Latest rumor suggests Google Now launcher changes could be tied to stock Android interface

May 10, 2014

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One of the things that has set Google’s Android operating system apart from other smartphone interfaces have been some of the unique features and stylistic cues that Google brought to the screen. With Google I/O coming up in a few weeks and rumors swirling of a pending release of another significant update to Android, likely 4.5, we have suggestions that an overhaul of the home screen and notifications menu may be in the cards.

Speaking of cards, they continue to play a big role in the interface according to this latest rumor. Originally part of the Google Now model, the card metaphor has been spreading throughout the Google ecosystem and is even getting copied by third-party apps. According to this latest rumor, cards will now be used to represent running apps when users access the task list. The cards will appear in a rolodex style stack of running apps that users can flip through.

Another place where it appears cards may be heavily incorporated into is the notification shade. Currently when users pull down the shade, they get a simple list of items with minimal graphics included. The new notification system will look much more like the Google Now search screen sans a search bar. Notifications will be displayed as cards, possibly grouped together by type or app until a user expands them. The system may also display a custom “welcome” message for the user and a header type graphic.

A more controversial piece of the new system is a possible App Grid to replace the app drawer. The app grid resembles the iOS-style app grid and would apparently shuffle current or recent apps front and center with less used apps accessible on subsequent screens. If implemented, it is unclear how “home screens” would fit into the model. Likewise, this would seem to preclude the use of widgets. Considering the customizability of the launcher and widgets are a couple key items that set Android apart, it seems unlikely the App Grid interface would replace them.

One thing that seems clear in this and other recent Google work is that the card metaphor and Google Now are key parts of where Google sees their platform and interface headed. The big question is whether Google will limit this to something like the Google Now Launcher or just to their Google devices – and let’s not forget about the rumored Android Silver program – or will changes like these be more widespread to the Android ecosystem as a whole.

What do you think of these changes to the Android interface?