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Google I/O 2014 - The "L" word

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RuGalz said:
The problem is if you are already at places without network and trying to get some where. Happens to me every time I go out to hike. Google services are completely useless in that situation and drains my phone's battery. I never feel comfortable without a offline map program. The offline map in Google map is only useful if you prep ahead of time...
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As I understand it, this doesn't necessarily replace the in car system, its just an overlay. So the in car navigation would still be underneath the overlay on your car.
 
Whitechocolatekrispies said:
This is wrong.

The phone might be close to android, but it's absolutely crammed full of bloat that heavily impacts the pure android experience.

Camera, phone, messaging, 'holding home', notification shade, alarm, multitasking screen, calculator etc etc are all heavily modified and loaded down with bloat.
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Are there other non-Nexus phones that have less of this bloat?
 
What'll be interesting is how much of Material Design they add compatibility for previous versions. Like, if I'm building an app now. I'd need to do a layout for up to 5, and another one for above 5. Giving me no motivation to do that until there's a decent audience for it.
 
TheGoddamn said:
Are there other non-Nexus phones that have less of this bloat?
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Motorola's phones are pretty standard android.

That or google play edition phones.


However I wouldn't go round spouting off about Sony Xperia Z2 being like a Nexus phone. I owned one and was appalled at the bloat and tweaking Sony had done. Hell they even butchered the google now button with some fucking 'what's new' shit which is burnt into the phones memory.
 
JonathanEx said:
What'll be interesting is how much of Material Design they add compatibility for previous versions. Like, if I'm building an app now. I'd need to do a layout for up to 5, and another one for above 5. Giving me no motivation to do that until there's a decent audience for it.
Click to expand...

They will add a support library via play services so Material will work on at least 4.x upwards.
 
I'm liking the new layout and notification bar on my Nexus 7. The keyboard is also pretty nice, might stick with stock for awhile and see how it works.
 
zephervack said:
Im a bit confused, Polymer is a part of Google and the name of their new framework using Material Design?

Or is it a company they hired to come up with Material Design, is it future-proof to use their stuff, looks exactly the same as the design paper Google released earlier.

Also, thanks.
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No problem! Material design is Google's new design language across Android, ChromeOS, and the web.

Polymer is basically Material Design adapted for websites. This FAQ will probably help you more than I can.

http://www.polymer-project.org/resources/faq.html
 
Thoughts on L, that I have installed on my Nexus 7.

CON:

  • Its very, very buggy and I wouldn't recommend people flash this 'for fun', unless you really want to see stuff breaking. A lot.
  • Games seem to break stuff right now? i booted Sonic 2, the entire OS went into slow motion, not laggy, almost as if someone hit the a "slow-mo" button a VCR. Had to reset the device to fix it.
  • I think full screen album art is dead. :C
  • There's some weirdness with the UI that needs sorting. You can't dismiss notifications if you pull settings down and that kind of thing.

PRO:
  • Its super smooth, like really smooth. Like, how is this Android smooth.
  • Everything seems to work (even MX Player, apparently)
  • Updated apps look really nice (i.e: settings, calculator...)
  • Did I mention its smooth?
 
JordanKZ said:
Thoughts on L, that I have installed on my Nexus 7.

CON:

  • Its very, very buggy and I wouldn't recommend people flash this 'for fun', unless you really want to see stuff breaking. A lot.
  • Games seem to break stuff right now? i booted Sonic 2, the entire OS went into slow motion, not laggy, almost as if someone hit the a "slow-mo" button a VCR. Had to reset the device to fix it.
  • I think full screen album art is dead. :C
  • There's some weirdness with the UI that needs sorting. You can't dismiss notifications if you pull settings down and that kind of thing.

PRO:
  • Its super smooth, like really smooth. Like, how is this Android smooth.
  • Everything seems to work (even MX Player, apparently)
  • Updated apps look really nice (i.e: settings, calculator...)
  • Did I mention its smooth?
Click to expand...
I haven't found any bugs yet but I'm not really looking. It sounds like most of what you're talking about is the fact a lot of apps don't use ART very well yet.
 
CON:

Stupid recent apps.
LLShC.gif
 
DarkFlow said:
I haven't found any bugs yet but I'm not really looking. It sounds like most of what you're talking about is the fact a lot of apps don't use ART very well yet.
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App developers shouldn't need to do anything, ART is independent of that layer and apps should run just fine when the switch is made.
 
Jzero said:
Making a Google Cardboard is harder than i though haha

iqtq22e8S2Ysj.jpg
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That's what I figured. That, combined with the fact the lenses have pretty much been perpetually sold out on Amazon, led me to just spend the $26 on a prefab unit from the folks at DODOcase. It will be a few weeks until I have one in hand, but then I can officially join the 'Oculus Thrift' revolution... ;)
 
Damaniel said:
That's what I figured. That, combined with the fact the lenses have pretty much been perpetually sold out on Amazon, led me to just spend the $26 on a prefab unit from the folks at DODOcase. It will be a few weeks until I have one in hand, but then I can officially join the 'Oculus Thrift' revolution... ;)
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Ha! Oculus Thrift is so perfect a name for this.
 
Anyone know how to use and develop Polymer on Windows? I'm probably not looking hard enough for the answer but it doesn't seem to load up in Chrome. The index.html at least
 
Well Netflix won't run. It opens then crashes immediately no matter what I do. Somewhat annoying since my chromecast is my main source of television.
 
Nexus 7 with Android L

Pros

Look and feel
Light UI
New Updated Apps


Cons

HBO Go isn't compatible
Official Twitter App Crashes (Talon Works)
Scaling is fuck all bad on N7 everything tiny
FB has some LOL quirks

PS: Doesn't feel noticably faster nor slower
 
Whitechocolatekrispies said:
Motorola's phones are pretty standard android.

That or google play edition phones.


However I wouldn't go round spouting off about Sony Xperia Z2 being like a Nexus phone. I owned one and was appalled at the bloat and tweaking Sony had done. Hell they even butchered the google now button with some fucking 'what's new' shit which is burnt into the phones memory.
Click to expand...

That's a fair point, but I didn't say that. I originally meant to say "third-party" phone as opposed to "non-Nexus", but I wasn't sure that that was the right term (and probably still isn't accurate). I'm also annoyed with how pervasive Sony's pushing its ecosystem on the phone is-- I wish it could be toggled off or uninstalled completely.

Back on topic, Material Design looks beautiful. They really emphasize "delight" in the document, which is really something that all designers should strive for.
 
Earthanoid said:
I believe the Nexus 5 was announced last October. I think the last LG and Samsung ones were announced in September? So you'll have to wait a few months if you want the latest.

From the current crop, I have a Moto X and used a Nexus 5 briefly. I like the Moto X better, despite it having mediocre specs. It is actually really snappy, is really well thought out functionally, and has great battery life. N5 had a better screen but battery life was terrible. The one thing I miss from the N5 was the quick updates. Whenever they officially release L the N5 will get it within days.
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linkboy said:
If there is going to be a new Nexus phone, it'll probably be announced this fall. However, it's not looking like there is going to be one. The only rumored new Nexus device is the HTC tablet that was reported a few days ago.

If the Android Silver program is rumored to be what it's rumored to be, there won't be a stock Google phone anymore, instead there would be more Google Play Edition devices.
Click to expand...

Cipherr said:
Youll want to pick from whats available now then. Nothing phone wise will be announced new until the fall. Best phones available now are the LG G3, Galaxy S5, Xperia Z1, Nexus 5, HTC M8 and the Moto X.
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Thanks guys. I dont need the top of the line specs, but I'm more concerned about getting L and future updates as soon as theyre available. So I guess the Nexus 5 would be the best option? The price is also right for it.

Wasnt there also a stock Android version of the new HTC One? Would that get the latest Android updates as soon as theyre available? I really like the design of it.
 
Jzero said:
So are we going to have to wipe our phones every time a new update comes out?
Click to expand...

Who knows. I want to flash but my n10 isn't yet compatible and I don't want to flash my n5. I'm jealous of you guys, though. L looks great.
 
NotBacon said:
App developers shouldn't need to do anything, ART is independent of that layer and apps should run just fine when the switch is made.
Click to expand...
Apps that are purely Java based will work fine with ART, but apps that use the NDK (typically games, apps with lots of audio/video processing and the like) may have issues. Google had talks about this at I/O.
 
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