9to5Google Log Out: Yes, here are 400 words about the new Google Fi logo

Abner Li | Apr 21 2023 - 1:00 pm PT

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Or rather the Google Fi Wireless logo. To begin with, I get why Google added “Wireless” to the end of the name as “Fi” does not particularly evoke cell service at a glance. Wi-Fi, I guess? (In fact, there’s a company called Fi that makes smart collars for dogs. It’s somewhat hilarious how that just happened.) However, the name is now a bit long, and begs to be shortened to “GFW.”

Anyways, to the main point. This new “F” logo looks different from any other modern Google logo/app icon. Yes, it’s using the company blue, green, yellow, and red, though there are actually seven colors in use.

Meanwhile, the four levels are made up of dots and pills that evoke modern Material 3 toggles. I believe this to be an homage to being able to easily control cellular service, which Fi does have going for it. Compared to other big carriers, Fi feels like the most modern one since everything can be controlled from the app, which is well-designed and modern and isn’t just a web view.

Another interpretation is that rotating the logo gives you cell bars, though the bars are descending instead of ascending if you don’t also flip it.

With this week’s rebrand, Google is heavily positioning Fi Wireless as a carrier for families. That’s another thing the logo’s switches (attempt to) convey. Speaking of that new focus, there’s a redesigned app with large people switcher in the app bar of the Home feed. The bottom bar is very clearly Material You, but the top is somewhat of a mix between chat heads and a touch of iOS. In a more minor nitpick, I’m not a fan of Material 3’s currently selected tab indicator. It’s definitely a holdover of Material 2, and I wouldn’t mind if it was modernized, though no good ideas come to mind.

Anyway, even with the colors and modern shapes, the new Google Fi Wireless logo feels alien to other first-party icons. The fact that it’s composed of four lines makes it very dense, especially when viewed as a homescreen icon or, worse, in the Android status bar. In those instances – which I’d argue is people’s primary interaction with it – the rounded shapes are not visible, and it looks like four rectangular lines, which is not very Google-y.

The one upside of that is how the icon stands apart from the similarity of Google logos – an extremely common complaint – so that could be a plus.

From 9to5Google

Decentralized Twitter competitor ‘Bluesky’ now has an Android app

The most interesting part about Bluesky is how similar the experience feels to Twitter. Fundamentally, I don’t think most users care about whether or not a network is decentralized, and Mastodon has been trying too hard to make joining an app feel like you’re making a technological statement, be it decentralization or microtransactions.

People just want an equivalent to Twitter, and I think Bluesky offers that and understands the appeal of something straightforward right off the bat. The complexity and decentralized aspirations feel much more hidden at this point, or they’re not at the forefront, at least.

Personally, I think decentralized technologies – at this point – come at the expense of a good and simple user experience. Bluesky might be the first to beat that.

I still think Google (YouTube), since the start of the current Twitter situation, should make a social network that’s just a real-time way to find out what’s happening and share. If not Google, I genuinely think a medium to large-sized company that has enough end-user awareness – which is the key here – could come in and do it. Microsoft or Meta (though their issue would be including every aspect of their network into a text-first app) could do it, and that would get people in the door.

Enabled: Android 14 Beta 1 preps custom lock screen clock, single-app recording, more [Gallery]