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Google is giving all of its Android apps a makeover in accordance with its Material Design guidelines and the next app reportedly due to receive a redesign is the Google Home one. XDA Developers got a hold of a handful of screenshots showing the major aesthetic changes made across the app, from home screen to the settings menu. The most prominent change of them all affects the bottom navigation bar which now includes four menu options instead of two, along with a floating voice search button in the center. The button to access a device list is now also present on the bottom bar and has a duplicate in the top-right corner of the interface. On the device page, a major redesign can be seen with smaller icons taking place of display-wide cards assigned to each unit and accompanied by a few options on top.
The hamburger menu has been completely removed from the app, with the section now moved to the bottom toolbar for easier access on phones with taller displays. Under this section, the menu options continue to be the same as they previously were, but they have been treated to some cosmetic changes for a cleaner look. The two-tone background has been replaced with a plain white one, while the lines separating each menu option have also been taken off. On the other hand, the Home and Browse sections of the app haven’t witnessed any pronounced alteration besides the search and categories buttons being moved to the top in the latter section. Furthermore, Google Sans font now has a much wider presence within the Home app and isn’t confined to major section headings any longer.
This appears to be a server-side update and installing any APK from third-party stores wouldn’t have any effect on the UI of the current Google Home app you’re seeing. Google is yet to officially announce these changes being made to the app that acts as a control center for Google Home and Chromecast devices. A gradual rollout of the new look is expected in the near future. The tech giant is now redesigning its entire portfolio of services, both on the web and mobile platforms, giving them a flavor of its Material Design, with tools like Gmail, Google Drive, Google News, and Google Maps already receiving updates embracing the new aesthetic.
