user interface design Archives

AppWizard

May 27, 2026

MAUI is Getting Android Material 3 Support in .NET 10

.NET MAUI is introducing Material 3 support for Android applications, allowing developers to integrate the latest design aesthetics with a single MSBuild property. Material 3, also known as Material You, includes features such as dynamic color schemes, refreshed control shapes, and enhanced customization. Developers currently using MAUI have been working with Material Design 2, but with the upcoming release of .NET 10 in November, they can easily upgrade to Material 3 by updating their app projects and adding a few lines of XAML code. Microsoft has provided a sample Material 3-styled app that demonstrates the new design elements across various controls, including SearchBar, Entry, DatePicker, Picker, Slider, ProgressBar, RadioButton, CheckBox, Switch, Button, and ImageButton. This sample supports both dark and light themes. Microsoft plans to expand Material 3 support to additional controls and aims to make it the default styling for MAUI applications.

AppWizard

May 21, 2026

Android 17 gets a smarter media switcher, and it already feels better than the old carousel

Google's Android 17 QPR1 Beta 3 introduces a new media app switching interface that replaces the traditional carousel layout with a streamlined card layout. This design features compact cards for minimized media applications on either side of the main media player, allowing users to switch between apps by tapping on these cards. Media apps are organized by importance, showing the currently playing media first, followed by content from remote devices and past sessions. While the new layout has received positive feedback for its clarity, some users have raised concerns about the size of the media controls and requested options for customization to enhance accessibility.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

Total War Warhammer 3 overhauls mod manager, so you’ll no longer have to fight Chaos before even starting the game

Total War: Warhammer 3 has received a significant update to its mod manager, released in late 2025, aimed at improving the user experience for modding. Enhancements include faster mass mod activation, reduced startup times for players with many mods, improved search filters for finding specific mods, clearer tooltips, and fixes for bugs related to mod profiles and text legibility. Players can still create 'mod profiles' for easier management of their favorite mods. The update encourages players to explore new mods and provide feedback to the developer, Creative Assembly.

AppWizard

April 9, 2026

Google updates best AI models for coding Android apps, Gemini & GPT 5.4 at the top

The "Android Bench," Google's benchmark for evaluating AI models in Android app development, has been updated, with OpenAI's GPT 5.4 and GPT 5.3 Codex now sharing the top ranking with Gemini. The benchmark evaluates models based on criteria such as compatibility with Jetpack Compose, use of Coroutines and Flows, and integration with Room and Hilt. The latest rankings are as follows: 1. GPT 5.4: 72.4% 2. Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview: 72.4% 3. GPT 5.3-Codex: 67.7% 4. Claude Opus 4.6: 66.6% 5. GPT-5.2 Codex: 62.5% 6. Claude Opus 4.5: 61.9% 7. Gemini 3 Pro Preview: 60.4% 8. Claude Sonnet 4.6: 58.4% 9. Claude Sonnet 4.5: 54.2% 10. Gemini 3 Flash Preview: 42% 11. Gemini 2.5 Flash: 16.1% The rankings have not changed since the initial assessment in late February, and the latest models were evaluated in mid-March. The findings should be interpreted cautiously, as real-world performance may vary based on specific workflows and project requirements.

AppWizard

March 6, 2026

Google says these AI models are best at coding Android apps

Google is testing various AI models for Android app development through a new platform called “Android Bench,” which evaluates the performance of leading AI language models (LLMs) against benchmarks specific to Android development. The benchmarks assess capabilities in areas such as Jetpack Compose, asynchronous programming, data persistence, dependency injection, navigation migrations, Gradle/build configurations, and interaction with Android components. Google has identified Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview as the top-performing model with a score of 72.4%, followed by Claude Opus 4.6 at 66.6% and OpenAI’s GPT 5.2 Codex at 62.5%. Gemini 2.5 Flash scored the lowest at 16.1%.

Winsage

March 1, 2026

Windows Wrap: Windows 11’s new Start menu is a masterclass in frustration — I just scored you an exclusive deal to save 25% on Start11 to fix it

Microsoft's recent updates to the Start menu in Windows 11 have led to user disappointment, with popular applications being placed in an "Other" folder and illogical groupings of apps. A poll by Windows Central indicated that 43% of respondents find the new Start menu more cluttered than the previous version, while 25% miss the control they had over its layout. Users desire greater customization options, including the elimination of advertisements, the ability to reposition the taskbar, customizable categories for app organization, resizing the Start menu, and collapsing sections within the menu. Microsoft has committed to allowing users to move the taskbar, aligning Windows 11 more closely with Windows 10 functionality. An exclusive 25% discount on Start11 from Stardock is available for 14 days from publication.

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Why High-Performance Android Apps Require More Than Just Kotlin and Jetpack

Smartphone users expect immediate feedback and seamless experiences from applications, which requires a holistic approach to mobile development that integrates user interface design with robust server-side capabilities. Challenges in app architecture and backend integration can hinder performance, particularly for high-level applications. Developers often focus on frontend aspects, neglecting the importance of backend processes, which can lead to issues such as inefficient API payloads and data fetching latency. Architectural bottlenecks, like excessive data retrieval, can waste bandwidth and battery life. A well-structured Android architecture can separate UI from data management complexities, aiding scalability. Modern tools like Jetpack Compose enhance UI development but can introduce performance issues if backend state delivery is inconsistent. Collaborating with specialized nearshore mobile app development teams can help US-based companies address these challenges effectively, benefiting from time zone alignment and cost-effective solutions while maintaining engineering expertise.

AppWizard

November 28, 2025

Steam Users Can Enjoy 4 More Free Games, Support Indie Devs

Recent enhancements to user interface design focus on creating seamless experiences to attract and retain users. Key features include streamlined search inputs for easy queries, an organized navigation structure for exploring various categories, and mobile-friendly navigation menus like the hamburger menu. The emphasis on content accessibility is evident in the wide range of topics available, fostering engagement and broadening audience reach. These design elements also contribute to brand identity, conveying professionalism and reliability.

Winsage

October 31, 2025

Force enable new Start menu in Windows 11 25H2 and 24H2 if it doesn’t turn on automatically

Windows 11 has introduced a redesigned Start menu with a new categories layout and a revamped Phone Link panel. This update is part of Windows 11 Build 26200.7019 or newer and is being rolled out gradually. Users can enable the new Start menu by downloading Windows 11 KB5067036 or newer, using the ViVeTool package, and executing specific commands in the Command Prompt. The new Start menu features a single-page layout with a collapsible Pinned apps section, a Recommended section that can be hidden, and an All apps section with multiple layout options including Category, Grid, and List. The Category layout organizes apps into niches like Productivity and Tools, although users cannot currently create new categories.

Winsage

October 17, 2025

Microsoft wants users talking to Windows 11 with new AI features

Microsoft is introducing updates to its Windows operating system to enhance user interaction through voice and artificial intelligence. A new feature allows users to activate the Copilot assistant by saying, “Hey, Copilot,” marking a shift towards voice as a third input method. The updates, rolling out to Windows 11 this week, include Copilot Vision, which visually interprets desktop content to troubleshoot issues and suggest design ideas. Microsoft aims to reimagine Windows for the AI era, addressing its declining relevance due to smartphone usage. Additional AI enhancements will integrate Copilot into the Windows search bar and enable it to extract information from emails and calendars, improving productivity and user experience.