Big news on the Android development front this event, as Google has announced on its official Android Developers Blog that all devices running Ice Cream Sandwich will need to include the "Holo" theme of Android 4.0 in order to have access to the Android Market. This means that a phone or tablet running ICS must contain the standard Holo menu, settings dialogue window, and widget styles. Google says that the move is meant to help app developers create software that retains a consistent look on all devices. The company notes that it's not out to stop manufacturers from creating and using their own themes, though, as it's got a DeviceDefault theme family that devs can use to have their app default to a specific device's theme. Google claims that separating these theme families should help manufacturers update their devices more quickly.
As Google explains, this move isn't going to wipe out manufacturer skins or anything like that, but it does mean that Android apps will always have access to the default Holo theme pieces. This will help devs craft apps that have a more native and look and feel that'll be consistent across devices if they so choose. Interested in learning more about the technical side of Google's decision? Hit up the source link below to head on over to the Android Developers Blog and dive right in.
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