Google’s Pixel 9 series could be getting a new dedicated weather app, as details of the app’s unique, minimalist design and software have been revealed. Android Authority has published several screenshots in a recent report, giving us a look at it in action.
The first thing you'll notice in the images is that the app has a simpler look compared to the current weather tool on Pixel phones. There's a color gradient running from top to bottom, matching the local weather. The temperature readout moves from one side to the center in a larger font. One nice detail we liked in the preview is that the degree symbol has been replaced “with an icon representing the current weather conditions.”
In this case, it's a crescent moon, indicating a clear night sky. There is a “casualty” in all this, though, as the Weather Frog could be missing, as it doesn't appear in the preview. It's possible that the character “just didn't fit in with the rest of the theme” (RIP, Weather Frog).
Before and after / credit Android Authority pic.twitter.com/r0XZkGFEcjAugust 5, 2024
Redesigned cards
Moving down the screen are several information cards that look inspired by Material You. They have bold colors and soft, round design elements. The section tells you the hourly forecast, the forecast for the next ten days, humidity levels, wind speed, and UV index, among other things. Android Authority says that they can be “permanently repositioned by long-pressing” and then moving the card to another location.
Tapping on a date in the weather forecast section opens a small window showing some readings. These cannot be modified. The location selection tool in the Settings menu is the same as in the current app, although there is a greater emphasis on local weather.
The temperature is displayed prominently on the right side of the screen, rather than as a footnote at the bottom. Also, the app's animations featuring the little frog are no longer present. Google might have decided that those flourishes no longer belong.
Standalone application
Some may find it odd that Google is developing a second weather app for the Pixel 9 series, as Google Clock already offers daily forecasts and Google Search offers local weather reports with a single request. However, it’s worth mentioning that this wouldn’t be the first time the tech giant has released an app that does the same thing as another. As the publication notes, they’ve created “five different messaging apps.”
Judging by what we've read, Pixel Weather (as we'll call it) will be a standalone piece of software similar to Weather on iOS. It will have its own presence on the hardware rather than being relegated to a secondary function.
Android Authority claims that the app will come “pre-loaded” on Pixel 9 smartphones, and that there are plans to roll it out to older models in the future. Keep in mind that these images show a “non-final build,” so take all of this information with a grain of salt. The final version could look radically different — perhaps the weather frog will return.
Be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best Pixel phones for 2024.
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