Google has redesigned the navigation gestures in beta 3 de Android Q. Now they are more natural and efficient in terms of the user experience, but they are also so similar to those of the iPhone that criticism has not been slow to appear.
The new navigation gestures in Android Q
When Google released Android 9 Pie it added native support for gesture navigation. An implementation that mixed what we had with the classic navigation bar and the use by gestures. It was not and is not a bad solution, but it is not the most comfortable either, since there are actions that are difficult to get used to. Although the worst thing is to see how each manufacturer introduces its own interpretation, generating more confusion for the user when changing the brand of terminal.
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With Android Q beta 3 the native gesture navigation has improved remarkably. At the bottom we have a small line from which we can activate multitasking, return to the home screen or quickly change the application by sliding our finger to the left or right. Then, sliding from outside to inside from any side of the screen, we can perform the action of going back.
You can see that they are more natural and less erratic gestures than having to make gestures in very specific areas. Like for example from the left side of the bottom edge and being careful not to go too far to the center because the action would change, etc.
The controversy of Android Q gestures
Seeking controversy seems to be something innate in many users. John Gruber, a well-known journalist and very close to Apple, was quick to point out that Google had shamelessly copied the interface of the iPhone.
- They should have called it Android R for “rip-off”. This is the iPhone X interface. The shamelessness of this rip-off is staggering. Does Google have no pride? No sense of shame?
For Gruber Android Q should have been called Android R by «rip-off”. If we see the scheme introduced, it cannot be ignored that it is very similar to Apple's proposal and his iPhone. But years ago both iOS and Android reached such a mature system that it's hard not to see similarities in both directions.
In addition, the issue of who copies who will always be there and is already tiresome, manufacturers like Huawei already had similar gestures before. Therefore, unifying this type of detail that affects the user experience is always positive for all of us who are, after all, users.
It is true that when there are patents involved, legal problems appear, however, to carry out these actions, the gestures proposed by iOS and now Android are a priori the best solution. Finding other alternatives that allow users and developers to unify and improve the experience is not easy. Therefore, without alternatives, it is logical to find similar ones, but that should not be a problem or cause for criticism. In the end we all end up drawing inspiration from others at some point, right? What do you think?