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Android Builders Weblog: Introducing Widget High quality Tiers

Android Development

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26 April 2025

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Android Builders Weblog: Introducing Widget High quality Tiers

Posted by Ivy Knight – Senior Design Advocate

Stage up your app Widgets with new high quality tiers

Widgets could be a highly effective software for participating customers and rising the visibility of your app. They will additionally show you how to to enhance the person expertise by offering customers with a extra handy solution to entry your app’s content material and options.

To construct an ideal Android widget, it must be useful, adaptive, and visually cohesive with the general aesthetic of the gadget house display screen.

So as to show you how to obtain an ideal widget, we’re happy to introduce Android Widget High quality Tiers!

The brand new Widget high quality tiers are right here to assist information you in the direction of a finest follow implementation of widgets, that can look nice and convey your person’s worth throughout the ecosystem of Android Telephone, Tablets and Foldables.

What does this imply for widget makers?

Whether or not you might be planning a brand new widget, or investing in an replace to an present widget, the Widget High quality Tiers will show you how to consider and plan for a top quality widget.

Identical to Massive Display screen high quality tiers assist optimize app experiences, these Widget tiers information you in creating nice widgets throughout all Android units. Now, comparable tiers are being launched for widgets to make sure they are not simply practical, but in addition visually interesting and user-friendly.

Two screenshots of a phone display different views in the Google Play app. The first shows a list of running apps with the Widget filter applied in a search for 'Running apps'; the second shows the Nike Run Club app page.

Widgets that meet high quality tier tips shall be discoverable beneath the brand new Widget filter in Google Play.

Think about using our Canonical Widget layouts, that are primarily based on Jetpack Look elements, to make it simpler so that you can design and construct a Tier 1 widget your customers will love.

Let’s check out the Widget High quality Tiers

There are three tiers constructed with required system defaults and recommended steerage to create an enhanced widget expertise:

Tier 1: Differentiated

Four mockups show examples of Material Design 3 dynamic color applied to an app called 'Radio Hour'.

Differentiated widgets go additional by implementing theming and adapting to resizing.

Tier 1 widgets are exemplary widgets providing hero experiences which might be customized, and create distinctive and productive homescreens. These widgets meet Tier 2 requirements plus enhancements for structure, coloration, discovery, and system coherence standards.

A stylized cartoon figure holds their chin thoughtfully while a chat bubble icon is highlighted

For instance, use the system offered nook radius, and don’t set a customized nook radius on Widgets.

Add extra personalization with dynamic coloration and generated previews whereas guaranteeing your widgets look good throughout units by not overriding system defaults.

Four mockups show examples of Material Design 3 components on Android: a contact card, a podcast player, a task list, and a news feed.

Tier 1 widgets that, from the highest left, correctly crop content material, fill the structure bounds, have appropriately sized headers and contact targets, and make good use of colours and distinction.

Tier 2: High quality Normal

These widgets are useful, usable, and supply a top quality expertise. They meet all standards for structure, coloration, discovery, and content material.

A simple to-do list app widget displays two tasks: 'Water plants' and 'Water more plants.' Both tasks have calendar icons next to them. The app is titled 'Plants' and has search and add buttons in the top right corner.

Ensure that your widget has applicable contact targets.

Tier 2 widgets are practical however easy, they meet the fundamental standards for a usable app. However if you wish to create a very stellar expertise to your customers, tier 1 standards introduce methods to make a extra private, interactive, and coherent widget.

Tier 3: Low High quality

These widgets do not meet the minimal high quality bar and do not present an ideal person expertise, that means they don’t seem to be following or lacking standards from Tier 2.

Examples of Material Design 3 widgets are displayed on a light pink background with stylized X shapes. Widgets include a podcast player, a contact card, to-do lists, and a music player.

Clockwise from the highest left not filling the bounds, poorly cropped content material, low coloration distinction, mis-sized header, and small contact targets.

A stylized cartoon person with orange hair, a blue shirt, holds a pencil to their cheek. 'Kacie' is written above them, with a cut off chat bubble icon.

For instance, guarantee content material is seen and never cropped

Construct and elevate your Android widgets with Widget High quality Tiers

Dive deeper into the widget high quality tiers and begin constructing widgets that not solely look nice but in addition present an incredible person expertise! Take a look at the official Android documentation for detailed data and finest practices.

This weblog put up is a part of our collection: Highlight Week on Widgets, the place we offer sources—weblog posts, movies, pattern code, and extra—all designed that will help you design and create widgets. You possibly can learn extra within the overview of Highlight Week: Widgets, which shall be up to date all through the week.

The way forward for security in robotics with Ouster Lidar

Robotics

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26 April 2025

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The way forward for security in robotics with Ouster Lidar

In Episode 193 of The Robotic Report Podcast, co-hosts Mike Oitzman and Eugene Demaitre interview Angus Pacala, co-founder and CEO of Ouster Lidar. On this dialog, Pacala discusses the developments in lidar know-how, notably the introduction of Ouster’s new 3D zone monitoring function.

Angus Pacala, co-founder and CEO of Ouster Lidar

He explains the advantages of 3D lidar over conventional 2D lidar methods, emphasizing security and adaptability in industrial purposes. The dialogue additionally covers the evolution of Ouster’s {hardware}, the significance of software-defined capabilities, and development potential in numerous markets, together with humanoid robotics.

Pacala highlights the challenges of price discount and the necessity for innovation to remain aggressive within the quickly evolving panorama of lidar know-how. His 10-year-old firm claims to be the biggest Western provider of lidar for robotics.

Present timeline

5:38 – Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman recap the week’s information
23:00 – Mike and Gene interview Angus Pacala, CEO and co-founder of Ouster Lidar

Information of the week

Locus Robotics passes 5B picks as warehouse automation adoption accelerates

Locus Robotics this week celebrated its newest milestone, asserting that it has surpassed 5 billion items picked with its autonomous cell robots (AMRs) throughout its international buyer deployments. The firm stated it achieved this report simply 24 weeks after reaching its 4 billionth decide in October 2024.

Locus famous that its earlier pick-rate data illustrate its exponential development:

Starship Applied sciences makes 8M autonomous deliveries

Starship Applied sciences stated its methods have accomplished greater than 8 million autonomous deliveries and traversed over 10 million miles globally.

By comparability Zipline stated it has used drones to ship 1.45 million orders throughout seven international locations, together with the U.S., Ghana, and Japan, primarily in healthcare and e-commerce. Waymo, which received the 2025 RBR50 Robotic of the 12 months, introduced in late 2024 that it had surpassed 5 million driverless journeys to this point.

Sturdy.AI expands Carter robotic capabilities, provides traders

Sturdy.AI stated its collaborative cell robotic can serve a number of capabilities. The software-defined platform can deal with point-to-point transport, assist achievement choosing, and even be a cell sorting wall, in response to the corporate.

Final yr, DHL Provide Chain partnered with Sturdy.AI to deploy Carter throughout a number of areas. After a current deployment in Las Vegas, Carter improved choosing productiveness by greater than 60% from Day 1.

AV information: Helm.ai and Pony.ai each replace software program

Pony.ai unveils Seventh-gen self-driving platform and plans for mass manufacturing this yr

Dr. James Peng, co-founder and CEO of Pony.ai stated: “2025 marks the inaugural yr of Pony.ai’s mass-produced robotaxis.”

The corporate stated steady design optimization has diminished the full bill-of-materials (BOM) prices by 70%. This additionally got here with an 80% lower in autonomous driving computation (ADC) and a 68% reduce in solid-state lidar, in every case in contrast with its predecessor.

Helm.ai launches AV software program for up SAE L4 autonomous driving

Helm.ai develops synthetic intelligence software program for superior driver-assist methods (ADAS), autonomous autos (AVs), and robotics. The corporate affords full-stack, real-time AI methods, together with end-to-end autonomous methods, plus improvement and validation instruments powered by its Deep Instructing methodology and generative AI.

SITE AD for the 2025 Robotics Summit registration.
Register now so you do not miss out!

Podcast sponsored by Enidine

Established in 1966, Enidine is a premier provider of extremely engineered merchandise to increase gear life, enhance consolation, and improve security and reliability all through international industrial finish markets.

Enidine’s engineering group has designed customized vitality absorption, vibration isolation, and noise attenuation options for all kinds of difficult purposes, together with automated storage and retrieval methods (ASRS) and manufacturing unit automation. Its big range of progressive parts has confirmed to be important to clients’ success.

Study extra by going to www.enidine.com/en-us.

ios – SQLITE3 not updating in swift regardless of returning no errors

iOS Development

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26 April 2025

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I am having a little bit of an issue with an sqlite3 implementation in swift not updating a stability subject.

The desk is outlined as follows:

class Consumer {
    var id: Int
    var uid: String
    var stability: Double
    var password: String
    var handle: String
    
    init(id: Int, uid: String, stability: Double, password: String, handle: String) {
        self.id = id
        self.uid = uid
        self.stability = stability
        self.password = password
        self.handle = handle
    }
}

It’s being created with no points.

I’m writing an preliminary document at creation time with the next code:

  func insertUser(id: Int, uid: String, stability: Double, password: String) -> Bool{
        let customers = getAllUsers()
        
        // Test consumer e-mail is exist in Consumer desk or not
        for consumer in customers{
            if consumer.id == id {
                return false
            }
        }
        
        let insertStatementString = "INSERT INTO Consumer (id, uid, stability, password, handle) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?);"
        var insertStatement: OpaquePointer? = nil
        
        if sqlite3_prepare_v2(db, insertStatementString, -1, &insertStatement, nil) == SQLITE_OK {
            sqlite3_bind_int(insertStatement, 1, Int32(id))
            sqlite3_bind_text(insertStatement, 2, (uid as NSString).utf8String, -1, nil)
            sqlite3_bind_double(insertStatement, 3, Double(stability))
            sqlite3_bind_text(insertStatement, 4, (password as NSString).utf8String, -1, nil)
            sqlite3_bind_text(insertStatement, 5, "", -1, nil) // assign empty worth to deal with

            if sqlite3_step(insertStatement) == SQLITE_DONE {
                print("Consumer is created efficiently.")
                sqlite3_finalize(insertStatement)
                return true
            } else {
                print("Couldn't add.")
                return false
            }
        } else {
            print("INSERT assertion is failed.")
            return false
        }
    }

Up thus far, every part is working as anticipated. all fields are set appropriately.

I attempt to replace the stability with the next code:

/ Replace Earnings on Consumer desk
    func updateEarnings(id: Int, stability: Double) -> Bool {
        let updateStatementString = "UPDATE Consumer set stability=? the place id=?;"
        var updateStatement: OpaquePointer? = nil
        if sqlite3_prepare_v2(db,updateStatementString, -1, &updateStatement, nil) == SQLITE_OK {
            sqlite3_bind_double(updateStatement, 2, Double(stability))

            if sqlite3_step(updateStatement) == SQLITE_DONE {
                print("Earnings Up to date Efficiently.")
                sqlite3_finalize(updateStatement)
                return true
            } else {
                print("Couldn't replace.")
                return false
            }
        } else {
            print("UPDATE assertion is failed.")
            return false
        }
    }

I’ve verified that it and stability each have the suitable values. It returns true however stability is rarely up to date with the worth handed in.

Any solutions can be appreciated.

How Do Psychedelics Battle Stress? Scientists Discover Their Affect Extends Past the Mind

Robotics

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26 April 2025

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How Do Psychedelics Battle Stress? Scientists Discover Their Affect Extends Past the Mind

From despair to post-traumatic stress dysfunction, psychedelic medication mixed with remedy may ease signs. As soon as a counterculture outcast, these medication are present process a renaissance in medication for his or her skill to quickly alter the mind’s networks and enhance psychological well being.

However they don’t solely work on the mind.

A examine in Nature this week discovered that psilocybin, the lively ingredient in magic mushrooms, and MDMA, generally often known as ecstasy, alter the immune system to scale back worry in mice.

“Our examine underscores how psychedelics can do extra than simply change notion; they will help dial down irritation and reset brain-immune interactions,” stated examine creator Michael Wheeler at Brigham and Girls’s Hospital in a press launch. “This might reshape how we take into consideration remedy for inflammatory problems and situations like nervousness and despair.”

Stress impacts the complete physique. After analyzing a number of mind cell varieties and the spleen—which produces immune cells—the group discovered a fragile, fear-controlling chemical stability between two kinds of mind cells and a sort of immune cell. Stress tipped the stability towards nervousness. Psychedelics acted on the immune cells to revive the stability.

“These mind cells talk with immune cells…[that] are outdoors the mind in blood vessels,” wrote Yun Chen and Marco Colonna on the Washington College Faculty of Drugs, who weren’t concerned within the work. “This discovery may result in revolutionary methods for treating persistent stress.”

Mind on Fireplace

Despair, persistent stress, and the immune system are intricately linked. Adjustments within the mind ship body-wide alerts that elevate cortisone ranges and end in a relentless state of fight-or-flight.

The mind additionally spews out a chemical soup that triggers irritation and kinds neurotoxins.

These situations lower serotonin, the “blissful” molecule depleted in despair, that psychedelic medication similar to psilocybin and MDMA amp up. This has led to medical trials investigating whether or not they may reverse signs below steerage and with remedy.

Neurons aren’t the one mind cells concerned in cognition and feelings. Astrocytes additionally play a job. These star-shaped cells don’t generate electrical alerts like neurons and are sometimes dubbed “supporting cells.” However they’re fairly the chatterboxes and talk with neurons—and alter their exercise—in addition to different cells utilizing particular molecular alerts.

Prior research have discovered some astrocytes collaborate with neurons to retailer emotional reminiscences. Others disrupt fearful reminiscences. This means “astrocytes instantly regulate fear-associated reminiscence,” wrote Chen and Colonna.

As well as, immune cells talk with the mind throughout stress.

Scientists have found this signaling can affect despair and different psychological well being situations. A examine within the 90s, for instance, discovered folks with despair have altered monocyte counts—a sort of white blood cell normally identified for preventing off infections or cleansing up lifeless cells—suggesting that monocytes might someway play a job within the dysfunction.

A Golden Triangle

The brand new examine extra rigorously teased aside the mobile roles in stress-caused worry. The researchers first sequestered a bunch of mice inside a tube for six hours a day. Mice like small areas, however additionally they prefer to roam free. After 18 days, the rodents had been stressed.

Challenged with two fear-related exams, they confirmed way more indicators of worry than friends who had lounged for the complete length. One check, for instance, induced the mouse-equivalent of a worry of heights. In comparison with mice within the management group, the pressured mice’s cortisone ranges spiked a lot larger, together with larger ranges of myriad different inflammatory molecules within the blood.

As a result of astrocytes, the supporting mind cells, may play a job on this response, the group seemed for gene adjustments in stressed-out mice in comparison with their happy-go-lucky friends. A singular inhabitants of cells primarily based within the amygdala—an almond-shaped area deep within the mind that processes worry, stress, and different feelings—stood out.

The researchers subsequent created gene-edited mice with decrease ranges of an anti-inflammatory protein (EGFR) in astrocytes. In comparison with their friends, these mice had extra extreme mind irritation after stress, showcasing the function astrocytes play in mind well being. The group discovered related leads to donated mind tissue from folks with both despair or these with out the situation. Just like the gene-edited mice, EGFR ranges had been decrease in astrocytes in folks with despair.

The group additionally discovered a small variety of monocytes grouped across the mind’s outer wrapping, or meninges. Monocytes transfer from the spleen to the meninges throughout stress. As soon as there, the immune cells pumped out inflammatory molecules, which the astrocytes acquired and handed on as an “emergency” sign to neurons, boosting the worry response.

The three-part connection is a “hanging discovery,” wrote Chen and Colonna.

Right here Is My Thoughts

Lack of serotonin, a chemical within the mind, influences each stress and immune cell well being. Two psychedelic medication, psilocybin and MDMA, can improve serotonin ranges.

Within the subsequent check, the group gave stressed-out mice a dose of psilocybin or MDMA that roughly corresponded to doses utilized in folks in medical trials. The mice didn’t present apparent indicators of being “excessive” similar to neck twitching. After the dose, their monocytes not raged in the direction of the mind’s outer shell. The meninges additionally pumped out fewer inflammatory molecules. When challenged with the identical worry exams, the mice had been far much less scared even after stress. Their astrocyte and neuron operate reverted practically to regular.

“Collectively, our outcomes spotlight the therapeutic potential of focusing on immune mechanisms in neuropsychiatric problems,” wrote the authors.

Earlier research have mapped the roles of astrocytes, neurons, and the immune system individually. Though the brand new examine integrates these findings right into a “unified framework,” wrote Chen and Colonna, there’s way more to discover.

The mind’s personal immune cells, microglia, are concerned in irritation and Alzheimer’s illness. How they take part on this neuroimmune communication stays a thriller. And does this three-way crosstalk additionally regulate short-term stress, similar to multitasking whereas making dinner?

Maybe extra importantly, the outcomes present that psychedelics don’t simply have an effect on the thoughts—additionally they tinker with the immune system.

“We’re not saying that psychedelics are a cure-all for inflammatory ailments or every other well being situation,” Wheeler stated. “However we do see proof that psychedelics have some tissue-specific advantages and that studying extra about them may open up completely new prospects for therapies.”

Generate beautiful visuals in your Android apps with Imagen 3 through Vertex AI in Firebase

Android Development

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26 April 2025

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Generate beautiful visuals in your Android apps with Imagen 3 through Vertex AI in Firebase

Posted by Thomas Ezan Sr. – Android Developer Relation Engineer (@lethargicpanda)

Imagen 3, our most superior picture era mannequin, is now accessible by means of Vertex AI in Firebase, making it even simpler to combine it to your Android apps.

Designed to generate well-composed photos with distinctive particulars, diminished artifacts, and wealthy lighting, Imagen 3 represents a major leap ahead in picture era capabilities.

Hot air balloons float over a scenic desert landscape with unique rock formations.

Picture generated by Imagen 3 with immediate: “Shot within the fashion of DSLR digicam with the polarizing filter. A photograph of two sizzling air balloons over the distinctive rock formations in Cappadocia, Turkey. The colours and patterns on these balloons distinction fantastically towards the earthy tones of the panorama beneath. This shot captures the sense of journey that comes with having fun with such an expertise.”

A wooden robot stands in a field of yellow flowers, holding a small blue bird on its outstretched hand.

Picture generated by Imagen 3 with immediate: A weathered, picket mech robotic coated in flowering vines stands peacefully in a discipline of tall wildflowers, with a small blue fowl resting on its outstretched hand. Digital cartoon, with heat colours and smooth strains. A big cliff with a waterfall looms behind.

Imagen 3 unlocks thrilling new prospects for Android builders. Generated visuals can adapt to the content material of your app, making a extra partaking consumer expertise. As an example, your customers can generate customized art work to boost their in-app profile. Imagen can even enhance your app’s storytelling by bringing its narratives to life with pleasant personalised illustrations.

You’ll be able to experiment with picture prompts in Vertex AI Studio, and learn to enhance your prompts by reviewing the immediate and picture attribute information.

Get began with Imagen 3

The mixing of Imagen 3 is much like including Gemini entry through Vertex AI in Firebase. Begin by including the gradle dependencies to your Android mission:

dependencies {
    implementation(platform("com.google.firebase:firebase-bom:33.10.0"))

    implementation("com.google.firebase:firebase-vertexai")
}

Then, in your Kotlin code, create an ImageModel occasion by passing the mannequin title and optionally, a mannequin configuration and security settings:

val imageModel = Firebase.vertexAI.imagenModel(
  modelName = "imagen-3.0-generate-001",
  generationConfig = ImagenGenerationConfig(
    imageFormat = ImagenImageFormat.jpeg(compresssionQuality = 75),
    addWatermark = true,
    numberOfImages = 1,
    aspectRatio = ImagenAspectRatio.SQUARE_1x1
  ),
  safetySettings = ImagenSafetySettings(
    safetyFilterLevel = ImagenSafetyFilterLevel.BLOCK_LOW_AND_ABOVE
    personFilterLevel = ImagenPersonFilterLevel.ALLOW_ADULT
  )
)

Lastly generate the picture by calling generateImages:

val imageResponse = imageModel.generateImages(
  immediate = "An astronaut driving a horse"
)

Retrieve the generated picture from the imageResponse and show it as a bitmap as observe:

val picture = imageResponse.photos.first()
val uiImage = picture.asBitmap()

Subsequent steps

Discover the excellent Firebase documentation for detailed API data.

Entry to Imagen 3 utilizing Vertex AI in Firebase is presently in Public Preview, supplying you with an early alternative to experiment and innovate. For pricing particulars, please confer with the Vertex AI in Firebase pricing web page.

Begin experimenting with Imagen 3 as we speak! We’re trying ahead to seeing the way you’ll leverage Imagen 3’s capabilities to create really distinctive, immersive and personalised Android experiences.