Google’s starting to learn about Smartphone User Interface Design

The latest Google Android app to drop the hamburger button is now the Google Play Store. Thank goodness Google is finally learning about better smartphone user interface design. Google Photos removed the design element last year and Google Maps removed it in 2019. The YouTube app removed it as well. Hopefully, the Gmail app, Google Drive app, and Google Calendar apps are next.  If only we could get that awesome experimental Google Chrome user interface back too!

Why is the hamburger button such a bad design?

Oh my! There are so many reasons! Your first clue is in the name. If we have to make up a ridiculous name to describe an interactive element, that means the designer failed miserably in creating a button that clearly communicates its function. Every time you call it a hamburger button, you’re insulting whoever put it there.

We’ve actually talked about this before numerous times, (see: What’s wrong with hamburger buttons?), but we can summarize again.

  1. People don’t know what it does. There’s no indication as to what it’s supposed to be and what it’s supposed to do other than “something”. This is because people don’t understand icons. They do, however, understand words, because we learned about words at an early age and almost all humans have been taught about words for hundreds of years. It’s a really good way to communicate.  See:
  2. It’s often used inconsistently. The hamburger button might be used for one type of thing in one app and another type in another app. There’s no consistency and therefore no way for a user to predict what’s it’s going to do. I’ve seen some apps with multiple hamburger buttons, maybe one at the top and one at the bottom, and they both do completely different things. That’s not user-friendly at all.
  3. Placement at the top is the worst possible location for interactive elements.  Also, see:

Our 2014 & 2015 articles about this were mainly targeted at Microsoft for implementing hamburger buttons in Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10. I believe this poor design decision is part of what contributed to the fall of Windows 10 Mobile as all of the data seems to show that hamburger button-based user interface designs have reduced engagement and reduced usability. See:

Okay, okay… I know what you’re saying, “But Adam, the Pocketnow mobile website has a hamburger menu at the top! Hypocrisy much?”  I know, I know, but my excuse is that I didn’t design this site, and the person who did doesn’t read my articles about user experience design or the advantages thereof. It looks like Google does read them though since they’re definitely moving towards a better user experience design among their apps.

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Could this be the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3?

Many things have been said about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, but we have yet to see the device’s official image. Well, Ben Geskin has decided to change that, as he recently posted an image on Twitter, where he shows us what could be Samsung’s new foldable device.

We are still waiting to get official images of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, but those may take a while to show up. In the meantime, we’ve found what could be the next best thing. Ben Geskin has recently posted a render of what he believes will be Samsung’s new foldable device’s final design. At a simple glance, we can see that this device holds a strong resemblance with the recently launched Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra if we were to leave out the other half of the device. However, this makes perfect sense, as the Galaxy Z Fold 2 looks a lot like the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

However, having a similar design in the camera module doesn’t guarantee that we will get the same camera sensors, so we may end up getting a slightly downgraded camera, just like on its predecessor. Geskin also believes that the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 will arrive with S Pen support, but he explains that the stylus won’t come in the device. Instead, we would see the same solution given to the Galaxy S21 Ultra, or maybe magnets, like in Apple’s iPad Pro.

Previous rumors suggest that the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 may launch in June. Further, the new foldable is also expected to arrive with the same price tag as its predecessor. What’s more interesting is that this may be Samsung’s first device to feature an under-display selfie camera, but we will have to wait for more information to confirm or deny these rumors.

Source Twitter

Via GSM Arena

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Samsung may have revealed what we’re getting in future Galaxy phones

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Samsung was one of the first companies to step into the foldable phone market. Indeed, the devices are far from being perfect, and they still have a long way to go before they become the standard, but we can’t deny that they’re fantastic, and deep inside, we all wish we could have one in our pockets. Whatever the case, the South Korean tech giant is constantly working to improve, to deliver some of the best foldable devices available, and its display division has recently teased what could be the future of Samsung’s foldable phones.

Samsung Display has recently posted a couple of images that give us an idea of future foldable Galaxy devices. Renderings show us a phone with a triple folding panel that would easily transform into a tablet. Now, rumors have also mentioned that Samsung is working to make this idea a real working device. We also know that the company has several patents for tri-fold display panels, so we may get to see it in a not so distant future.

The second rendering shows what could be a new device with a rollable display, which doesn’t seem so crazy after the latest rumors of rollable devices from more than one company. However, this design seems to leave the rectangular phone design behind, and it would opt for a cylindrical stick from which a display would roll out. The best part is that Samsung has also been working on this idea, and it also possesses some patents that may also become real in the future.

We are also expecting changes in Samsung’s flagship devices next year, as the Galaxy Note series may disappear, and in its place, we could get a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and a Galaxy Z Fold 3 with stylus support, as well as a new device that could feature a rollable display.

Source SamMobile

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New iPhone 12 lineup could look just like the iPhone 4

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New alleged images of the iPhone 12 design have been leaked. They show us what could be the 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch sizes of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro may look like, and they look a lot like the iPhone 4.












We have started to receive dummy images of the new iPhone 12 lineup thanks to case makers. These last images show us every variant of the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro. These dummy units are used by case makers to create new accessories before the devices are launched, so they don’t show us as many details as possible. However, we can see that these new devices will have a similar design to the one found in the iPhone 4.

Source 9to5Mac

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The design of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 has been revealed

We have some sketches of the possible design of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 20. These images have been posted by well-known leaker @IceUniverse, and it could give us a better idea of the future Galaxy Note 20 series.

IceUniverse has posted a couple of sketches of what are supposed to be schematics for a case design for the Galaxy Note 20. These images show huge bezels, which may part of the protective case itself and a centered punch-hole selfie camera on the front side of the device. We also get to see a triple camera on the rear, with a similar design to the one found in the Galaxy S20 series.

Remember to take these leaks with a grain of salt, since they are still rumors with no confirmation whatsoever. However, they come from a very reliable source, so they may end up being the real deal. The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series is also supposed to give us better displays, more RAM, and the Note 20+ variant may also arrive with a 108MP camera and a 4,500mAh battery, but no Ultra variant.

Source GSM Arena

Via Weibo

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We swear this is the new Xiaomi Mi Watch, not an Apple Watch

We may see a new WearOS smartwatch in the following Xiaomi Event on November 5th, the new Xiaomi Mi Watch

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Pocketnow Daily: Samsung Galaxy Fold is FINALLY READY!? (video)

On today's Pocketnow Daily, we talk about the possible launch date for the Samsung Galaxy Fold, the Galaxy Note 10 5G and more

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Pocketnow Daily: Apple is KILLING Face ID & The Notch?! (video)

On today's Pocketnow Daily, we talk about the possible changes coming in future iPhones, upgrades in the Nintendo Switch and more

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Pocketnow Daily: The Huawei Mate 30 Pro looks DIFFERENT! (video)

On today's Pocketnow Daily, we talk about the possible leaked design of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro, how Huawei's ban is affecting Samsung and more

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