Editorial: Dear Google, Let’s Talk

Dear Google,

We here at Holo Everywhere have a great appreciation for the beautiful new design that you laid out in the Android Design Guidelines. We appreciate it so much that we only feature applications that follow the “Holo Everywhere” mentality that you described earlier this year.

You have clearly dedicated countless hours into building a beautiful UI in your most recent releases (Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean). You have made incredible strides to provide developers with an excellent set of design guidelines and templates to work with in order to create a UI that exemplify’s the “Holo Everywhere” mentality. It is this mentality that has finally and ultimately set Android apart in terms of beauty in application design. )

So please, explain to me why apps like ScoreCenter by ESPN are deserving of two unique and significant titles of “Top Developer” as well as “Editor’s Choice”?

Do the editors that use the label “Editor’s Choice” really feel that ScoreCenter is such a pinnacle of application development that it deserves not one but TWO honerable titles?

I’m not meaning to specifically pick on Scorecenter, but honestly just spend two seconds using the app and you’ll know that this isn’t what truly top developers should be striving for. What they SHOULD be striving for is design, usability, and beauty, which should mimic your own Creative Vision:

Beauty is more than skin deep. Android apps are sleek and aesthetically pleasing on multiple levels. Transitions are fast and clear; layout and typography are crisp and meaningful. App icons are works of art in their own right. Just like a well-made tool, your app should strive to combine beauty, simplicity and purpose to create a magical experience that is effortless and powerful.

Can you honestly call ScoreCenter beautiful? What about simple?

The same question applies to other Android apps that have received the dual honor of “Top Developer” and “Editors’ Choice” such as TripIt, ScoreMobile, Endomondo, and Glympse. Really? Are you going to tell me that the user interfaces of these applications are exemplarly of the titles bestowed upon it?

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Now the good news is that this ship can be righted with four simple changes.

  1. Reserve the title of “Top Developer” to developers that follow the Android Design Guidelines.
    There are tools available to developers of 2.3 and below devices (ActionBarSherlock) as well as 3.0+ that there should no longer be an excuse for poor design.

  2. Reserve the title of “Editor’s Choice” to apps that not only follow the guidelines, but also go above and beyond in terms of usability and overall popularity.
    Apps like MLB At Bat ’12, Spotify, and Evernote belong on this list.

  3. Focus on “Featured Apps” and “Staff Picks” in the Play store that follow the design guidelines.
    These apps should exemplify the best in Android usability and design. Too often, I see live wallpapers and poorly designed apps featured, when great apps, such as the applications featured on Holo Everywhere, remain un-noticed.

  4. Make it easy to find apps that follow the design guidelines.
    Perhaps a developer could be given the option to “Submit application for Design Approval” to receive a special icon showing their app follows the design guidelines. Then you could create a filter that says “Only show ‘Design Approved” applications” which would allow users to quickly filter through apps to find those that have been given Google’s design team’s blessing.

Use the titles of “Top Developer” and “Editor’s Choice” have meaning and be badges of honor and encouragement for developers to pursue better design. Not only will the prospect of being labeled a “Top Developer” be an incentive, but being featured or listed as an “Editors’ Choice” or “Staff Pick” application could mean increased income or at least additional exposure for worthy apps.

We can fix this Google.

Chris
Holo Everywhere Admin

This entry was written by admin, posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:04 pm, filed under Editorial. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
  • Jacob Barlow

    Took me forever to find this notes app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nononsenseapps.notepad.

    CLEARLY the best of the bunch, especially design-wise. “Most downloaded” isn’t going to fly anymore for which apps are the best.

  • James Finnigan

    Exactly! Google shouldn’t be promoting applications that don’t exemplify the Android platform. There are some truly gorgeous and functional applications on Android. These should be showcased, rather than dodgy iOS ports, or the pathetic attempts of developers who clearly don’t care about Android and the unique features it offers.

  • warcaster

    Wow. Thanks for calling them out like this. They deserve it, and I hope they take notice.

  • A small developer

    While design is really important, “top developer” should look at other factors besides design. When I see a top developer I anticipate an app that serves its purpose well. Just because a developer has not done an excellent job following design guidelines does not mean they should not be a top developer. When I see “staff pick” I anticipate a developer is putting out an app that is going to have minimal bugs and is fun or useful. I don’t look for apps based on design. I look for apps based on the function, and design helps me decide between apps when I have multiple choices. ScoreCenter’s design could be improved, but I use it. It is accurate, gets updates quickly and has the functionality that I need.

    • http://cassidyjames.com Cassidy James

      Obviously the apps would also need to be functional. However, in order to really push a sense of Android design, they need to take the design into consideration when reviewing and promoting apps.

    • http://ipaul.pro Paul Burke

      Design does not refer only to the look, but more importantly, the feel. The interaction patterns detailed in the guidelines should be followed, regardless of the developer’s design ability.

      Holo is a theme, not a pattern.

  • http://cassidyjames.com Cassidy James

    I’ve been saying this since they released their design guidelines. They can easily fix the “open vs. high quality” problem of the Play Store by only ever featuring apps that fit in with the guidelines. Not 1:1 only using elements from the guidelines (they’re guidelines, not strict rules), but ones that fit in and that they’d be comfortable demoing in front of an auditorium of iPhone users. ;)

  • Steve

    Not only is this great for the user, it helps google. When a new android user opens up the play store they are first led toward and recommended beautiful holo apps, the first impression of the device would be much higher.

  • Christopher Bement

    What is “honerable” and who is Holo Everywhere?

  • Chris Nutt
    • Singo

      The same goes for endomondo.

  • Larizard

    There was an interview with Matias Duarte where he discussed the newly released Android Design Guidelines website. I believe it was with Topolsky of the Verge. Anyway, Josh asked what incentives there was for developers to follow the Guidelines, considering Google is not forcing them upon developers. Matias answered that they can give out “badges” to promote and bring attention to apps that are Holo friendly.

    We really don’t know what “Top Developer” or “Staff’s Pick” really means. But if there was another badge specific to Android Design, I think it would work. Something like “Top Design” or “Holo Certified” would be cute.

  • hot_spare

    Good write-up..I think gradually people are starting to get more involved in terms of app design. The ICS/JB design guidance for apps looks really slick. I think more devs in future would start making their apps more “holo” in design. It would make the experience much more better and consistent.

  • Ian Thomas

    Absolutely excellent idea! Additionally, as a developer I often find it discouraging to see applications in the editors pick that are nothing less than average. I feel most apps in that list are corporate or just have a lot downloads; neither of which should be a determination of the category.

  • Ermin Brkic

    Wow just saw this article and must say I completely agree! I find myself sometimes looking for better looking alternative apps because the UI is just awe full to look at. Agree that those badges should include design since it is a very important factor. BTW, thank you for all the great recommendations on those beautiful apps!

  • http://twitter.com/viakenny Arthur V.*

    Well, the ScoreCenter app is user-friendly and popular, and I don’t know how hard it us to adapt ESPN’s on-air look to Holo (ScoreCenter is designed after the ESPN sets and graphics). look at the Windows Phone version: it follows the Metro Modern UI guidelines, but doesn’t “feel” like ESPN.

  • Grant Hernandez

    I’m glad people like you are taking notice of these design offenders and bringing them to light.

  • http://www.facebook.com/se.solovyev Sergey Solovyev

    Same situation here: I’ve got an calculator application called Calculator++ which beats f*cking RealCalc in everywhere – from usability to functionality. But still RealCalc is Editor’s choice but Calculator++ can’t be found in the search results AT ALL (by keyword ‘calculator’).

  • Asok

    I see Glympse has moved over to Holo. Score another for Holo. Maybe they read this blog?