Google Drive for Android update brings along hidden UI tweaks

There’s a big, hush-hush update brewing for Google Drive for Android. The update that rolled out on September 11 is introducing some redesigned elements in the application as well as some improved functions.

UI changes coming up! (Image credit: Android Police)

The update that pushes the Drive app version to 1.2.352.9, is a staged update which means that you may not see it in the Play Store right away but over a period of time. The most visible change Google has made to the application is that it has switched over from using the Holo Dark UI to the Holo Light one. While it keeps the UI interface the same, it has changed the colour theme, making it look a lot lighter and pleasing to the eyes.

There is now a create bar on the bottom that will show you often used actions such as “create”, “upload” and “scan” at the bottom of the screen. It’s at a convenient location, so you can reach it easily. The bar disappears when you scroll down but shows up the moment you nudge a little upwards, saving space and yet being useful. Quite like you can in Gmail and Google+, you can now swipe down to refresh your Drive too.

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There are a bunch of new changes to the Spreadsheets bit of Google Drive. The app has a whole new Cells button that will let you select an option when you select a cell. Splitting and merging cells, along with changing format numbers, dates and borders are now possible. You will also be able to freeze and unfreeze columns and rows. Number crunching is about to become a lot more fun if you collaborate on Spreadsheets.

The update has brought along a new “Color Drawing” option under Scan’s Image Enhancement setting too. The report also points out that in Offline, the pause and stop buttons are a lot clearer. Like we mentioned before, the update for Google Drive for Android is a staged one, so if you can’t see it right away, don’t fret, you’ll get it soon.