Dark mode has taken over: the latest on this battery-saving feature – The Verge

How to enable Android’s dark mode for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

2021-09-30T16:23:58-04:00

{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "HowTo", "name": "How to enable Android’s dark mode for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides", "description": "While Android has a system-wide dark mode, you can also set your Google apps to show in dark or light mode individually — for example, if you like using light mode for most apps during the day, but want to use dark mode for Docs all the time. Here’s how you set the mode for Docs, Sheets, or Slides on an Android phone (this was tested on a Pixel 3 running Android 12):", "step": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": "1", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToDirection", "position": "1", "text": "Open your app and tap on the “hamburger” lines in the upper left corner." } ] }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": "2", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToDirection", "position": "1", "text": "Select “Settings.”", "image": "https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20106177/Screenshot_20200722_091336.png" } ] }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": "3", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToDirection", "position": "1", "text": "Near the top of the page, you’ll see the link for the theme. Tap on “Choose theme” and select either “Dark,” “Light,” or “System default.”", "image": "https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20106178/Screenshot_20200722_091426.png" } ] }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": "4", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToDirection", "position": "1", "text": "If you are using the dark mode but you need to see an individual document in the light mode instead (for example, so you can better see how it will look printed or to another reader), you can do it from within the document:" } ] }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": "5", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToDirection", "position": "1", "text": "Select the three dots in the upper right corner." } ] }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "position": "6", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "HowToDirection", "position": "1", "text": "Tap on “View in light theme.” If you want to go back to the dark theme, just follow the same directions." }, { "@type": "HowToTip", "position": "2", "text": "Note that you can only change the theme within a document if the app is using the dark theme or if the app is using the system default and that is the dark theme. If the app itself is using the light theme, or if it’s using the system default and that is the light theme, you can’t change the theme to dark within a document." } ] } ] }

I've become a firm believer in using dark mode on my phone. Not because of its presumed battery-saving advantages (although those are nothing to sneeze at), but because I have the unfortunate habit of reading in low-light (or nearly no-light) conditions, and dark mode is a lot gentler on my eyes.

While Android has a system-wide dark mode, you can also set your Google apps to show in dark or light mode individually - for example, if you like using light mode for most apps during the day, but want to use dark mode for Docs all the time.

Here's how you set the mode for Docs, Sheets, or Slides on an Android phone (this was tested on a Pixel 3 …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Google is testing a dark mode for desktop search

2021-02-10T17:18:50-05:00

Google is testing a dark mode for desktop search, Google confirmed to The Verge. If the test has rolled out to you and your system is set to dark mode, the background of Google's search pages will be a very dark gray.

Here's an example of what the dark mode looks like:

It's unclear how widely the test has been rolled out. A couple of Verge staffers had their search pages automatically switch to dark mode, and 9to5Google and some people on Twitter have seen the new dark mode, too. But Google's search pages are still white for me, even though I have dark mode turned on right now on macOS.

It's also unclear if or when dark mode for desktop s …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Microsoft Word’s dark mode is getting even darker

2021-02-09T08:55:23-05:00

Microsoft is improving the dark mode in Word to make it even darker. The software maker has started testing an update to Word that will color entire documents in a dark canvas. Currently, Word has a dark mode that modifies the ribbon and toolbars, but the canvas stays bright white. A future update to Word will include the ability to switch the canvas into dark mode, too.

"This has been a long-requested feature from many of Office Insiders and we're excited to make it happen," explains Ali Forelli, a program manager on Microsoft's Word team. "With Dark mode, you'll notice that the previously white page color is now a dark grey/black." While …

Read the full story at The Verge.

If Twitter’s dark mode has recently changed for you, you’re not alone

2021-02-03T20:30:19-05:00

Not the familiar dark blue.

The feeling of opening Twitter and noticing that something's off probably isn't a new one, but it usually isn't related to the site's color scheme. Yet some users (and Verge staff) are now seeing that Twitter's desktop dark mode has gotten darker, or worse, been changed to light mode.

Twitter tells The Verge that the change from blue to black was intentional - it's part of an update to make the Twitter website respond to the light and dark modes on your OS. Of course, if you miss the dark blue, you can bring it back by going to Twitter's display settings and choosing Dim mode (instead of the inky black Lights Out or the bright Default), and …

Read the full story at The Verge.

WhiteHouse.gov now has dark mode

2021-01-20T15:45:11-05:00

The official website of the White House, WhiteHouse.gov, has been completely replaced with a new version for the Biden administration, and it comes with some unexpected accessibility features: a high contrast mode, which serves as a dark mode, and a toggle to make the font size larger.

Both options show up along the left rail as big, easy-to-click or tap buttons, and that's the way you'll need to toggle them. Even if your device has a system-wide dark mode, the White House website won't switch over automatically. That's because it's really there to serve as an accessibility feature, meant to help anyone who would have trouble reading or loo …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Google’s new Chrome 88 update improves dark mode, removes FTP and Adobe Flash

2021-01-20T06:31:36-05:00

Google is releasing a new version of Chrome this week that will improve its dark mode support, alongside removing FTP and Adobe Flash support. The dark mode improvements can be found on both Windows and Chrome OS. There are refinements to both the light and dark modes in Chrome OS, with the themes updated for the app launcher, quick settings, and shelf parts of Chrome OS.

How To Geek also reports that the Windows 10 dark mode is improved with Chrome 88, with scroll bars finally appearing dark. Unfortunately, these are currently limited to the settings, bookmarks, history, and new tab pages of Chrome 88 and not across all websites with dark …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Chrome OS may finally be getting a dark mode

2020-10-25T12:20:54-04:00

Chrome OS may finally be getting a dark mode, but so far it's only been spotted in its experimental Canary channel, Android Central reported.

Before you go tinkering with Canary just be advised: Canary is Google's "bleeding edge" Chrome OS path, which receives daily updates of features before they've been widely tested. It can only be accessed from Chromebooks switched into a special developer mode (not to be confused with the Chrome OS Developer channel). Google warns that Canary can be "unstable."

But at the moment, to activate dark mode on your Chromebook, you need to have the Canary channel installed. Once you've done that, Android Ce …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Google Assistant smart displays are getting dark mode and multiple account support

2020-10-19T12:00:00-04:00

The new Google Assistant smart display interface | GIF: Google

Google is updating the look and functionality of the software on its Assistant smart displays in a significant way. Starting this week, smart displays such as the Nest Hub and those made by third-party companies will be updated with a new home screen experience: dark mode, and finally, the ability to see calendar events from more than one Google account.

The biggest change is the new home screen, which is designed to provide contextual information to you depending on your habits and the time of day. Instead of the endlessly scrolling horizontal list of before, Google now divides the information into five distinct sections - time of day, Hom …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Microsoft updates its Android Launcher with dark mode, custom icons, and daily wallpapers

2020-07-17T06:48:40-04:00

Version 6 of Launcher includes a dark mode and other visual updates. | Image: Microsoft

Microsoft has updated its Launcher app for Android to version 6, giving the software a big visual overhaul and a performance upgrade on top of its existing functionality.

Version 6 of Launcher has a new app icon, dark mode, daily wallpaper feature (provided by Bing), customizable icons, and it now works in landscape orientation, too. There's also a personalized news feed that updates throughout the day, and general performance improvements, including faster loading and reduced battery drain, thanks to a new codebase.

The app is available to download here from Google's Play Store, and you can read more about the changes in Microsoft's blog …

Read the full story at The Verge.

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides now have a dark theme on Android

2020-07-06T16:52:10-04:00

Google is rolling out a dark mode for its Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps on Android starting today.

The tech giant says all Android users will gain access to the dark theme within the next two weeks. Users can activate the dark theme on Docs, Sheets, or Slides by going to the respective app's settings. Google also says that the apps will automatically use your system theme, meaning if your device already has dark theme enabled, you will not have to enable it manually in these apps.

Last year, Google promised to deliver dark mode to all of its first-party apps. It's slowly added dark mode to a number of apps in the year since, including the …

Read the full story at The Verge.