All articles tagged with #user interface
Kotaku reports widespread user backlash after Roku's June UI overhaul, which replaces a fast, simple home screen with a cluttered, ad-heavy layout driven by recommendations, introduces bugs, and prompts calls to revert or offer an old-interface option.
Google Photos is beginning to roll out an iOS-style floating bottom bar on Android, adding quick-access options for Photos, Collections, Create, and a separate Search button. The update is currently phased, with some devices like Galaxy Z Fold 7 seeing the new UI while others such as Pixel 10 Pro still run the old layout; the change appears to be a styling update shared with other Google apps and will spread with the rollout.
Blizzard will fix World of Warcraft's long-standing autoloot annoyance by making autoloot account-wide in the Curse of Ula'tek patch, which also adds the Coiled Isle zone, a new eight-boss raid, world bosses, delves, a dungeon season, and assorted UI improvements.
YouTube Shorts is removing the visible dislike button, replacing the like with a heart, adding a TikTok-inspired Clear Screen mode, and introducing a 2x playback speed option, plus new feed-tuning controls like Not Interested and Don't Recommend; rollout is regional and ongoing.
Reddit co-founder Steve Huffman says the internet will expand beyond traditional screens, with voice and audio interfaces possibly becoming the primary way we interact with computers; keyboards and mice won’t disappear, but we’ll see more listening and voice-enabled experiences as people stay connected over shared interests. Reddit’s long-term goal is to reach 1 billion users, a topic Huffman touched on during Cannes Lions, noting that while voice UI isn’t being actively built yet, it’s on the team’s radar as part of the internet’s evolution.
Roku is standardizing the home screen across Roku TVs, replacing brand-specific designs with a single Roku City purple backdrop and a small brand logo, bringing consistent navigation, easier software updates, and potential for deeper cross-device features as more manufacturers like TCL adopt the approach.
Roku now lets eligible devices manually switch to the company’s redesigned home screen via Settings > Home Screen > Home Screen Update, enabling early opt-in before the automatic rollout. The switch is one-way and cannot be undone, though users can customize the new UI to resemble the old layout. The update brings features like Top Picks for You, a customizable Quick Access area, Destinations hubs, a unified view of subscriptions, improved search, and a collapsible side menu, along with new widgets such as Your Daily Scoop and Roku City. Availability is staggered by device and account, with some users seeing a “coming soon” indicator; international expansion is anticipated. Those who wait will receive the update automatically as the rollout progresses, and users are advised to ensure a stable internet connection and latest software before updating.”,
Apple is reiterating Macintosh UI guidelines that icons should be used sparingly, following criticism of macOS 26 Tahoe’s menu icons. The updated macOS 27 guidance emphasizes using icons to highlight common actions and features, aiming for a cleaner, less cluttered menu experience; observers view this as a corrective turn for Apple’s UI design.
Apple’s macOS 27 Golden Gate reverses macOS Tahoe’s icon-heavy menu design by removing most menu item icons (keeping them only where genuinely useful) and updating Human Interface Guidelines to use icons sparingly. The change signals a shift toward a more minimalist UI and is currently in developer beta, with a public beta next month and a fall general release.
MacOS 27 Golden Gate removes the menu-item icons introduced in Tahoe, restoring a clean menu bar. Apple updated the Human Interface Guidelines to favor sparse, purposeful icons, highlighting actions and features rather than clutter. The change is praised as a positive turn ahead of WWDC and a sign that Apple’s UI direction is returning to clarity.
The Verge’s early look at the iOS 27 developer beta highlights non‑AI improvements: a more configurable Liquid Glass opacity, refined app icons, separate volume settings for ringtones/alarms and alerts, the introduction of extra‑large widgets, and a movable Lock Screen clock to reduce clutter, signaling a polished, user‑focused update.
iOS 27 beta 1 brings redesigned, sharper app icons across many iPhone apps with a Liquid Glass look, removing the shimmering motion seen in iOS 26 and signaling a broader visual refresh for the iPhone ecosystem.
At WWDC 2026, Apple unveiled refinements to Liquid Glass, including a new transparency slider, sidebars that expand to the full window edge with refraction beneath them, and preserved color for sidebar icons. The company also said it will extend Liquid Glass into first‑party app icons, continuing its unified design language across platforms.
Rumors suggest iOS 27 will bring major UI updates across iPhone apps, with the Camera app becoming fully customizable and gaining a new Siri visual intelligence mode, Image Playground redesigned across iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, plus smaller design tweaks to Find My, Weather, and Safari, and Liquid Glass refinements that re-integrate search into the app tab bars.
Microsoft says Windows 11 will let users customize the context menu—adding or removing items—while making it faster and simpler by default. Older commands can still be accessed via Show more options, addressing long-standing clutter complaints. The change is part of a broader push to make Windows 11 more configurable, alongside tweaks to the taskbar and Start menu.