Google Chrome was unveiled on September 1, 2008 as a “new open source browser” focused on speed and simplicity. Ten years later, its 69th version is launching today with a brand new design, faster browsing experience, and new security features.
In recent weeks, the Google Material Theme has permeated through more and more of the company’s apps and services. With a big redesign expected for Chrome this month, Google Search would be the next biggest product to get a revamped look. New screenshots today show Google already testing the new design.
Google’s default RCS and SMS client has seen a number of big developments in recent months, like becoming the company’s primary consumer messaging solution. Android Messages for web is now picking up some design tweaks to match the Google Material Theme redesign on mobile.
Unceremoniously pulled a day after being introduced, the Google Material Theme for Android Messages is now returning. A new version of the app is beginning to roll out today with features like dark mode available once more.
Even before the Google Material Theme was showcased at I/O 2018, the Chrome team has been working on a big redesign for the browser that shares many similarities like rounded corners and stark white backgrounds. Available on both desktop and mobile, this “Material Design refresh” is now scheduled to begin rolling out in September with Chrome 69.
In recent weeks, Google Contacts, Duo, and Phone have all been updated with the Google Material Theme. We’ve been tracking a similar redesign for Android Messages since June and it’s now beginning to roll out today, alongside a dark mode.
Update 8/18: Google has rolled back the Material Theme update to Android Messages, thus removing the dark theme in the process. As we noted in our APK Insight of version 3.5, the redesign is rolling out via a server-side update.
Following Google Contacts gaining a Material Theme earlier this week, Google Phone is now the latest Android app to get a redesign. The new look adopts a stark white background throughout and the Google Sans font, but organization and placement remains totally unchanged.
The latest update for Google Contacts is rolling out today with a Material Theme for the Android client. The app’s underlying organization is unchanged with the redesign, but various new elements like Google Sans and white backgrounds are now in use.
The Google Material Theme is making its way to more and more apps, with the most recent one we spotted being Google Opinion Rewards last week. The latest example is now the voice input UI for transcribing speech across Android.
Google Opinion Rewards is a fast way for users to earn credits via Google Play or PayPal by answering quick surveys. This small app is now the latest to be testing a Google Material Theme, which we’ve managed to enable today. Meanwhile, in recent weeks, the app has updated and greatly improved the “Reward history” page.
At I/O 2018, Google announced Material Theming and what’s next for its design language. The company’s apps are in the process of being revamped, while third-parties have already begun to take advantage of the new framework. To recognize “best-in-class designs,” Google today opened nominations for the 2018 Material Design Awards.
During a session at Cloud Next 2018, Google showed off Gmail for Android’s upcoming Google Material Theme update. To match the recent web revamp, the mobile version of Gmail will gain traditional desktop features like density options and quick attachments in the inbox view.
Google’s transition to update all of its apps with the Material Theme is well underway. A new video now shows off elements of the company’s new design language, while featuring various concepts for refreshed Google apps and services.
Hangouts Chat is Google’s Slack competitor for enterprise and businesses. Made available to G Suite accounts earlier this year, Google is now rolling out a Material Theme redesign for the service.
Google last month announced a new sign-in page for logging into your Google Account that takes advantage of several new Material Theme stylings. “Unforeseen delays” delayed that launch, but it is finally rolling out this week with one tweak.
The Google Material Theme is coming to more and more products as seen with Android P DP4 and Google Maps just last month. This new look is now being tested in one aspect of the Google app, while a related redesign of the Google Feed is more widely rolling out.
Android DP4 is rolling out today with Google noting that Beta 3 is “very close to what you’ll see in the final version of Android P.” This release candidate tweaks icons across the system to adopt the Google Material Theme.
Since I/O 2018, major Google apps like Account settings, Maps, and Podcasts have been updated with the Material Theme, while we’ve enabled a revamped Android Messages. The latest app to test the new look is the Google Home app for managing smart speakers and Cast devices.
At I/O 2018, Google announced a revamped Google Maps focused on being more personal and assistive thanks to a revamped Explore tab and new “For you” section featuring a “Your match” score. This new experience is now widely rolling out, alongside the Material Theme redesign.
Prior to I/O 2018, we enabled a redesigned look for Google Account settings on Android. Today, this Google Material Theme revamp for Google Account settings is widely rolling out. In addition to offering a new visual design, it is better at presenting key information.
To allay privacy concerns about its ad-centric business model, Google since 2009 has maintained a centralized dashboard to control ads, with later tools allowing for muting and seeing why a specific ad was displayed. The latest change today redesigns Ad Settings with a focus on making it easier for users to understand and control.
Over the weekend, we enabled a handful of upcoming design tweaks and features for the Google Podcasts experience within the Google app. These changes, including dedicated episode pages, are now rolling out today to beta users.
Along with the upcoming Messages for web feature, the latest version of Android Messages reveals that Google is working on a Material Theme for its default RCS client. We’ve managed to enable this under development look that brings the app in line with other recently updated Google services. There is also an in-progress revamp to search functionality that includes filters and GIF lookup.
Since I/O 2018, apps like Google Drive have joined Gmail, Google News, and more in adopting Google’s new Material Theme. The latest service to join is the Account sign-in screen, with an update coming later this month.