Android 15's tipped revamp of the status bar could be low-key awesome

Date:
Wed, 03 Apr 2024 15:22:51 +0000

Description:
Android 15 looks set to bring in iPhone-like status bar icons and Quick Settings haptics.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

It's been a while since Google tweaked the design and presentation of the icons in stock Androids status bar. But according to a report from Android Authority that could soon change, with Android 15 introducing a revamped status bar, and haptic integrated into the Quick Settings.

Call me easily pleased, but I think this is great news if true.

In Android 14 , icons showing Wi-Fi and cellular signal strength and battery levels are solid blocks that either fill up with a white or dark shade (depending on whether youre using Dark or Light mode), with a battery percentage shown to the side, if its enabled. While reasonably functional, this design isnt great for letting you check signal strengths at a quick glance, while the battery percentage can look rather scruffy on an otherwise neat interface.

Digging into Android 15, Android Authority noted that the upcoming version of Googles operating system will segment these icons, and integrate the battery percentage. That means signal strength will appear in individual bars, and
the battery percentage will be slotted into the battery icon. These are small changes, but for people like me who like to get clear information at a
glance, they could be very useful.

Users of Samsung phones will note that One UI adds such icons on top of Android 14, which is handy. But something about the way Samsung designs the icons doesnt quite gel with me.

Adopting such segmented status bar icons means Android 15 could look a lot more like iOS 17. But as an iPhone 15 Pro Max user who cant deny the
excellent if boring experience Apples phones offer , I think thats a good thing; Android can differentiate itself with things like generative AI tools. And such UI changes could stand a chance of tempting me back to Android from iOS . Hello haptics

Whats also caught my attention with Android 15 is the potential use of haptic feedback in the Quick Settings panel thats the menu you bring down in
Android phones with a swipe downwards from the top of the display.

According to Android Authority, haptic feedback could be used when adjusting the volume slider, as well as when long-pressing icons like the Bluetooth tile.

It might seem like a trivial tweak, but I find that haptics can really help
me to fine-tune small adjustments to settings that work on a sliding scale, especially when making adjustments at speed, when your finger can get in the way of particular level adjustments. So that, combined with the status bar tweaks, could result in Android feeling like a better-integrated experience, which would get my seal of approval.

Right now these options need to be toggled on in the Android 15 Developer Preview 2, which is open to the public but isnt something Id advise you try out on your main phone, as such previews arent always the most stable. Otherwise, well need to wait for the full release of Android 15, expected to come with the Google Pixel 9 series in the second half of the year, before we can see if Google does indeed integrate such tweaks into its mobile OS. You might also like Android's big Find My Device upgrade could finally launch
soon thanks to iOS 17.5 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 could be slim, light, and packing major screen upgrades Sorry, but it may be time to give up your Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy S20



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/android/android-15s-tipped-revamp-of-the-stat us-bar-could-be-low-key-awesome


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)