# Google Chat’s Floating Bottom Bar Undergoes a Material You Redesign
Google Chat, a prominent communication tool from the tech giant, is receiving a visual transformation that reflects Google’s overarching design approach, **Material You**. The standout modification is the revamping of the **floating bottom navigation bar**, aimed at delivering a more unified and visually appealing user experience. This enhancement not only elevates the app’s aesthetic but also boosts its functionality and connectivity with other Google services.
## Key Points to Remember
– The floating bottom bar in Google Chat has adopted a **pill-shaped design**, moving away from the former circular format.
– The bar has been expanded slightly, creating a more harmonious look and improved usability.
– The color palette has been refreshed with **Dynamic Color**, allowing it to adjust based on the user’s device theme for a tailored experience.
– The final icon has transitioned from the **@ symbol** to a **three-dot menu**, streamlining the overall interface.
## A Journey of Innovation
Google rolled out the floating bottom navigation bar in Google Chat around a year ago as part of a broader redesign initiative. This feature granted users quick access to essential functions, such as initiating new messages and transitioning between various sections of the app. However, the initial design was somewhat simplistic, featuring a circular configuration that only indicated the active feed. While it was functional, it lacked the visual sophistication that many modern app users anticipate.
Now, Google has seized the chance to enhance this layout, aligning it with the **Material You** design principles that have started to permeate Google’s range of applications. **Material You** represents Google’s latest design language, launched with Android 12, emphasizing personalization, adaptable color schemes, and a more fluid user interface.
## The Revamped Appearance: Pill-Shaped and Dynamic
The most striking alteration in the redesign is the transition from a circular to a **pill-shaped** floating bottom bar. This new form not only appears more contemporary but also offers slightly increased width, making it easier for users to tap on the icons. Although this adjustment occupies a tad more screen real estate, it creates a more balanced and visually appealing look, particularly in comparison to other Google applications that have embraced similar design traits.
### Integration of Dynamic Color
Another notable enhancement is the incorporation of **Dynamic Color** into the floating bottom bar. Dynamic Color is a feature within Material You that modifies the app’s color scheme according to the user’s device settings. Consequently, the background of the floating bottom bar will now harmoniously integrate with the surrounding color palette of the device, resulting in a more consistent and personalized experience.
This revamp also enhances the contrast between the floating bottom bar and the rest of the Google Chat interface, facilitating easier navigation while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing design.
## Functional Changes: Three Dots Instead of @ Symbol
In addition to visual enhancements, Google has implemented some functional revisions to the floating bottom bar. Previously, the last icon represented the **@ symbol**, utilized for mentioning individuals in chats. This has now been substituted with a **three-dot menu**, a more widely recognized symbol for additional options or settings. This modification simplifies the interface, making it more intuitive for users to access supplementary features.
## Gemini Summaries: A New AI-Enhanced Feature
Along with the redesign, Google has also launched **Gemini summaries** in Google Chat. This AI-driven feature assists users in quickly catching up on missed conversations. By long-pressing a message thread on mobile or hovering over a conversation on desktop, users can retrieve a summary in the form of three bullet points. This functionality is especially beneficial for busy individuals who wish to stay informed without sifting through lengthy threads.
On the desktop version of Google Chat, a **’Summarize’ button** becomes visible when hovering over a conversation. Clicking this button yields the same quick summary as the long-press option on mobile, enabling users to grasp the essence of a discussion without needing to delve into every individual message.
## A More Cohesive Google Experience
The floating bottom bar’s redesign in Google Chat is part of Google’s wider commitment to establishing a more unified and cohesive experience across its applications. Although the new design is presently exclusive to Google Chat, it closely mirrors the visual and functional enhancements witnessed in other Google services, such as Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar.
By embracing the **Material You** design language and integrating features like **Dynamic Color**, Google is not only ensuring its apps boast a pleasing appearance but also feel more interwoven with the user’s device. This fosters a smoother experience for users who engage with multiple Google services throughout their day.
## In Summary
The redesign of Google Chat’s floating bottom bar is a welcomed upgrade that aligns the app with Google’s **Material You** design ethos. The new **pill-shaped** bar, **Dynamic Color** integration, and functional adjustments like the **three-dot menu** enhance the overall user experience.
