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Logic behind the new setting structure

The convoluted structure of the phone app was the result of a long evolution since the earliest versions of the app in 2014.

In 2017, with the introduction of stand-alone watch apps in Android Wear 2.0, I made all the settings available in the watch app. Their new layout greatly benefited from the insight I gained during the first years. Instead of grouping settings by use-case (app-drawer mode vs watch face mode), their organization was based on the clouds and bubbles the various options affected: favorites, archive, clock bubble, 1-click themes etc.

Version 9.64 brings this same structure to the phone app:

General – Basic options

Favorites cloud / Watch face

Archive cloud

1-Click Themes

Shortcuts

More options

Version 9.64 changes

System dark mode (Android 10 and some Android Pie devices)

Settings are grouped more similarly to the watch app: General, Favorites, Archive, More options

Unused settings are hidden (app drawer options in watch face mode and vice versa)

Many cryptic option names made clearer now

All outdated (Android Wear related) messages were refreshed

New ⓘ (“info”) hints point to posts in app’s website (often replacing the old youtube links)

Missing option added: vertical app drawer (it was only available on the watch)



All settings became more airy and more “standard” looking (with descriptive section headings)

Each group now has a different “cute” watch-icon (all used to be the same icon)



Here is another screenshot (“Full clock only” enabled in dark mode, causing some of the controls to hide)

Other changes in beta 2:

quicker access to Wear Cloud Editor using the shortcut icon in the “Archive Cloud” group:



1-click themes symbol is now the “paint palette” everywhere in the app



reduced watch app size by 7%

date bubble dialog was broken since v9.54 (accessible by tapping on the date bubble in the Wear Cloud Editor)

Floating action buttons sometimes did not fit in landscape orientation

New way to select “Background color by minutes of the hour” (similarly to the way on the watch)



New way to select full-clock-ambient: use the separate checkbox



Please report any issues!

This update (especially the dark mode) affects every part of the app – including the home screen widget screens. Please send me a screenshot if you see something off!

It would be a great help, if those of you with Android 10 devices (and night-mode capable Android Pie devices) could test Bubble Clouds in Night Mode.