Dos and Don'ts of Android UIJuhani Lehtimäki, Snapp TV Ltd

Plan for different Hardware

Don't assume software

http://developer.android.com/about/dashboards/index.html

Follow design guidelines

http://developer.android.com/design

Design for users

"I like the back button and don't have issues with it."

"I personally find nothing confusing about the back button. It takes you back to the previous Activity."

You're not your user!

Your users are not designers

Don't use designs from other platforms

Don't build a tablet app

Design scalable UI

Make your layouts scalable

RelativeLayout

GridLayout

LinearLayout

etc.

Don't lock to portrait

Support multiple screen densities

LDPI

MDPI

HDPI XHDPI

android:layout_marginLeft="64dp"

1 DP = 1 PX on MDPI screen

Use scalable graphics

9-patch

Draw in XML / code

Prepare for different default theme

Keep navigation simple and flat

?

Help users to keep track

Don't use bottom tabs

Let users swipe between tabs

Menu button is dead

android:targetSdkVersion="8" android:targetSdkVersion="16"

Use Android intents to share

Use Android icons

Don't use on-screen back button

Don't use popups

Don't use splash screen

Don't use tutorial screens

Don't force login

Don't hide the status bar

Customization is not an alternative to design!

Design Decision

vs.

Put your app in front of real users

And the most importantly

Thank you!

http://snapp.tvhttp://www.androiduipatterns.com/http://eu.wiley.com/buy/9781118387283http://landsofruin.com/