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Google Keep on the web gets its own dark mode (Update)
Update #2, July 9, 2019 (4:35 pm ET): Following dark mode making its way to Keep’s mobile apps, Google is rolling out the dark theme to its web app.
To enable the feature click on the gear icon at the top of the website. Select the “Enable Dark mode” option and the interface should change to the new theme. If you’re not seeing the setting, don’t worry. Google started pushing out the option today, but it can take up to 15 days before it reaches everyone.
Update #1, May 20, 2019 (11:55 am ET): Google has announced on its G Suite Updates blog that it is currently rolling out a dark mode to the Keep and Calendar apps on Android. The new feature should be live for everyone within 15 days.
Google Calendar’s new dark theme will be available on all handsets running Android Nougat and newer. Keep’s dark theme, on the other hand, will work on devices running Android Lollipop and newer.
The Google Keep and Calendar’s dark mode can be manually turned on or off from each app’s settings menu. Users running Android Q will see the new mode automatically turned on if their phone’s theme is set to dark.
Make sure to download the latest versions of each app by clicking on the buttons below.
Original post, May 17, 2019 (2:57 pm ET): According to Android Police, Google is finally updating its Keep note-taking app with a dark mode. However, it’s not a true dark mode that makes use of an OLED display’s inky blacks.
Instead, Keep’s dark mode turns most of the UI into two different shades of gray. That might disappoint fans of absolute black, but the use of gray is actually better for your eyes. The contrast between gray and white isn’t as stark as the contrast between black and white. As such, your eyes will more easily adjust to the gray background.
There’s even a benefit when it comes to readability. Using absolute black make text scrolling and quick movements jittery on OLED displays. Meanwhile, using dark gray doesn’t show nearly as much jitter due to every pixel being on.
To that end, Keep’s dark mode tones down the note colors to avoid burning your retinas. The only part of Keep that remains untouched by the dark mode is the drawing mode.
Keep’s dark mode seems to be a server-side addition to version 5.19.191.07 of the app. The update should roll out soon through the Play Store.