AI’s latest skill? ‘Reading your mind’ in a card trick designed by scientists

Why it matters to you

This AI-created card trick highlights how artificial intelligence can uncover quirks of the human brain.

Writer Arthur C. Clarke famously said that, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” With one of their latest research projects, researchers from Queen Mary University of London are carrying out a variation on this idea — by using technology (and, more specifically, artificial intelligence) to create a “mind-reading” card trick.

The trick involves a magician with two decks of cards. These get shuffled, and then the subject is asked to pick a total of eight, including both words and image cards. They must then choose a word and an image, without showing it to the magician. The magic bit? That the magician has already written down the pairing the person has chosen. It seems like spooky stuff, although its creator points out it is basic psychology.

“The AI system [that created the cards looked] for words and pictures that are closest in some type of meaning, a measure called semantic similarity,” Peter McOwan, professor of computer science, told Digital Trends. “The algorithm finds sets of themed target words and pictures that match — such as ‘hunger’ — and other sets of words and picture that don’t match as well, such as ‘fashion.’ We then produce printed cards with these sets of similar and different word and pictures, and use a bit of clever maths in the card shuffle and dealing that means each pile of cards dealt has only one target word or target picture in it. When a spectator picks a word packet and a picture packet, it’s most natural to make the word and picture association we want them to, so our prediction proves correct.”

It’s neat because — at its root — it is a classic trick. There is no EEG brainwave reading, or fancy levitation. Instead, it is using pattern recognition and internet searches to discover how the  mind subconsciously matches words and pictures. It is based on an idea that a  magician could probably do but computers and big data make significantly easier. The researchers successfully tested the finished magic trick on attendees at science fairs — and used this to verify that it worked correctly.

A paper describing the work was recently published in the journal PLOS One. If you want to have a go for yourself, you can also download the assets here.

“It’s a new area of study, which is always exciting to start to explore,” McOwan said. “Magic has been a hobby for years, but it’s also an interesting way to explore areas like machine creativity and human perception and cognition.”

Next up, he wants to use AI to come up with magic tricks from scratch. Just so long as they do not all involve sawing us pesky humans in half, we’re happy!

Best Accessories for the Moto Z2 Force

Get the most out of your Moto Z2 Force with some great accessories!

The Moto Z2 Force sure is an interesting 2017 flagship. With a top-end Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and the power of Moto Mods in its back pocket, its a formidable device that’s made all the better with accessories.

From battery packs to Bluetooth headphones to the wide range of Moto Mods available, let’s dive right into the best accessories for the Moto Z2 Force.

• Moto Mods
• Incipio DualPro Case
• IQ Shield Tempered Glass Screen Protector (3-pack)
• Anker PowerCore 2 Slim 10000
• Jaybird X3 Sports Bluetooth Headphones
• Motorola TurboPower 30 Wall Charger

Moto Mods

One of the biggest selling points of the Moto Z lineup is the ability to snap on a growing assortment of Moto Mods. Consider some of the coolest options like the Hasselblad True Zoom Camera Mod and Moto Insta-Share Projector Mod, or the incredibly handy battery packs. There’s too many to list here, so you’ll want to check out our Ultimate List of Moto Mods below. We’ve highlighted some of the latest ones below.

Ultimate List of Moto Mods

Gamepad Moto Mod

The Gamepad MotoMod is the cool new accessory for 2017. Take your mobile gaming to the next level with dual-stick controls and physical buttons.

This is the sort of thing you bought this phone for, right? No other (non-Moto Z) phone can be snapped into the middle of a gaming controller like this for an unparalleled gaming experience. Because it’s a Moto Mod you know it’s quick and simple to pop in, with a built-in battery so you can game for up to eight hours without needing to recharge the controller.

See at Verizon

Motorola Battery Case

One of the glaring issues with the Moto Z2 Force is the battery capacity — coming in under 3,000mAh means a heavy user is not going to make it through the day on a single charge. But that’s where the Moto Mods come in, and you’re definitely going to want a battery pack for this phone.

Right now, you can pick up Motorola’s own 2220mAh Battery Case for $50, which will give you an added boost without sacrificing the Z2 Force’s slim design. If you’ve used a Moto Mod before, you know it’s as easy as snapping it on the back of the phone and going, making this a great option to have on your phone at all times, or stashed in your backpack for the times you really need it.

If you can wait, Motorola is about release the TurboPower Pack with an impressive 3490mAh battery. Bigger is almost always better, and this updated battery pack also boasts lightning-fast recharging speed — basically a must-own accessory for Moto Z2 Force owners. You can pre-order it from Verizon for $80.

See at Amazon

Incipio DualPro Case

With the Moto Z2 Force and its ShatterShield screen you won’t have to worry about catastrophic failure if your phone falls to the floor — but instead you’ll be dealing with the scuffs and scratches that Gorilla Glass is designed to withstand.

That’s why you’re going to want a case for your phone, and the Incipio DualPro Case would make a great choice great choice. It’s a dual-layer case that combines a shock-absorbing inner shell of silicone surrounded by a rigid polycarbonate case with a soft touch finish. Available in seven color combinations, it’s got a classic design that will keep your phone safe while looking stylish. The front lip around front edges offers the much-needed protection for the scratch-prone screen, and it also provides a bit of a gap between the screen and the tabletop if you use the Flip for Do Not Disturb action.

If you trust Incipio’s products, you may also be interested in the OffGrid Power Pack Backup Battery Case Moto Mod which trades off the added protection for up to 20 additional hours of battery life.

See at Incipio

Looking for more recommendations?

Best cases for the Moto Z2 Force

IQ Shield Tempered Glass Screen Protector (3-pack)

Motorola loves to talk up the ShatterShield screens on its phones which will absolutely save your phone’s screen from becoming cracked — but to accomplish this the top-most surface is made entirely plastic which means that while a drop won’t shatter the screen, it will most likely leave ugly scratches and gouges instead.

The easy solution to prevent that from happening is to invest in a tempered glass screen protector. IQ Shield has a three-pack of tempered glass screen protectors for just $8 on Amazon, which is a heck of a deal. Tempered glass is much more resistant to scratches than the Moto Z2 Force screen, and will take the abrasive damage of any drops while keeping your screen well safe, so slap one of these screen protectors on and worry even less about dropping your phone.

See at Amazon

Anker PowerCore 2 Slim 10000

If you’re concerned about battery life consistency, you’re going to want an external battery pack for those times when you need a quick charge but you’re away from an outlet.

The Anker PowerCore 2 Slim 10000 is a great, slim option that packs in a 10,000mAh battery into a fairly compact package. Anker is a consistent leader in mobile charging solutions, so you can buy this charging pack knowing that you’re getting the best value at only $35, with a battery pack that will be able to fully recharge your Moto Z2 Force at least three times from a full charge.

See at Amazon

Jaybird X3 Sports Bluetooth Earbuds

The Moto Z2 Force does way with the headphone jack, so if you want to keep the music going you’ll need a good pair of Bluetooth headphones.

If you’re the active type, the Jaybird X3 Sports Bluetooth Earbuds are a great option. They’re designed to be as small and compact as possible without sacrificing sound quality. The silicone ear fins help keep the headphones securely in your ears even during a vigorous workout, and they’re sweat-proof as well and they come with a bunch of different in-ear tips so you can find the most comfortable fit.

Modern Dad loved them in his video review in case you need more convincing. Currently available on Amazon for just $95, it’s as good a time as ever to buy some quality Bluetooth earbuds.

See at Amazon

Motorola TurboPower 30 Wall Charger

It’s always handy to have another wall charger around, and Motorola makes a really solid USB-C charger specifically for the Moto Z family of phones. The TurboPower 30 is a one-piece charging cable that comes with most Moto Z phones, and it’s always better to stick with the cables and chargers designed specifically for the phones you’re using.

You can get a second Motorola TurboPower 30 Wall Charger for only $20 on Amazon. Perfect for leaving a charger at work so you don’t need to keep touting your charger around with you. In fact, it’s double the power of the one that comes in the Moto Z2 Force box, so you can charge your phone even faster.

See at Amazon

What accessories are you rocking?

This is what we’d recommend, but we want to know what you’re using?

Moto Z2 Force

• Moto Z2 Force reviewl
• Moto Z2 Force specs
• This is the Moto 360 Camera Mod
• The ultimate guide to Moto Mods
• Moto Z2 Force vs. Galaxy S8
• Join the discussion in the forums!

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Learn to read faster than ever before for only $19!

Whether you’re studying for a big exam, reading important business emails, or just a serial book nerd, your reading speed is everything. You need to get through as many words as fast as you possibly can, so you can move on to the next thing. Not only is it important to read faster, but you also need to be able to retain information. Studying for an exam is only going to be useful if you remember the material.

Learning how to speed read is one of the more useful ways of increasing your reading speed while retaining your comprehension; however, learning to speed read takes the proper time, commitment, and tools. Lucky for you, Android Central Digital offers can help you out!

Right now, through Android Central Digital Offers, you can get The Award-Winning Speed Reading Bundle and learn how to read faster than you ever have before!

This bundle comes with two amazing courses, 7 Speed Reading EX 2017 and Spreeder CX, to help you maximize your comprehension skills as you learn how to read at lightning fast speeds!

Just check out some of the features of this amazing offer:

• Learn to read up to 3.471 times faster with full comprehension.
• Upload any article, web page, text file, or PDF into your library.
• Remove bad reading habits with exercises designed to improve comprehension.
• Receive guidance from world-leading experts with included video tutorials
• Access 20,477 eBooks for free right on the 7 Speed Reading EX platform.

The entire The Award-Winning Speed Reading Bundle can be yours today for only $19! That’s a savings of 96%! Plus, the entire bundle comes with a lifetime license, meaning you’ll never have to pay again!

Stop waiting around, and start reading faster and learning quicker today!

See at Android Central Digital Offers

You can now download Google’s super useful Contacts app

Google’s Contact app is now available on Lollipop and higher.

The contact application isn’t something most people worry too much about when they set up a new device. So long as the user can synchronize their contact information and make any necessary edits throughout time, what else is there to worry about? Well, good design is something users may appreciate, and today users will have one more option for contact management.

Google’s Contact application was previously exclusive to Nexus and Pixel devices, but starting today the application is now available for all devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop and newer (75% of all Android devices). For those that don’t see the application available in the Play Store, Android Police has the APK file for manual installation.

I was able to open the Google Contacts web page on the Play Store, and have the application download to my OnePlus 3T. Just as you’d expect, I was able to load my contacts, make any edits, and have those edits saved to my Google account. I was able to load separate contacts for my personal Gmail and my Mobile Nations account, so others that use multiple accounts would be covered.

The application supports launching a new phone call or new SMS message from a contact’s page, so this would be a suitable replacement for anyone to use instead of the included Contact application. It also supports the ability to import contacts saved to a SIM card, for users that still do that for some reason. The application also includes the ability to sort contacts by first name or last name, displaying the contact’s first name first (ex. Tom Westrick) or the last name first (ex. Westrick, Tom) and the ability to manage blocked numbers.

Are you going to download the Google Contacts application? Let us know down below!

Moto Z2 Force, a second opinion: Just not enough

Motorola had one shot at the high-end market in 2017.

By all accounts, Motorola hasn’t exactly taken the high-end smartphone market by storm with its new Moto Z2 Force. Its lukewarm response is partly due to the fact that the competition is so good this year, but primarily due to Motorola’s handful of odd decisions that dull the experience of what is mostly a great phone.

I’ve been using the Moto Z2 Force as my only phone since it was announced on July 25. Here’s my take on what Motorola has done right, and missed the mark on, after a couple weeks with its latest flagship.

See at Motorola

Moto Z2 Force Hardware

If you’ve used any previous Moto Z, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect in the Moto Z2 Force. But unlike Daniel Bader, who has been using Moto Z series phones regularly over the last year, I haven’t laid hands on one since the original Moto Z and Z Force were announced. Experiencing it as a one-off device, not jaded by the familiarity to previous Moto Zs, as most people will experience this phone, the Z2 Force isn’t stale or basic as the narrative among tech pundits would lead you to believe.

If you haven’t used a Moto Z phone before, you’ll be surprised by this hardware quality.

In typical Motorola fashion the core metal frame of the Z2 Force is extremely strong, befitting of the “Force” name. The same characteristic can be found in the metal back, buttons and USB-C port — nary a flex, wiggle or fraction of a millimeter of intolerance can be found in the materials. It feels like a phone that can handle a drop (or seven) without being functionally damaged. When you pick it up, you understand you’re holding a top-end phone.

Good aspects aside, the controversial (maybe that’s a bit much?) hardware decisions step in. The first being amazing thinness of the phone; a choice that led to the smallest battery in a flagship phone from the past couple years, and removal of the headphone jack. Even though I completely understand the decision from a marketing perspective, I’m not a fan of it — particularly as it just about mandates that you have a Style Shell on it when not using a larger Moto Mod because it’s so thin and slippery. Not having a headphone jack is almost as annoying, even as a vast majority of my listening has moved to Bluetooth.

It achieved amazing thinness without compromising quality … but there are considerable downsides nonetheless.

The other big decision was to stick with this “ShatterShield” display technology that gives the Force its name. Oh we’ve come a long way from the original Moto X Force (aka Droid Turbo 2), but there are still major compromises here. The multi-layer screen covering takes up a considerable amount of room inside the already thin body, contributing to the previous compromises I mentioned, but beyond that the experience of interacting with the screen is also diminished.

For as good as this top-layer hard plastic screen protector is, it’s still plastic — it feels like plastic, looks like plastic and most importantly it scratches like plastic. After my first Moto Z2 Force evaluation unit was scratched to hell in a matter of hours I had it swapped out (thanks, Motorola!) for a new one that I’ve been much more careful with — and it’s still picked up gouges and scratches. I thought the whole idea of the Moto Z2 Force was that it’s strong? This screen covering makes you baby it.

Moto Z2 Force Software and performance

This is where Motorola continues to shine. Again not having spent much time with Motorola devices in the last year, I had forgotten how great its software experience is. Admittedly coming from a standpoint of preferring a clean, stock-like experience, Motorola absolutely nails it all. From the lock screen to the launcher, notification shade and quick settings, everything is near-identical to using a Pixel XL today. Motorola hasn’t messed with the icons, or folders, or rearranged a bunch of settings — it just lets Android be Android.

Motorola’s software continues to shine.

Moto Display continues to be the absolute best “ambient” display solution because of its extra functionality that seamlessly transitions from just displaying information to letting you act on it. The Z2 Force’s sensors seem a bit too sensitive and activate Moto Display a little too easily — with just a tiny bump of the table it’s on — but that’s barely a knock on what is a wonderful piece of software. Add in the other “Moto” functions that let you quickly silence the phone, launch the camera or turn on the flashlight, and you get a wonderful “Android with a little bit more” software suite.

That clean interface is paired up with exceptional performance, as you’d find in any modern phone with a Snapdragon 835 and 4GB of RAM. The Z2 Force clearly has no issue handling a QHD resolution display, whether you’re toggling between a few different apps or playing a full-demand game. The sole shortcoming in performance, as I’ll cover below, is in the camera.

More: Complete Moto Z2 Force specs

Battery life will be fine for average users on average days … see the problem here?

Now the big question everyone keeps asking: how’s the battery life? With a 2730mAh cell inside you’d expect it to be horrendous. Well, it’s actually not all that gloomy. Surprisingly, Motorola has managed to get some great efficiency out of the Z2 Force and it does make it through a typical ~16 hour day for me, using the phone just as I do any other. Now the real rub here is that it hits that full day of life with the last bit before I head to bed with Battery Saver (automatically switched on at 15%) enabled. Meaning heavier days when I used Android Auto for a long bout of navigation, or had a travel day, or knew I’d be out of the house late into the evening, I absolutely had to charge at some point in the middle of the day.

The average person on an average day will have absolutely no issue getting through a full day with the Moto Z2 Force. But its lack of extra reserve for those heavier days, or people who just use their phones harder, is worrying. The $79 TurboPower Mod is wonderful and will get even the heaviest users through a complete day without a sweat … but that shouldn’t have given Motorola an excuse to put a subpar capacity in the phone itself. It’s also a situation that people just don’t have to face with any other top-end phone released in 2017.

Moto Z2 Force Cameras

Moving to a dual camera setup in the Z2 Force was unexpected after Motorola had kept things relatively traditional in its last few phones — but then again, having two lenses is all the rage nowadays. As has been the case with many dual-camera experiences, there are compromises here — in the Z2 Force’s case it’s a lack of OIS and smaller pixels on both sensors.

Those shortcomings aren’t particularly problematic in daylight situations, where I actually really like the photos the Z2 Force can put out. They’re colorful without being over-saturated, and have a pretty good amount of sharpness. Auto HDR mode does a good job of choosing the right times to activate, and capture speeds are good as well.

Daylight and black-and-white shots are good … but this just isn’t a complete camera experience.

It’s in dark scenes where the Z2 Force just falls flat. Knowing that it doesn’t have OIS to keep things bright, the phone obviously relies on higher ISOs and slower shutter speeds, leading to grain, blur and just general blotchiness throughout photos. In dark shots where there’s some sort of solid light source photos are just average … but in primarily dark scenes the photos are easily surpassed by flagships from 2015. It also often took multiple shots to get one that actually turned out well — I could rarely rely on the first shot, which kills any confidence I had in the camera.

The black-and-white secondary camera is a true bright spot for this whole experience. The range of shades it recreates is fantastic and clearly several steps above any black-and-white software post-processing, and it produces amazingly sharp edges without any over-processed noise. I just wish the physical space this second sensor and lens took up didn’t detract so much from the main camera.

As mentioned earlier, the most frustrating part about the camera is its general speed of operation in relation to the rest of the phone. The camera is slow to open, slow to show the viewfinder, slow to take its first shot and just as slow to launch the gallery to review photos. It’s so weird to have this slow of a camera experience in what is otherwise a lightning-fast phone. It’s as if the camera software just isn’t finished … even though the other 95% of the software is pristine.

Many aspects of the Moto Z2 Force that rub people the wrong way are matters of opinion. The camera experience, however, is objectively not good enough for the price Motorola is charging. It feels like something that would be right at home on a $400 phone, not a $700+ flagship.

Moto Z2 Force A second opinion

It feels like Motorola didn’t make many attempts to push the envelope with the Moto Z2 Force, even when factoring in its required hardware compatibility with the existing Moto Mod system. But most of what’s on offer here is still really good. The hardware is particularly robust, good looking and rather unique from the rest of the industry — if not from its Moto Z sibilings. The internals (battery aside) are top-notch, performance is great, and Motorola continues to offer one of the best software experiences around. And despite the hand-wringing over scratches, its shatterproof display is a true differentiator in this flagship space.

The Z2 Force doesn’t deserve all of the hate it’s getting … but it still doesn’t compete with 2017 flagships.

But you can’t, of course, look at the Moto Z2 Force in a vacuum. At an MSRP of $720, the Z2 Force is attempting to going toe-to-toe with the Galaxy S8, while also being more expensive than the HTC U11 and LG G6. When you look at the phone through this lens, what originally seem like little poor decisions instead look like big missteps. Offering a smaller battery, an average screen, lower-quality camera and no waterproofing, while also demanding a top-dollar price, is just a bad move from Motorola.

The Moto Z2 Force is a good, solid phone. One with a set of compromises, just like any other phone out there. The problem is that the specific compromises we’re talking about here are bigger and in much more noticeable places than the competition. At the same time, Motorola has become one of its own toughest competitors by selling the Moto Z2 Play for nearly $300 less with almost the exact same experience — and in some notable areas like battery life, a better one. Even though the Moto Z2 Force is good, it just isn’t nearly good enough.

See at Motorola

Moto Z2 Force

• Moto Z2 Force reviewl
• Moto Z2 Force specs
• This is the Moto 360 Camera Mod
• The ultimate guide to Moto Mods
• Moto Z2 Force vs. Galaxy S8
• Join the discussion in the forums!

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Get a landline you’ll actually use with the $63 Ooma Telo free home phone service

Our friends at Thrifter are back again, this time with a deal on free home phone service!

The Ooma Telo free home phone service device is down to $63 as part of Amazon’s Gold Box deals of the day. This is the lowest price ever for the Ooma Telo, matching a drop it hasn’t seen since April. Over the last six months, its street price has fluctuated around $80-90.

If you haven’t heard of Ooma Telo before, it’s basically a system that wants to replace your landline or any landline you might be paying for but not using (through a cable bundle, for example). Once you pay for the initial device, the only thing you’ll pay for after that is monthly taxes ($3-6 depending on where you live). Given how much your cable bundle might be costing you, this system could end up paying for itself within a year.

Ooma Telo creates a landline that uses your home Internet connection. It gets you free nationwide calling, call waiting, caller ID, 911 service, a call log history and voicemail. It’s easy to set up, comes with good mobile apps, and you can keep your original phone number if you want. Ooma also has some neat extra features like sending voicemail to email or text message and also lets you block known telemarketers.

Ooma Telo is better than other VoIP services like Vonage because you’re paying up front for the device and then, except for taxes, don’t have to pay for anything ever again unless you want to. With Vonage’s best deal you’re paying $10 a month, which means Ooma Telo pays for itself over that service in half a year with this deal.

See at Amazon

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• Tips for becoming an expert eBay seller
• 5 free travel apps to help you save big on hotel stays

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

DuckTales is back, and its first episode is free on Google Play

“I’m back! Uncharted territory! Bold new discoveries!”

Scrooge McDuck is back, and he’s got his great-nephews in tow. A golden jewel of Disney Afternoon is coming back on Disney XD, who is offering the opening double-episode special “Woo-oo” for free on Google Play. Say it with me now: WOO-OO!

DuckTales new series has a new art style that pays tribute to its comic-book roots, more diversified personalities for its cast, and a lot of great voice talent. David Tennant, aka The Tenth Doctor from Doctor Who, makes for an utterly delightful Scrooge McDuck, seamlessly switching from crotchety to cocky to charming as his great nephews drag him into peril after peril. The triplets are back, and Donald Duck’s nephews are more than a different color this year, from the reckless, adventure-seeking Dewey to the organization-obsessed goody-goody Huey to smooth-talking slacker Louie, who are all eager to escape from Donald’s overprotective watch and go have some fun. Even Webby has gotten a geek-girl upgrade.

If you’re wanting to check out the special before adding it to your carefully curated Google Play library, the special is also free to watch on YouTube right now, too. But really, why would you stream it there when you can own it for free?

DuckTales on Google Play

Sprint now lets you use voice and data simultaneously on Galaxy S8

Sprint adds new calling feature to its version of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.

Sprint has released an over-the-air (OTA) update for its version of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. In addition to the usual round of bug fixes and security improvements (not that those aren’t important), the company also took the time to add its new “Calling Plus” feature.

The feature allows users to use voice and data at the same time, no matter if the user is on LTE or calling over Wi-Fi. The previous “WiFi Calling” feature has now been rolled in as well. From Sprint:

Calling PLUS combines two features: one old and one brand new!
WiFi calling – our VoIP calling feature that lets you make and receive calls over WiFi [sic]
Voice and text on the Sprint LTE network, allowing simultaneous voice and data

Calling PLUS is delivered to your device by software update. Once your device has received the software, set up is easy!

On the phone, select Settings > Calling PLUS.

Slide Calling PLUS to On.

Customer can view Tutorial pages to learn more information about the service.

View pre-populated address.
If the Country field says Non-USA, Select the Country and choose USA.
Enter a USA address manually.
If address is not shown or is incorrect, enter the address manually.
Address must be within the USA.

Select Save.
Your phone will validate the address required for E911 service and completes the enablement of Calling PLUS.

6.Select Calling PLUS options to enable each feature:
Wi-Fi Calling is On by default.
LTE Calling is optional but recommended to allow both Simultaneous Voice and Data and call handoffs between Wi-Fi Calling and LTE Calling.
Call handoffs will go from Wi-Fi to LTE even if the LTE Calling switch is Off. LTE Calls require the Wi-Fi Calling switch to be turned On for a handoff to Wi-Fi.

That’s it! Your phone is now enabled for Calling PLUS. You can call anyone using Calling PLUS, the person or party that you’re calling does not need to have Calling PLUS in order for it to work.

Sprint has also added the Calling Plus feature to the LG Stylo 3 and the Samsung J7 Perx.

Has your phone received this update yet? Let us know down below!

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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What are Adaptive Icons and why do I want them?

Android icons have always been a mess. Adaptive icons want to fix that.

Android is an open system, and it’s a diverse system, especially when it comes to its apps and their icons. Some icons are lifted straight from the iOS versions of the same app. Some icons have unique and fun shapes. Some icons are completely flat, while others have deep drop shadows. Your app drawer on Android can look like a bit of a design style melting pot, and with Android O’s Adaptive Icons, Google wants to fix it — again.

This is the second year in a row that Google has refocused efforts to standardize and fix app icons in a new version of Android, but what exactly are these new Adaptive Icons? And will this succeed where previous efforts have failed?

Fixing Android Icons, Take 3

Let us begin with Google’s previous attempts to fix Android’s app icon problem. Google tried to bring some order to icons with Material Design, including a new template and list of guidelines for creating app icons. Google went even further last year with Android Nougat, pushing app developers to include a round icon in addition to their regular icon in an effort to achieve icon uniformity, at least on their own Google Pixel and other devices running Android 7.1.

This year’s solution is Adaptive Icons. Adaptive Icons are a new way of formatting and submitting app icons so that they can be cut down into a variety of shapes depending on the device or launcher a person is using. This means that instead of your Google icons looking one way, your Samsung apps looking another way, and your third party apps being a mess, everything should be consistently shaped and there’s even a chance for your app icons to animate in interesting ways.

How Adaptive Icons adapt to their devices

This is how it’s supposed to look.

Developers submit Adaptive Icons in two layers, a transparent foreground layer and a solid background layer, which are then cut into shape by the launcher. By submitting an icon in two layers, developers can play with their icons and enable neat light and depth effects based on the way the two app icon layers interact and animate. These effects and the attention they can draw to an app are the carrot for developers. The stick is that if your app doesn’t submit an Adaptive Icon while targeting Android O, you get your icon scaled down to fit inside the same mask the Adaptive Icons are using.

These effects and the attention they can draw to an app are the carrot. The shrinking of unthemed icons is the stick.

Manufacturers like Samsung have been skinning apps and sticking them inside their ugly, ugly icon pack masks for years now. It’s not hard to see them jumping on Adaptive Icons in order to get some clean uniformity on their devices without being stuck only with the shape Google picked. Samsung can stick with those gag-worthy squircles and LG can use squares and HTC can use hexagons to be different. No matter the shape the manufacturer chooses, the background won’t be plain white or some god-awful shade of teal; the background will be that background layer the app developer submitted.

Will it work this time?

Adaptive Icons have the potential to shake up Android home screens, app drawers, and Android theming in a lot of really fun ways. Users won’t have to use an icon pack to get some consistency in their app drawer; manufacturers can keep their own style while keeping things even; and developers won’t have to worry about their icon being shrunk and shoved into awkward, off-color masks. As a themer, I can only imagine what third-party launchers and icon pack makers could do with Adaptive Icon icon packs.

As with the circular icons last year, the only way this solution works is if app developers decide to take the time to build a two-layer adaptive icon. If they don’t, — well, there are always icon packs.

Android O

• Everything new in Android O
• Should you put Android O on your phone?
• How to get the Android O Beta on your Pixel or Nexus
• Join the Discussion

Nominate a student or teacher to win a Chromebook Plus and OnePlus Messenger Bag!

Students and teachers are heading back to school, and beyond the normal textbooks, pencils, and backpacks, going back to school also requires some tech to help keep organized and on track. If you haven’t already, make sure you check out our Back-To-School Gift Guide for gift ideas for your friends and family. In the meantime, we’re going to make this season a little easier and hopefully more fun for one student and one teacher in our community! We are giving away TWO prizes, each with a Samsung Chromebook Plus and a OnePlus Travel Messenger Bag!

We’re hoping to award these to one student and one teacher, so head down to the contest below and nominate someone to win! (Yes, it can be yourself if you’re a student or teacher.)

THE PRIZE: TWO Android Central readers will be taking home a new 12.3-inch Samsung Chromebook Plus and a OnePlus Travel Messenger Bag!

THE GIVEAWAY: Head down to the widget at the bottom of this page. There are multiple ways to enter, each with varying point values. Complete all of the tasks for maximum entries and your best shot at winning! Keep in mind that all winning entries are verified and if the task was not completed or cannot be verified, a new winner will be chosen. International winners will be responsible for any customs fees incurred during shipping.

The giveaway is open until September 4, 2017, and the winner will be announced right here after the closing date. Good luck!

Are you a Student or Teacher? Enter to win a Chromebook from Android Central!