Native Apps UI

evol

The native apps' UI (Clock, Phone, Messges, Calculator, Files, etc) look like they're from Android 5.
Could we get a redesign?
Material UI, or something alike. Ive been using the Fossify apps just for this reason, but it feels so redundant. I do care about design hehe as you can see. Thanks!

treenutz68

evol

May I suggest downloading alternatives that suit you better? Reading through old forum posts, this doesn't seem to be high on the to do list of devs (rightfully so)

AlphaElwedritsch

evol Clock, Phone, Messges, Calculator, Files, etc

They are as they come from AOSP. GOS adopts them 1:1 and does not fiddle with them.
Which is perfectly fine.

Switzerland

evol This is one of the sacrifices you're going to have to make in the name of freedom and utility unfortunately.

Apple for example, has unlimited resources to make UI stimulating enough to make people forget about their data privacy.

I can understand why the relatively small GOS Team doesn't want to take a second away from utility to focus on aesthetics, which can be very subjective.

evol

treenutz68 Yeah, i understand why it's not a priority. I've been using alternatives as i mentioned, but it feels redundant.
An alternative clock app doesnt work very well because it need a permission to run in the background in order to ring alarms without failure, when the native clock app is reliable in that sense, in this case I stayed with the native one even though i dont like the UI.

job_shredder69

treenutz68 May I suggest downloading alternatives that suit you better?

Said so yourself.

treenutz68 Ultimately, my point is that this topic has been brought up many times and it doesn't seem to be a priority for graphene devs so I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a redesign from them of stock apps :)

Right. Not asking for redesign either. Just a simple color change would suffice.

zzz

evol An alternative clock app doesnt work very well because it need a permission to run in the background in order to ring alarms without failure, when the native clock app is reliable in that sense, in this case I stayed with the native one even though i dont like the UI.

You can select:
"App Info -> " App Battery Usage" -> "Allow Background Usage"
for a 3rd party clock app, that should take care of issues related to running in the background.

For BFU alarms, perhaps this is a useful thread to follow (although looks unresolved still):
https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/17445-clock-with-verified-boot

job_shredder69

I agree that the apps provided works as intended. They were able to extend the dark mode in the contacts and phone app while leaving the on-call and clock background to blue. Yes, I get that the developers time is limited, but we wouldn't get these complaints if those low hanging UI fix is solved

I actually like using the stock apps, but the moment my alarm clock goes off or someone calls, I'm greeted by this butt-ugly blue background. We're not asking for award-winning material you design. All we ask is update it to #000000.

@treenutz68 suggests that we use alternatives, but aren't we increasing our attack surface? In addition, as @evol pointed out, the alternative clock app barely works.

treenutz68

job_shredder69

To be specific, I am not suggesting most use alternatives (I personally do not). However, if the stock apps displease you enough, you can use an alternative. One of the major benefits of android (vs iphone) is the ability to choose these things for yourself, but that isn't to say there aren't any potential drawbacks in doing so.

Ultimately, my point is that this topic has been brought up many times and it doesn't seem to be a priority for graphene devs so I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a redesign from them of stock apps :)

treenutz68

job_shredder69

Yes, I said so, specifically for you, because you seem to have a problem that I don't think is going to be solved by the devs. If the problem is important to you, then fix it.

I don't think they're going to waste their time changing the color to please you ;) You have the freedom to do whatever you'd like! Including the freedom to post on here and request they change the color of the app, I'm just letting you know I wouldn't hold my breath.

Maskerot

Perhaps it would be better to find apps that can scratch both itches of being well done and stable while having a better UI. After all the AOSP apps are so wonderfully small you can basically pretend like they don't exist by disabling them.

And I say well done apps because if say a clock app can't do it's job of being a clock app well. Then I'd say that isn't a very well done app in my book.