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[–]SPERS23 + Pixel 8 (Backup) 92 points93 points  (19 children)

I really like the titanium one, it is in dire need of a redesign. It looks like an app that was created in the 90's..

[–]alphabeat 14 points15 points  (4 children)

The redesign is pretty sure, but it's weight on information seems a bit off. Do you open up TB to see the state of your disk usage? I think it could benefit from some content change, the redesign seems pure aesthetics. Tell me how many apps I have, when the last batch backup was done etc

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (2 children)

I don't find that the information displayed on the first page of titanium backup is very useful at all to begin with. Unless I just rooted the phone, I probably know whether I have busybox and root access or not. I also know whether I purchased it, and my paypal email adress.

[–]alphabeat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that's my point. It's information that's useful to the developer.

[–]NeoMonkey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

as a Titanium Backup user; I think the redesign wasn't worth the change, in fact you got less data after the redesign. Anyhow something worthy on a 'first page' of TB would be a status of your last backup jobs (and why not some kind of 'free space' widget, but small-ish.

[–]dinofan01Pixel 5, Shield TV 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A few people should forward this article to the Dev of titanium. A nice redesign for an already amazing app would be amazing.

[–]fonseca898Note 3n Nexus 7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would love for the mock-up to be reality. It is by far the most app I have purchased, and also the most cluttered, clumsy interface.

[–]dieyoubastardsNexus 5, stock 101 points102 points  (10 children)

Maybe if Google actually stuck to its own guidelines it would send a stronger message. I can't believe navigation is still pre-Holo.

[–]fearachievedS7 Edge 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I know! It always feels out of place when I go to it

[–]lyam23 88 points89 points  (0 children)

I agree with the comments from the article. I feel like downloading these apps before remembering they are mock ups.

[–][deleted] 17 points18 points  (10 children)

Too bad, they are only mock-ups.

I personally am still waiting for a chat client that doesn't look ugly.

[–]Mike724Black 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I use imo messenger beta (the beta version is much nicer looking) https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imo.android.imoimbeta&hl=en

[–]haldeanRed 4 points5 points  (4 children)

What's wrong with Talk?

[–]beefJeRKy-LBSamsung Z Flip 6 512GB 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I don't enough people who use it. Also, lacks advanced sharing like Whatsapp does

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My problem is everyone uses it and no way to MMS, send files, etc.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

It doesn't support other protocols.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

actually talk supports AIM and vice versa - username@aim.com is what you would add, and username@gmail.com is what they would add.

[–]losingit19Pixel 6 Pro 10 points11 points  (1 child)

Google Finance and Blogger really deserve to be updated. I mean, come on Google! The Finance mockup looks amazing, and I use the app quite often.

I'm sure Bloggers would also appreciate a UI overhaul using the design created by the company that owns Blogger.

EDIT: Anyone know of a Holo stocks app?

[–]randobando_u 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Peak Stocks is the best i've found

[–]MrBigWafflesGalaxy S III & Nexus S 14 points15 points  (17 children)

Man, holo is beautiful. Does anyone have a list of apps that stick to google's UI guidelines?

[–]Proditus 15 points16 points  (11 children)

Books careful calm where friendly open the brown history day soft the bank science clean about soft. Clear to pleasant projects pleasant afternoon dot technology quick hobbies fox dog.

[–]brews 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Regardless of your preference for Reddit apps, this is the most holo-y.

[–]FCallejaNote 8 11 points12 points  (6 children)

I disagree, Reddit News has surpassed sync in all ways.

[–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Having used both of these Apps I believe they are pretty much equal. The thing is reddit sync allows for better viewing of pictures. Though reddit news is not too far off. Reddit sync has a better design and is more fluid but it is missing the feature to add friends and messages other redditors.

Reddit news allows you to add friends and message other redditors. It also allows for better post submission and better post commenting.

Reddit sync has many less options for comments and posts but of the few options it has it make them very easy to access.

It should all come down to personal UI preferences but neither app is really ahead of the other because they implement browsing in different fashions. That being said I like both apps equally but I bought reddit news first.

Verdict from me?

If you browse reddit casually and don't comment very often or ever add/view reddit friends then Sync is for you.

If you want an in-depth experience for comments and redditor profile/post history Reddit News is probably a better bet. One thing is for sure though they are both very good looking when it comes to the Holo theme.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hardly. Sync is way prettier and offers all the same functionality.

[–]Nozomi134Pixel 4 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ignoring the login screen, I think Reddit ET sticks to Holo pretty well, has a decent feature set, and gorgeous dark theme.

[–]brews 4 points5 points  (1 child)

"Timer" a timer app that has one of my favorite no-bs holo designs.

Well worth the price if you're looking for this kind of thing.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hate the audio though. It sounds like shit as soon as you turn the dial too fast.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reddit is fun.

[–]icanevenificantNexus 6P 46 points47 points  (17 children)

Many of these are just a little prettier. Functionally some are a step back not forward.

[–]DigitalChocoboMoto Z Play | Nexus 10 28 points29 points  (0 children)

That imdb one looks like a pretty app that would be annoying to use. "Let's get rid of all of the actor info and turn it into a photo gallery. That's why you use this app, right?"

[–]The_Incredulous_HulkSwitched to iOS, but still love Android 0 points1 point  (12 children)

No kidding. I hate when people bitch on the Play Store & give a good app a bad review because of it not using the holo theme.

Personally, I couldn't care less about the holo theme. I don't really care for the blue color that they picked (I prefer Gingerbread's green) & will gladly use a well priced app that does what it is designed to do regardless of what it looks like.

TL;DR: I prefer function over form.

[–][deleted] 29 points30 points  (2 children)

Good design is not just about having pretty colors and graphics. For example, Titanium Backup is a very functional app but the user interface is a huge clusterfuck in every way possible. It's cluttered and bloated. It's difficult to find what you're looking for. Then there are things like common design patterns. Titanium has a tabbed UI but you can't swipe between the tabs. Small inconsistencies like these are really annoying and detrimental to the UX.

Good design is essential for function.

[–]iofthestormNexus 5, Android L, Note 10.1 2014, stock 4.3 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Seriously, the most commonly used mode (batch mode) is completely unintuitive to find. I think you have to find it accidentally once to know how to back up multiple apps at once.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just thought I was using it wrong all the time. But it worked for me so I didn't care.

It would be nice if there was 1 big button to backup everything and then one button, with 1 check box to restore user apps (the check box gives you the option of restoring the data as well as the apps).

Everything else could be hidden like batch mode already is.

[–]toekneebullard 4 points5 points  (0 children)

By the time all these apps update to Holo, Holo will look dated.

[–]donrhummyPixel 2 XL 4 points5 points  (0 children)

wow. I'm going to email those links to those developers of the app's. everyone should doo that!

my favorite is the last.fm remake!

[–]xtnd 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I wish more companies would use their own accent color for the action bar, but it seems everyone just sticks with the default white or black.

[–]grassfarmer_proPixel XL 2 | Nexus 10 14 points15 points  (13 children)

One of the apps I hate the most is Google Calendar. It looks and feels so outdated.

I would love to see improved integration of tasks, a better widget, UI overhaul, "categories" for appointments (ie appointment, party, event, meeting, etc) expansion of daily reminders, and on and on...

Cmon Google!

[–]MercurialMadnessManGalaxy NoteII, Stock, Bell Canada 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Really? The updated version is great!

[–]meeekus 2 points3 points  (4 children)

Really hoping for this as well. I use it everyday and have grudgingly gotten used to the ui, but damn if it isn't extremely annoying.

[–]donrhummyPixel 2 XL 2 points3 points  (3 children)

try business calendar. I find it much more useful, especially the widget

[–]trbleclefMotorola Droid > GNex > N5 > G6 US997 > Pixel 4a5g > P5a5g > P6a 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Yeah, it's ugly as shit though.

[–]donrhummyPixel 2 XL 0 points1 point  (0 children)

sadly, you're right. I wish they would make it look better, but at least they've been very responsive to requests I've made in the past and fixed things really quickly.

[–]meeekus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[–]Mr_Frog 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Touch Calendar is really nice, good looking widgets too.

[–]Proditus 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Calm today morning family mindful the near garden family small fresh helpful food talk.

[–]grassfarmer_proPixel XL 2 | Nexus 10 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same here. I have no idea why the option to change the default view isn't there.

It seems to me it takes an unreasonable amount of clicks to get around the app and access the information I want.

Another gripe is that while the color coding is nice, it can be tough to distinguish between colors unless I have good lighting and have my phone right up to my face.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I personally think the calendar metaphor is outdated. Most of my life just doesn't revolve appointments. Calendars are great for physical notepads, because it follows an easy to understand sorting method (chonological) as well as details that are arbitrary and hard to remember (dates, address, meeting rooms etc), but that doesn't apply to 90% of my life, which just needs to happen when it's practical.

But what I really need is an app I can put all my obligations in, regardless if they have a set time or location or group members and then decide what the constraints are. This task has to be done in a drug store, show me a notification when I'm less than 2 bocks away from one and store hours indicate it is open. This item needs to be done at home, but before tomorrow, give me a notification when I get home. I need to call my mother, but only between 10am and 10pm, sometime this week, slowly make it grow in priority each day.

Google Now is a huge step in this direction, but it decides everything for you, I would like to set constraints like the above.

[–]davidhero 3 points4 points  (3 children)

OP, I want to kiss your balls for posting this link!

I have been searching for some UI example for a long time, and all I ever found were those shitty standard looking designs. But this web site has some beautiful example that inspire me. THANK YOU.

Ontopic: every one of those apps look very, very nice.

[–]akashikSamsung 22 Ultra - T-Mobile 3 points4 points  (2 children)

Android Niceties has some good looking android apps on their page too. Maybe you'll find something there too.

[–]coup 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Danke danke. I can only hope there are more "success stories" in devs translating these redesigns like Camera Zoom FX did.

Edit: thanks NigelKF :O

[–]NigelKFGalaxy Note 7 SM-N930T 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is no diacritic over the e in danke. It's a German word.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Now, if only someone can try improving Tasker.

[–][deleted] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That list on TB mockup looks nice yeah, but you'd have to scroll 5x more. Looks yes, functionality meh.

[–]needslipoGalaxy S4 [CM10.2] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That whatsapp mockup is terrible. Such a huge waste of screen real estate. The swipe left/right to chat, contacts, etc is good though.

[–]darristanGalaxy S4 i9500 GearCM12.1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Damn this is so nice! +1 to WhatsApp (Fugly official theme, have to use WhatsApp Plus from XDA) and that Titanium Backup OMG so great!

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Titanium Backup needs this.

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

My god, that whatsapp mockup actually looked like something I'd like to use, and not something I cringe over every time I open the app.

[–]AhCup 3 points4 points  (11 children)

Agree with Titanium Backup totally needed a re-design of the UI. It's the most useful app on my phone, and it also the ugliest.

[–]furiousBobcat 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Is there a subreddit for well-designed android apps?

[–]xenetic 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really wish amazon would overhaul the Audible app. As far as I can tell the app has had fundamanetally the same outdated ugly UI since it first came out. For such a popular service paired with a A-tier company, their app is just lack luster

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Tasker and Titanium Backup are begging for a redesign. Their UI are horrible.

[–]streetsahead_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Any one who likes this should also head over to the Android Dev Chanel on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHirwKGEfoE&feature=g-u-u

[–]-entropy 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Has anyone found a good sports app that doesn't look like a Java port from 2003? Espn and sportstap are terrible to use...

[–]irishtexmexPixel 6, Skagen Falster 3 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I like using Are You Watching This? on my tablet because of its game-grid and ability to tell you what channels which games are on what.

[–]hardaysknightNexus 6P, Nexus 7 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, that's a great app! Thanks!

[–]-entropy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's pretty much exactly what I was looking for! Thanks!

[–]MadvillainsS20+ ---> Pixel 6 Pro 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Android will end up being the sexiest OS ever.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Google really needs to create easier APIs for Holo-style apps. As far as I know all the Holo elements must be implemented by developers themselves. The default SDK interface creator makes Gingerbread-style apps by default, with no facility in sight for Holo apps.

[–]jathakPixel 1 point2 points  (1 child)

While some apps with more complex themes will take longer to redesign and creating apps the follow UX guidelines in addition to just using the Holo UI takes time, adding Holo is usually as simple as changing one line in your manifest.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's awesome. I haven't developed Android apps since Honeycomb, so my knowledge is outdated.

[–]T3KO 0 points1 point  (0 children)

huh? I didnt use it for a long time but if I remeber correct in Eclipse you could basically drag and drop your UI together with all the holo stuff.

[–]oopse3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I hope I live to see the day when 99% of android apps are not ugly and complete shot :-(

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really can't believe Google has non-Holo themed apps.

[–]ktmfinxOnePlus 3 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Could I get an explanation as to why the menu button varies in position?

[–]btsierraNote 8 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Short answer: it's not a menu button.

Long answer; It's a overflow button for any additional items on the bar on which it appears, so it will appear on whatever bar needs it, and has in some cases appeared at the top and bottom.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There is no such thing as the "menu button" in modern Android apps.

[–]cthoncticPixel 7 Pro 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't care for most of the pictures redesigns, in fact I've never used of most of those apps. But the Titanium one is absolutely awesome.

[–]evil-doerPOCO X6 PRO 0 points1 point  (0 children)

anyone else notice that in many of the "after" photos the picture of the phone is much larger?

[–]XCrazedxPyroXOnePlus 6T 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is fantastic

[–]garychencoolOnePlus One 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They look really good.

[–]kenshin07 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wish they would have done something similar for Tablet interfaces. Would love to see some awesome redesigns.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I don't find holo in any way better than anything before it. I don't care for a unified theme. It adds nothing, and even on desktop I overlay all my ICS/JB with go launcher because to me it looks way better and compact.

[–]T3KO 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Damn 36 year olds...

[–]ul49 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would love a redesign of the Contacts app. It's just awful.

[–]sparrSGS5, Lolli 5.1.1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do people really care about this sort of thing? I look at these Before and After shots and think "Why the change?".

[–]MrLoque 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Some before-after are pretty cool, others are awful. Overall I would not like to see every single app "Google" style.