or UI issues. New features in Android 15 include support for 16KB page sizes and private space support. Developers should take advantage of new platform features such as variable fonts for CJK languages and the ApplicationStartInfo API. Feedback on Android 15 features is encouraged during the beta program.