04 January 2012
Smartphone users with Android 4.0 will all be one in the same from now on, as Google announces its Holo theme will become a compatibility requirement on its devices.
Prior to Android 4.0, system themes between different devices varied, making it difficult for developers to create apps with the same design across all devices.
Android Framework engineer Adam Powell wrote on the Android Developers Blog: "We've made the inclusion of the unmodified Holo theme family a compatibility requirement for devices running Android 4.0 and forward."
"If the device has Android Market, it will have the Holo themes as they were originally designed."
According to Powell, the move will help reduce production time for developers and allow designers to "reliably predict results" when building and testing new apps for the Android Market.
The Android platform is the world's most popular smartphone, and in December Google announced the Android Market reached 10 billion downloads - the new compatibility requirements will allow developers to create new apps easily, a move that will ultimately continue to promote growth in the Android Market.
Although Holo will now be a compatibility requirement, Android maintains it does not seek to restrict device themes for manufacturers.
"Android apps running on 4.0 and forward can use the Holo themes and assured that their look and feel will not chance when running on a device with a custom skin," Powell said.
"Android's resource system allows you to support features from the latest platform version while offering graceful fallback on older devices."
Android shares its Holo
Smartphone users with Android 4.0 will all be one in the same from now on, as Google announces its Holo theme will become a compatibility requirement on its devices.Prior to Android 4.0, system themes between different devices varied, making it difficult for developers to create apps with the same design across all devices.
Android Framework engineer Adam Powell wrote on the Android Developers Blog: "We've made the inclusion of the unmodified Holo theme family a compatibility requirement for devices running Android 4.0 and forward."
"If the device has Android Market, it will have the Holo themes as they were originally designed."
According to Powell, the move will help reduce production time for developers and allow designers to "reliably predict results" when building and testing new apps for the Android Market.
The Android platform is the world's most popular smartphone, and in December Google announced the Android Market reached 10 billion downloads - the new compatibility requirements will allow developers to create new apps easily, a move that will ultimately continue to promote growth in the Android Market.
Although Holo will now be a compatibility requirement, Android maintains it does not seek to restrict device themes for manufacturers.
"Android apps running on 4.0 and forward can use the Holo themes and assured that their look and feel will not chance when running on a device with a custom skin," Powell said.
"Android's resource system allows you to support features from the latest platform version while offering graceful fallback on older devices."
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