For anyone accustomed to using a smartphone, widgets are part of their daily routine: these small home screen applications that accompany users in their constant use have been very useful for many people and have been vital to some extent for the Android operating system. However, widgets were the ugly duckling from the beginning until at some point Google decided to pay them a bit more attention. Around 2021, with Android 12, Material Theme gave way to Material You, and with this change, these small applications gained relevance. Perhaps the most notable one, Google Contacts.
Originally, Google Contacts looked nothing like what is understood today: a selection of three widgets that occupied 1×1 squares and appeared as Contact, Direct Dial, and Direct Message. However, in 2022, a new 3×2 widget called Individual Contact emerged, offering a more dynamic visual experience for users. Thus, Google promised not only functionality for users but also a visually appealing experience. It must be acknowledged that, considering how Android used to be, this promise was quite up-to-date at the time.
A loss of identity in exchange for functionality
The application has continued to change over time, but it seems to have reached the peak of its metamorphosis. Its circular form has now been replaced by a square with rounded edges, which takes on a pill shape when its size is enlarged. For some users, this change might not be comfortable as it loses its iconic shape, but it allows for new functionalities such as modifying the contact displayed in the widget, for example.
These changes are introduced gradually but consistently. Each of these innovations is seamlessly integrated into the application to achieve not only a more coherent visual appearance with the system but also to add new features to the application.
