Google is making gradual progress in adopting Material 3 Expressive design principles across its applications. The most recent update, version 4.39.3356.780959673.5, enhances the Google TV app with several notable improvements, particularly on the movie and show detail pages.
This update introduces a cleaner visual style that aligns with Google’s evolving design language. Key changes include a slightly larger banner atop each detail page, allowing more space for titles and artwork.
Additionally, movie and show names, alongside their ratings, have been repositioned to a center alignment, which enhances the structured appearance of the user interface. In a move towards minimalism, Google has replaced the circular borders on buttons like Watchlist, Watched, Like, and Dislike with flatter designs.
This aligns well with Material 3’s focus on clarity, while shortcuts in the Ratings section have transitioned to sleek pill-shaped buttons, further modernizing the interactive components of the app. The update also refines the Top Stories section, where image previews now feature rounded corners, contributing to a softer aesthetic similar to that seen in other Google apps like Gmail and Keep.
While these changes are not a complete redesign, they offer a more cohesive look across Google’s suite of applications, which has historically lacked this level of visual consistency. However, not all of the Material 3 Expressive features hinted at in earlier analyses made it into this update.
Some of the more bold layout alterations and dynamic color theming remain absent, possibly set for future releases or currently undergoing A/B testing. While these refinements might not seem monumental, they are part of Google’s ongoing effort to create a unified design experience across its platforms.
This incremental approach moves Google closer to its 2025 design vision, making even minor updates preferable to outdated UI elements from previous years.
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