WordPress For Android Version 3.5 Embraces Google’s New Material Design Principles

WordPress for Android is starting 2015 with a big update. Version 3.5 was released today, introducing major changes to the app’s overall design. This release follows Google’s new Material design principles, which was created to unify the experience of apps across platforms and devices. The design spec includes basic tenets for the various aspects of app design, including animation, layouts, patterns, and usability.

Google’s goal with Material design is to “create a visual language that synthesizes classic principles of good design with the innovation and possibility of technology and science.” To that end, Material design incorporates three guiding principles:

Material is the metaphor

Bold, graphic, intentional

Motion provides meaning

The WordPress for Android app interface now embraces these principles with new Lollipop components and styling. With the exception of a few features, such as ripple animations, these enhancements should also work for pre-Lollipop devices. You can see the changes most clearly when checking out the designs of the individual posts, the app menu, notifications, and post editor screens.

Another major change in version 3.5 is the addition of auto completion for mentions in comments. If you use the “@” symbol while typing, the app can now match blog member usernames, displayed via a popover.

Auto completion is also integrated into the reader and notifications. It makes it easy for blog authors to interact more directly with readers in the comments. Participants in blog conversations can stay in the loop via the app’s notifications. Auto completion for mentions is a major update that should deepen the level of interaction on blogs and help keep users better connected.

The design changes in this version may come as a surprise to many users, but they make the app feel like a native part of the device. The additions make the app feel cleaner and more intuitive for mobile publishing. WordPress for Android version 3.5 is now available in the Google Play store. Update your app today to take advantage of all the new features and fixes.