Google Begins Rolling Out New Icons for Three Android Apps

Google has begun rolling out refreshed icons for its Messages, Phone and Contacts apps on Android, updating their appearance while leaving their features unchanged. The company says the redesign is intended to make the icons clearer and more consistent with the look of its other apps. The icons retain their familiar general shapes but add subtle gradients, more defined edges and adjustments to curvature and color. Google said the changes were designed to appear sharper and clearer on home screens, and to align the three communication apps with its broader design language. The rollout is underway, with Google saying the icons should reach users over the coming weeks. Availability may vary by region and device, so the timing will not be the same for everyone. One report said the new Google Messages icon was already available in the latest beta; that does not establish when the update will reach all users. The update affects only the apps’ visual presentation. Google said Messages, Phone and Contacts will continue to work as before, with no changes to their functionality. Users who receive the redesign will see the new icons on their device’s home screen or app drawer. The...