Update 1/15/15: The non-Beta version of the app was updated today with the same features that came to the beta version last month.
Wikipedia is definitely one the more used Android apps, and today the app’s beta channel has been updated with a plethora of new features. Most notable of them is the fact that today’s release packs a Material design revamp (including a new drawer and overflow menu), and support for Android 5.0 Lollipop. Other features, like the return of the search bar and other layout improvements, are just a couple of the more than a dozen changes made in this version.
The new version also features improvements to search order, Wikidata descriptions under page’s titles in search, and swipe to refresh on pages and on the “Nearby” tab. You’ll also notice, at the bottom of an article you’re reading, that this new version adds a new section called “Read more” where you’ll find various related articles. Finally, rounding out the more obvious changes, there’s now an option in the “More” section for disabling image loading (helpful if you are strapped for data).
As noted on the app’s Play Store listing, here’s the complete list of changes:
– Material design icons and 5.0 support
– Search bar is back
– Search order improvements
– Wikidata descriptions in search results, similar pages, under pages titles
– Swipe to refresh on pages and for Nearby
– Collapsed infoboxes
– Better tablets layouts
– Read more section
– Allow disabling images
– Basic syntax highlighting of templates while editing
– Hide IPA
– ToC drawer always on
– Similar pages, page issues, reference info display changes
– Display MathML images
– Remove pinch-zoom
