Last year, we saw that Google had ambitions to make all app icons in Chrome OS a circular design. Now, with Chrome OS 86, they seem to be pursuing that goal.
Prior to the launch of the Pixelbook Go – in fact before we even heard the name “Pixelbook Go” – we came across screenshots from an internal Google Doc showing that Chrome OS would get a handful of new apps on its shelf by default . Additionally, we saw a report that Chrome OS app icons would soon all be circular, instead of the wild mix of current icon shapes.
That proposed redesign was not completed in time for the release of the Pixelbook Go, but now, more than a year since we first saw it, Google has continued to change all Chrome OS app icons. Recent builds of Chrome OS Canary include apps like Stadia and Gmail that used to be just their raw icons now with a white circle behind them. Other web apps like Photopea adapt to the circular design by using a different icon.
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Chrome OS 84 -
Chrome OS 86 Canary
All in all, making app icons circular a heel subtle change, but it’s one that talks about the consistency in design between Android and Chrome OS. App icons now look almost identical between Chrome OS and the default theme of Google’s own Pixel phones. Over time, Chrome OS may be able to introduce some of the other icon shapes offered on Pixel phones, but for now, the circles are well suited to the overall design of Chrome OS.
Chrome OS Canary is currently on version 86, which suggests we could see the new circular icons for all web, Android and Linux apps starting with Chrome OS 86.
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