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Chrome for iOS Updated With Handoff Support, Material Design, iPhone 6 Optimization
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Not sure why anyone would want material design on iOS. This strategy reminds me of when Microsoft pushed its own design language on Mac users.... and backfired.
It has its advantages and disadvantages. If Google is working on a consistent cross-platform experience, they might prefer having the same UI over a native iOS UI, not to mention that it can serve as a gateway drug into Android.
Also, it were apps that experimented with different designs that ultimately started and facilitated the transition from richly-designed UIs to flat UIs, before they were picked up by Apple for iOS 7 or Google (Holo UI). Popular designs could at some point find their way in to the OS itself, which is why design experiments like Google's may be encouraged even on iOS.
In my own opinion though, I agree. I don’t really like the new UI of the Google Translate app. It 'feels’ clunkier than before and in some way the UI departs too much from iOS.
That is a profound statement. I agree, it's strange to see things go from looking fancy and detailed to flat and often boring. I guess it's easier for developers to make things look flat than to have to spend time thinking about what their icons and buttons look like. I just wish there was more consistency in the details, especially notable (to be absent) in Yosemite.
All Google apps are updated with Material Design. You do not even need to update whole OS to get UI update. This is also the wonderfulness about Android.
For those of you that use Chrome on iOS how is the speed? I really don't remember the technical details but when it was first released I remember reading that there's some reason why any non-Safari browser will always be slower on iOS. So I just kind of decided then that I didn't want to switch...speed is the single biggest factor for me and browsers.
johnnyturbouk
macrumors 68000
Same here, but mixed picture.
I found after the recent safari update, sometimes i experience scrolling issues when typing in certain forums, only with safari. It is also slower with searches in google scholar and pubmed, so for these things i use chrome on my mac. Pdf scrolling (massive documents) is also slower in safari than chrome.
For everything else, safari is just as good, for banking and anything private, safari is my preference, as i have more faith in their security.
The problem is: the better the quality and higher the resolution of displays, the harder it becomes to maintain photo realistic/detailed interface elements. IMO Aqua icons scaled fairly poorly to sizes beyond 128 x 128 pixels. Much of the things that made them look realistic before were obviously fake at 512 x 512 pixels. Let alone 1024 x 1024 pixels. Same goes with the rest of the interface on Retina screens. Where Aqua used to look near-photo realistic in 2001, especially compared to Windows XP, it started to look like a collection of cheap 3D renders once Retina screens were introduced. I think Apple (and others) released this as well.
High resolution displays are what drives the move to more simplistic interfaces.
So I have to say, after trying the update it's not really what I was expecting. I was hoping that if I had a tab open on my phone, clicking the handoff icon on my Mac's dock would open that same tab in Chrome. Sadly it just opens Chrome to whatever tabs you already had open. Maybe that level of functionality isn't available in handoff but it kind of defeats the purpose.
EDIT: Looks like it works properly now. Nice!
EDIT: Looks like it works properly now. Nice!
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Since Google got the Apple wake up call by getting their map app kicked as a default in iOS, google has invested in making their apps extremely compelling and competitive. This is very good all around. It would be awesom if Apple allowed folks to change the default apps to the one of thier chosing. I am content with the Apple apps, but would likely experiment more if I had that choice. Right now losing the integration that the default apps have is too big an issue for me and I suspect a lot of folks. Since Apple is no making money from any of their default apps, I am not sure why they don't at least give people the option.
I am not a google fan, but I am a fan of choices.
I am not a google fan, but I am a fan of choices.
If Google continues the integration it has between apps then it will make not being able to select a default app not as bad. Imagine Google Calendar opening addresses in Google maps or Google Chrome opening phone numbers in hangouts. If Google makes all its apps link to each other then I think it's as good of a solution as selecting default apps.
Considering that apps are not as limited by the os a lot more than you think. On Android any one running chrome and 4.0 or higher will see it.
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Version numbers are completely and utterly arbitrary. They really have no meaning up other than to know what build you have.
Now different places have different rules on what they follow.
Android has a hidden version number for apps only the developers see in code and that is so the device knows what is newer. Now many choose to have public version number match.
Other common version number system are year, release that year. I have seen the last 4-5 numbers be the svn version number.
End of the day it means nothing.
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Honestly I think Google wanted more freedom on the map app. People where blaming Google for the poor app when reality Google just provide the maps. Apple did the app and lagged.
As for Apple not giving you the choice to change defaults I think that lays with the fact Apple knows their respective apps suck and need help to stand a chance so they cheat.
I'm finding that when I request the desktop site through Google chrome occasionally the keyboard freezes so I can't continue writing my post and the only way I can see to continue is to refresh the screen.
Happening on iPad Air and iPhone 6 Plus.
Happening on iPad Air and iPhone 6 Plus.