Google’s White Framed Adaptive Icons Sure are Pissing Off Galaxy S8 Owners Who Just Got Oreo
  • Posted byby Kellen

Google’s White Framed Adaptive Icons Sure are Pissing Off Galaxy S8 Owners Who Just Got Oreo

Now that Oreo is rolling out to most Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ units in the US, we’re seeing in real-time as one of the biggest groups of Android users on the planet finally gets a taste of Google’s newest stable mobile OS. That means they are finding stuff they like and also stuff that has left them a bit frustrated. Like the icon frame situation, for example, which is kind of comical.

Not sure what I’m talking about? Let me try to explain.

The other day, we got roped into a Tweet where a Galaxy S8 owner was pissed at both Verizon and Samsung over the fact that his newly updated S8’s icon setup now looked like white-framed garbage, even though he had turned off the icon frames setting from Samsung. What that person didn’t realize, was that most of the icons still showing white frames after disabling the setting were Google apps. I pointed that out, before getting roped into a second conversation from another couple of Galaxy S8 owners who were complaining about the same thing. That then led me to Google and found that people all over the place really aren’t happy (here, here, here, here, and here to point out a few) at all with the icon frames they are now seeing, thanks to Oreo.

samsung oreo icon frames

For those not familiar with what’s going on, all you have to do is look back to the original Oreo announcement that talked about Adaptive Icons. Yes, Adaptive Icons are likely the culprit here, as well as the fact that Google just designed their icons to be shitty and sit on top of a white frame, whether its a circle, squircle, teardop, or square.

You’ve now got a Galaxy S8 taking on Oreo’s Adaptive Icons and being stuck with what Google is delivering, whereas previously, they may have been forcing through non-Adaptive Icons that didn’t sit atop these ugly as hell frames. Samsung’s software is more than likely pulling the system default shape of Google’s icons, which on a Samsung phone, happens to be a squircle with an icon on a white frame.

I attempted to show you this in the two GIFs here. You’ve got the Galaxy S9 with Oreo up top switching between frames and no frames. You can see that no matter what, most of the Google icons always have that stupid white frame around them in a squircle shape, outside of Hangouts. Then below, you’ve got a Pixel 2 showing the same exact thing, where no matter the shape (outside of Hangouts and Chrome), Google has set its icon set as that with an identifier atop a frame. It’s ugly! We know!

google adaptive icions

What can you do to get your old setup back? Eh, you could try a third party launcher like Nova Launcher, which gives you pretty powerful controls over how icons look. You may not be able to avoid the white frames in all situations, so an icon pack may be an additional step you’ll need to take. Otherwise, welcome to Oreo.

Written by

Kellen

It’s not often that you get to merge personal passions into a professional life, but that’s what Kellen did when he launched Droid Life in 2009. After working years of unsatisfying jobs in the medical and property management fields, he took a risk to try and create an online community while playing with the coolest gadgets on the planet each day, a risk that has turned out to be incredibly rewarding. Outside of Droid Life, Kellen is your typical Portlander who drinks way too much good beer, complains often about the Trail Blazers, and can be found out on the streets for a run, rain or shine.

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83 Comments

  • this has nothing to do with android and more to do with Samsung’s touchwiz launcher

  • ItsI really disappointing! I thought I was the only one freaking out about that bug

  • Why does the app DOZE. do u remember the app. which optimizes the battery life in the android nougat 7.0 variants is deleted from the playstore. it didnt create any disruptions

  • the materialistic icons which are adaptive in the android p or android 9.0 does have a 3.d look. but the erorrs are that it does support any nougat variants which such as the multiple windows. doubt?

  • NOVA LAUNCHER DOES HAVE A ADAPTIVE ICONS SETUP IN THE UPDATED VERSION. the android P or the android 9.o does have a awkward notifications icons

  • I’ve honestly never noticed…. Until right now. Strangest things bother people.

  • Anyone with folders titled mcstreamy and ish doesn’t deserve an opinion on……. ish.

  • This OreO is a joke please, can anyone tell if I do a factor reset will it delete OreO

  • I’m running the stock pixel 2 launcher…. Well the version of it that let’s me hide all the Samsuck bloat.

  • Just got the 9+ and I’ve been trying to turn those things off for three days.

  • I absolutely love all my icons being the same shape. Bring the squares. There’s nothing wrong with the borders.

    • Nothing wrong other than it’s a shite copy of iOS icons but with shrinking down normal icons instead of properly designed ones. Retards.

  • Welcome to hell, Samsung users! Welcome to hell! MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Sounds like this person is amongst the people angry considering their choice of language

  • I still miss KitKat
    Subtle, relaxing colors
    None of the bright f*%&-you-white to blast you in the face when you turn the screen on
    Put phone on vibrate or mute without even having to unlock the phone

    Lolipop was Google’s way of saying to their customers, “we hate you.”

  • I just use stock galaxy and then turn off frames and change the colors of the main lower panel, stopped using nova along time ago like after my rooting days

  • I got the update on my Galaxy S8 yesterday just before I set out on a 14 hour drive home. I had not seen anything about what the updates would do but as I was packing, I left my phone to do its thing.
    Once it was done, my phone started acting different (like the map pop-up) and I didn’t have the time to mess with it. One thing that didn’t bother or affect me though was my icons because I’ve been using a theme for quite some time. After reading this, I’m glad to know my theme outtrumps that part of the new update. The rest I’m figuring out as I go.

  • The SS Launcher is the best that I have found. For icons it allows you to use images from your gallery. Awesome!

  • Oh yes, i see that. Good thing i use lawnchair launcher. But is it like this on the T-Mobile version?

  • Smartphones are incredibly personal devices. Reactions like this are going to happen.

    The above shouldn’t be news to anyone. Yeah, it seems like a really ridiculous thing to get upset over, but we all know it’s gonna happen; and while I am sure plenty of folks will pipe up and claim “not me!”, just about everyone here has done it – even the NotMe’s.

    Sure, there are workarounds. Sure, it’s something you could likely get used to in minutes. But why should you? You paid a good amount of money, you got used to it, you actually liked it, and now it’s changed.

    It’s an emotional reaction. It’s gonna be absurd and over-the-top by definition. Maybe try and remember that instead of mocking them? We’re all human. Emotional nonsense is gonna get the best of all of us eventually, one way or another.

  • Noticed this on my s9. Also noticed that google apps no longer vibrate or pop up on my gear s2. (Android messages, gmail etc.) Pisses me off because I like android messages but I am missing text alerts. This is only for google apps, espn alerts vibrate and pop up and so do texts if I use Samsung’s native messages app. Like wtf, this never happened when I had the s8 on nougat.

    • People get irritated when things they interact with every day and that they’ve gotten accustomed to change. When Google switched to those white notifications with the tiny icons for the app giving the notification, I was irritated. I’m still irritated. Why? Because they took something that I just look at and know what it is, to something I have to take extra time to figure out what I’m looking at. This is not the only place Google has done this. Google is the king of taking products and features that people find useful and practical, and turning them into a UI mess. For years we saw constant improvement, and then once they got to a certain point, it’s like they just kept changing things to justify designer salaries, consumers buying stuff on each new product cycle, and… Oh…. now I get it.

      • Awwwww. Poor little entitled snowflakes. Guess what, life is about change. So if this is going to get one’s panties in bunch maybe should maybe just kill themselves because in grown up world things change.

  • Yeah, the white frame icons on my Pixel 2 XL are kind of annoying, wish there was no background on him at all just floating.

    • Mine are all in folders or the app drawer, not on my homescreen, so I rarely see them. But it doesn’t bother me in the least. It’s a color.

  • I don’t have Oreo yet (note 8) but why don’t they just change their theme then? Or as previously stated use a launcher and icon pack. Jeez. That’s Androids beauty. Don’t like it, change it. They could simply download the old icons in the theme store as well and just apply them. I do it all the time.

    • I doubt they’ll make any changes for the note just because of that, unless enough people complain. Shouldn’t much bug me since I keep all my Google apps in a folder on the edge panel. Have you had any significant improvement in battery with the update?

  • This is stupid. It’s Android. Download a free icon pack. That’s the beauty of owning and Android device

    • You gotta remember that most phone users don’t change the default anything or if they do it’s to one of the built in options. So changes like this can throw people off. I bet you a lot of these users don’t know what a launcher even is let alone they can change it. They probably feel really proud of themselves if they found a pretty pink theme on the Samsung store all on their own!

      • Wow, very very well said. I personally find it quite stupid that people complain like it’s the end of the world. The thing is that most people only know how to send text messages and install Facebook – and lucky for them that on some carriers Facebook comes preinstalled. You have no idea the sheer amount of people that I’ve met that only know how to do does exact two things (both android and ios user; and I’ve intentionally left out dialing and picking up a call).

  • Or just relax and wait till either company makes a fix. Sounds like Samsung has the problem as this isn’t the stock launcher for Android.

    • ^THIS^ — Those icons last almost exactly (a maximum of) ten minutes TOPS on my phones. If I’d wanted an iPhone…

      • Google pays to new employee 98 US dollars per/hr to do some small tasks from home … Work only for only few period of time in a day and spend greater time together with your own friends … You can also benefit this opportunity!!last Friday I purchased a new Mitsubishi Evo after I been getting $14625 this last month .it’s certainly the most rewarding however you could not forgive yourself if you don’t learn this.!sf85q:⇒⇒⇒ http://GoogleEduHomeBasedJob/earncash/$98/perhour… ♥i♥v♥♥♥l♥♥♥v♥x♥♥g♥j♥s♥♥z♥♥d♥♥♥w♥♥♥c♥a♥♥z♥x♥l♥d♥♥♥c♥♥t♥r♥♥♥t♥♥♥x♥♥h♥u♥♥♥n:::::!af732m:enirjds

      • It takes a little cue from various places. More-so Apple than anything else in attempts to lure them away… BUT it’s still GLORIOUS and updated frequently. *shrugs*

      • What? Who takes cues from Samsung? Honestly explain all the cues over the years that Google, Apple , or other manufacturers took from Samsung. I would love to know what these cues are, other than the 1 or 2 that I would have to think really hard to figure out what they may be

        • are u kidding me Google and apple having been taking Samsung’s things for years

          • you are right. The default design for Android is the same no matter what manufacturer you chose. Think, the same underpinnings for a car but with different bodies and levels of trim. The engine, transmission, drive system and the computer are all the same…Pixel or Samsung or LG or whatever have you. Pixel has a certain body, basic trim levels, etc (the UI over Android)…say basic body gray paint, manual roll up windows, old, non electronic heating and cooling. Another manufacturer may have a slightly different body with flares, wings, candy apple paint, electronic gadgets everywhere inside, etc. That would be that manufacturers UI. Not a different version of Android but a different interpretation of the UI.

        • Too many to list and since I’m at work I can’t dedicate too much time to this but here’s a starter. Will append this list later as I’m sure others will add to the list as well. Cues taken from Samsung by Manufacturer:

          Google:
          Multi-App Window (Split Screen)
          Floating App (PIP view)
          Always on Display (Without a case)

          Apple:
          Screens Larger than 4″ on a phone
          Screens Larger than 5″ on a phone
          Rounded screen edges (Starting with iPhone 6)
          Bezeless display

          Other Manufacturers
          Screens 5″ and over (now the standard)
          Curved glass and screen
          18:9 (or 2:1) Aspect ratio screens

      • Because most people have no idea what Oreo (or Nougat, or Android in general) is. So when something they’re used to changes for no apparent reason to them, of course they’re going to complain. People don’t like change.

    • Hey, They have hot specs. Some people like that, more than secure software.

      • Hot specs on a less secure device. The software nullifies those specs because the device becomes a laggy mess after a couple of months. To each their own. I was ignorant to the value of updates until i switched from a Note to Pixel XL and now the Pixel 2 XL. I can never go back to a phone that doesn’t have regular updates.

        • The updates are nothing more then fear mongering. If you look, you will see that the issues had been in Linux for decades. Yet nothing happened.

          They have people so scared that they all follow what they are told. Effective tactic.

          • The A11 is the most powerful SOC on the market, which Apple has always had since the A7, so yes that would be a hot spec.

          • Doesn’t take much to run a subpar OS.
            All android devices support way more additional storage than Apple. The storage argument is retarded.

    • I am really confused by these Android blogs because I feel like they have less actual information in each post then thirty minutes of MTV circ early 2000’s

      • Google paying now 99 US dollars every hour to work on apple laptop … Work Some few hours daily and stay greater time with your relatives … Any one can join this special offer!!last Monday I got a great new Mitsubishi Evo after I been making $7473 this last four weeks .it’s really nicest-job but you could now not forgive yourself if you do not learn it.!mf58f:➤➤➤ http://GoogleMoneyMoneyMakingOpportunities/earn/cash/$97/everyhour… ♥♥d♥♥q♥♥k♥♥z♥o♥♥y♥s♥y♥♥z♥x♥o♥j♥j♥♥e♥♥a♥♥p♥m♥♥z♥♥♥g♥♥♥b♥x♥♥q♥♥z♥i♥♥j::::::::!dg083q:sglrrgh

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