Android 4.4. Would you prefer a major performance change or a minor change in design?

[mcgowan398]

I've played around with iOS 7 and I'm loving what Apple has done to improve their UI. That got me wondering about what Kit Kat is going to bring to the table this year. I'm not expecting a completely different layout but I wonder if Google is going to make a major performance change like the company did with Android Jellybean or is it going to be a change in design similar to what Apple has done with iOS 7. Which option do you awesome forumers prefer?

 

[anon(847090)]

if you dint know they also did a big performance improvement on 4.3 with openGL implemented on OS level.
4.3 has big touch and performance improvement. So, i don't see why they wont continue improving performance.

UI changes??? probably just some color gradient

 

[Ice_Cold_Q]

would love a fresh UI........It's all getting a bit repetitive now

 

[shaytoon21]

the only thing that really matters is performance. ever since that report from agawa (or whatever the hell, i dont care to go and search to correct myself) came out about response time, androids been trolled on. another thing thats going to be annoying is since ios7 was just released, apple fanboys are going to say 4.4 copied everything from ios7. smh. le sigh. im sure 4.4 will improve on UI as well. not an entirely new change (as thatll be left for 5.0) but a more "modern" looking UI.

 

[Ice_Cold_Q]

Hopefully 5.0 comes out in march 214, and 5.0 HAS to be amazing no matter what, it cannot disappoint seeing as they're making us wait

 

[blindcozy]

JellyBean has a great design, so I don't think google make major change on UI. I'd prefer if Google make performance a lot better on KitKat.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Ice_Cold_Q]

It is a great design for sure, but we need something fresh now, been the same since ICS

 

[JRDroid]

I don't get everyone's huge desire for a new UI design. The current UI won't even be 2 years old until December. Personally, I think 3 years is a decent lifespan for a UI, so next fall/winter, I'd like 5.0 with a tweaked UI. Until then, I'm all about performance enhancements. I mean, we are JUST starting to get to the point where most apps are using the current UI guidelines. App developers don't want to have to do with a new UI every other year. Give me performance and features, I like the current UI.

 

[shaytoon21]

I don't get everyone's huge desire for a new UI design. The current UI won't even be 2 years old until December. Personally, I think 3 years is a decent lifespan for a UI, so next fall/winter, I'd like 5.0 with a tweaked UI. Until then, I'm all about performance enhancements. I mean, we are JUST starting to get to the point where most apps are using the current UI guidelines. App developers don't want to have to do with a new UI every other year. Give me performance and features, I like the current UI.

This.

 

[anon(847090)]

I don't get everyone's huge desire for a new UI design. The current UI won't even be 2 years old until December. Personally, I think 3 years is a decent lifespan for a UI, so next fall/winter, I'd like 5.0 with a tweaked UI. Until then, I'm all about performance enhancements. I mean, we are JUST starting to get to the point where most apps are using the current UI guidelines. App developers don't want to have to do with a new UI every other year. Give me performance and features, I like the current UI.

right on. but if people need UI changes I prefer Google bring in Android themer

 

[MERCDROID]

right on. but if people need UI changes I prefer Google bring in Android themer

It would be amazing, if Google added the ability to apply themes, without having to root and rom. I miss having the functionality of CM10, but I don't feel like unlocking the bootloader on or rooting my Nexus 4.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Mobile Nations mobile app

 

[jerrod6]

It would be amazing, if Google added the ability to apply themes, without having to root and rom. I miss having the functionality of CM10, but I don't feel like unlocking the bootloader on or rooting my Nexus 4.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Mobile Nations mobile app

I agree with this. The current UI is OK, but it would be nice for refinements. Things like being able to select your own accent colors and fonts, perhaps different animations. Beyond this I want
Google to focus on system response time..even if it means a little less multi tasking. What I have in mind happened today. Granted I have a Galaxy Nexus on 4.2 but while using it, it became unresponsive for a few seconds. Turns out it was busy receiving some notification item from CNN. I am willing to forego some multi tasking for the sake of response. The system must be able to give the current screen activity higher priority than something that is happening in the background that I am not currently interacting with.

 

[anon(847090)]

The current UI is OK,

The current UI is OK NOW but when ICS came out, the UI change is what everyone praised.

Humans get bored easily.

 

[bigdaddytee]

Android is all about choice. Built in theming would be an excellent addition. And something that iOS is unlikely to ever have.

Sent from the (4.2 updated) redheaded stepchild of the Nexii

 

[MrSlippery519]

Android is all about choice. Built in theming would be an excellent addition. And something that iOS is unlikely to ever have.

Sent from the (4.2 updated) redheaded stepchild of the Nexii

I think that would be a great idea.

 

[NoYankees44]

Lol who on earth would rather have design "improvements" over better battery, faster performance, more useful features, and more software capabilities? Do you want your phone to be actually better, or just prettier(which is purely subjective and you might hate it)?

 

[Citizen Coyote]

After staring at the glowing Apple logo on my wife's Macbook Air this evening, I've been thinking about what KitKat might bring to the table that warrants the new dessert theme name. After all, the past three releases have all been Jelly Bean and iterations of the same, and Google has uncoupled much of the obvious functionality of Android (namely Google apps and the like) from OS updates. So what could 4.4 bring? I'm thinking it's going to be 64 bit support, just like iOS 7. Samsung was quick to say they will have a 64 bit phone next year, and Chrome OS already has a 64 bit version. It seems natural that the next version of Android will also support 64 bit phones and devices. A quick web search I did earlier suggests I'm not alone in this thinking.

I suppose we'll find out in the next month or so.

 

[Rule9]

A new UI, why? There's already thousands of possible UI variations you can make

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[tr-1]

I don't get everyone's huge desire for a new UI design. The current UI won't even be 2 years old until December. Personally, I think 3 years is a decent lifespan for a UI, so next fall/winter, I'd like 5.0 with a tweaked UI. Until then, I'm all about performance enhancements. I mean, we are JUST starting to get to the point where most apps are using the current UI guidelines. App developers don't want to have to do with a new UI every other year. Give me performance and features, I like the current UI.

ABSOLUTELY agree! Many apps STILL haven't caught up to Holo, why the heck would Google change it again? This is just an unnecessary work for developers from Google and 3rd party and I'd rather see them work on useful stuff.
There's nothing wrong with Holo. It's clean (this is what iOS just switched to) and I love the dark theme.... not only because it's easy on eyes at night but it also saves battery. Basically change for a sake of change is a disaster waiting to happen.

IMO even 3 years is too short of a time to revamp the UI. Sure, some tweaks are welcome (for example the way app drawer works, etc) but revamping the theme will just **** off a lot of happy users and all developers.

 

[chadthebuilder]

ABSOLUTELY agree! Many apps STILL haven't caught up to Holo, why the heck would Google change it again? This is just an unnecessary work for developers from Google and 3rd party and I'd rather see them work on useful stuff.
There's nothing wrong with Holo. It's clean (this is what iOS just switched to) and I love the dark theme.... not only because it's easy on eyes at night but it also saves battery. Basically change for a sake of change is a disaster waiting to happen.

IMO even 3 years is too short of a time to revamp the UI. Sure, some tweaks are welcome (for example the way app drawer works, etc) but revamping the theme will just **** off a lot of happy users and all developers.

It doesn't really help save battery unless you have an AMOLED screen on your device. I do agree with you completely. Changing the theme too often can cause a lot of problems with apps. Most apps are just now finally changing to HOLO. I would love to see some new system changes such as new transitions for app opening, much smoother task switching, and better performance on older devices.

Posted from the incredible new Nexus 7