Education
The silly little button of Gmail gets a little less minute in Android
Google has tweaked Gmail 's Android app's compose button. First spotted by 9to5Google, the old button, a small "floating" action button and an additional feature, is now an odd button that contains the pen icon along with the word "Compose." However, I would still contend that the bottom right side of the screen is a bad position for the main button of the device.
I am sure Google's floating compose buttons — used by other G Suite apps like Drive and Docs — are the result of hours of research, which helps users locate their buttons quickly when positioned at the bottom right of the screen. Objectively good reasons are there for them, I do not doubt.
Anecdotally, however? I forget that button, because I would like to write new emails from my laptop where the compose button on top of Gmail's web interface is located on the left. My brain expects that the compose button is on top of the screen with the other Gmail controls and my latest messages when I have to write the new email from my phone. As a result, I open and fruitlessly scroll through the left menu of the Gmail app.
The bottom-right of the screen also lies where my thumb floats when it doesn't interact directly with the screen and thus the button is obscured.
I am sure that part of the plea for a button is that it's easily accessible to your thumb (that is if you are right), but for me it's the other way around.
The floating action button is an important component of the Google Material Design guidelines so these buttons can be found in many Android apps surprisingly. Whether Twitter, whatsApp, OneNote, or ToDoist, in the bottom right of the screen most applications have the equivalent of their "generate new" button. They are very famous, so I'm ready to admit I'm here with the issue. However, at least such applications use a solid block of contrasting colors to support the show pop-up.
Meanwhile, Google uses buttons of the same color background as the rest of the app to make a clear distinction from a drop shadow.
All these stuff said, I like Google's subtle shift to compose Gmail's button so far. It is not only visible but also animated by an oblong circle as you scroll, it also works well to capture your eye. I'll not know if my problems have been solved till the next time I have to send an email, but it looks as if it's the right move. I just wish it wasn't in the last position I think I still think I 'm looking at.
