This is great news for developers. Google has updated the popular AppCompat library to version 21, and introduced a new Toolbar widget that will allow for a more Material Design look and feel in apps built for devices running older firmware. This update is exactly what we're all seeing in recent updates for Google Apps like the Play Store or Play Newsstand, and is how we can have the new design language on the majority of Androids, even if they aren't running Lollipop.
If you're an app dev, Google has everything you need to update to the latest AppCompat libs or start from scratch all in one handy reference page. Have a look, and build awesome apps, please.
If you're not a developer, know that these tools mean the people building the apps you love can bring the new look and feel of Material Design to your phone before you get any Lollipop update.
It's great seeing Google build better tools for developers to make better apps. The days of Android apps looking "ugly" should soon come to an end once and for all.
Source: Google
Reader comments
Google's AppCompat v21 brings Material Design to pre-Lollipop devices
Looking forward to seeing this built into the Android Central app
You know it.
+99999
Posted via the Android Central App
Doesn't need much.
1. Stop using card views for the article list.
2. New drawer toggle
3. Maybe a ➕ floating action button for the comment view.
4. Ripples on touch
5. More 'papery' animations in and out of article transitions.
:)
Posted via the Android Central App
ripples don't work well on pre-Lollipop so I don't think it will be added to the support library (plus they need to add it to all UI components) , but the rest is very possible.
But, there are still those developers who refuse to care about design...
Don't use their apps and let them wither away. That's what I'm doing.
+1
My AC App signature lacks a witty comment.
I thought the title said "App Combat" and imagined an MMA style fight between applications.
Google, make it happen.
[Mortal Kombat announcer voice] Angry Birds vs. Hangouts... FIGHT.
Posted from my Nexus 5, behind seven proxies
I can't wait for iOS users to ask me, "what OS is that? It's really clean."
Can't wait for material design Android Central! :D
actually, I've tried yesterday to use the new SDK, and I didn't need to use the Toolbar in order to show it in material-style...
weird.
Toolbar is only if you want to customize it beyond what the ActionBar can do. It also gives you some more flexibility with transition animations since it's just another view in the layout.
I see. Do you know of any app/sample out there that shows what it can do?
Not off the top of my head. You could check out the source code for the 2014 I/O app though.
Are you talking about this:
https://github.com/google/iosched
?