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All posts tagged "ui"


Monday, December 27, 2010

Making Sense For WP7

Posted by Nurhisham Hussein in "HTC Windows Phones" @ 06:00 PM

http://blogs.forbes.com/elizabethwo...ne-7-over-time/

"One of the great debates surrounding Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 operating system focuses on whether the design guidelines the company set for its manufacturer partners allow for adequate expression. How can companies like Samsung, LG and Dell keep their Windows Phone 7 (WP7) handsets looking cool and different when Microsoft specifies the basic button layout, display resolution and user interface framework these companies should use?"

HTC is hoping to bring it's Sense UI to WP7 - it's one way to differentiate its WP7 phones from everyone else's. They've even begun an ambitious project to bring Windows Live type services to all their Sense enabled phones across different OS types (here and here for reference), starting with Android. I'm not sure if this isn't really just wishful thinking on their part, given the determined way Microsoft has been protecting the consistent user interaction and performance that WP7 offers across the board. But what do you guys think? Would bringing the full Sense experience to WP7 make sense (sorry for the pun)?


Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Windows Phone 7: The Final Look & Feel

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Software" @ 11:00 AM

We've seen a lot of different screen shots over the past six months of Windows Phone 7, but now that everything is at 1.0, the UI is locked down and the products are going to ship soon. Here's a bunch of UI screen shots of Windows Phone 7, including several of the apps and hubs, after the break. Read more...


Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Windows Mobile Lost a 'Whole Generation' Says Ballmer

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 05:00 PM

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/0..._table_apology/

"Steve Ballmer has delivered a mea culpa to Microsoft's partners for its slip-ups against Apple and Google on tablets and smart phones. Ballmer told Microsoft's annual Worldwide Partner Conference that Windows Mobile missed a "whole generation of users" and promised Windows Phone 7 will set things right."

Dear Microsoft,

I generally feel a lot of love for you as a company, but it's sure frustrating watching you miss the boat again and again. Remember when you laughed at the iPhone? Yeah, exactly, no one is laughing now. The hype around the iPad had been building for years - didn't someone in your organization (other than the Courier team) realize that this whole slate computing thing wasn't going to just be empty hype? Read more...


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Windows Phone 7, Metro, and Adrian Frutiger

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Articles & Resources" @ 02:00 PM

http://crocusgirl.wordpress.com/201...gn-notes-part2/

"In the first post of my "Windows Phone 7 Design Notes" series, I tried to provide a general introduction to the Metro design language and share links of text and media resources, which you may find useful if you wish to dive deeper into the design concepts behind Windows Phone 7. This article is going to be a bit lengthy, as it includes my personal impressions on Metro and its type-centric design features plus a recent typography project, which actually sparked the idea to write this series."

Over the past handful of years, basically since just before Windows Vista came to light, I've watched Microsoft become an increasingly design-focused company. It's a slow process, and the culture shift doesn't always go smoothly, but in group after group, I've seen a distinct shift toward design-led software creation. If ever there was an example of this, it's Windows Phone 7. This article talks about some of that design language, Metro, and what sort of roots it has. It you're a typography geek, you'll find it especially fascinating.


Why You Might Want a Windows 7 Phone

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Articles & Resources" @ 12:00 PM

http://www.ben.geek.nz/2010/06/why-...-windows-phone/

"This week I've been able to spend some (supervised) time with actual prototype Windows Phone 7 devices. I can say with utter confidence that I will be using one of these phones as my regular device before the end of this year. You all know I don't say something like that lightly."

I ran across this blog post somewhat at random, but it's an interesting read from someone who's an iPhone user, yet is intensely interested in what Windows Phone 7 has to offer. It's a good read.


Friday, June 11, 2010

Mystery Meat Icons Gone In Windows Phone 7

Posted by Ed Hansberry in "Windows Phone News" @ 08:00 AM

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20...indows-phone-7/

The mystery meat navigation icons in the application bar at the bottom are a mystery no more. As Windows Phone 7 nears completion the WinMo team is continuing to tweak it. Those icons now have text below them describing their function so you no longer have to guess.

Maybe there is still hope that Copy and Paste will make it into the final build. Maybe. A little? Nah....


Wednesday, June 9, 2010

World Cup App Shows Off Interesting UI

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Windows Phone Software" @ 11:30 AM

http://www.mobilepractices.com/2010...or-windows.html

"I'm glad to introduce you this small World Cup 2010 application for Windows Mobile, which has been entirely developed using the Compact Framework applying some UX concepts from Windows Phone 7 panoramic UI and spikes on fluent UI I recently worked on."

Into World Cup? Want to see a Windows Phone 7-ish UI now? Then check out this cool app reader efjay turned us on to. It'll see you through to the end of the competition!


Thursday, March 18, 2010

Early Concepts of the Metro Visual Design for Windows phone 7

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Software" @ 05:00 AM

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20...phone-7-series/

Long Zheng has some really cool screen shots on his site, apparently of what early mock-ups looked like for Metro, the name for the visual design that Windows phone 7 is made up of. Well worth checking out - some of them I like more than how Windows phone 7 looks today!


Tuesday, March 16, 2010

A Look at Microsoft's "Metro" Book

Posted by Darius Wey in "Windows Phone Talk" @ 05:00 AM

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20...metro-the-book/

"At Microsoft MIX10 today the Windows Phone 7 Series team are handing out a very special picture book all about our favorite user interface, Metro. There is 47 pages full of beautiful text and icons that explain where Metro comes from, what Metro represents and what guide Metro."

Doing the rounds at MIX10 is Microsoft's picture guide to Metro, the UI driving Windows Phone 7 Series. Want a look? Head over to istartedsomething where Long Zheng has delivered a slideshow of this 47-page book in all its page-by-page glory.


Thursday, February 18, 2010

Windows phone 7 UI vs. iPhone UI: FIGHT!

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Articles & Resources" @ 03:00 AM

http://blog.genstart.dk/2010/02/17/...ome-the-chrome/

"The lock screen is up first, and a first example of the elimination of what Tufte would call interface debris. No controls here. To get unlock a Windows phone, simply slide the screensaver upwards with your thumb. The phone is in there, sitting behind the screensaver image. I remember when I first saw the iPhone and thought "oh, finally, no more remembering obscure keyboard patterns to open a phone". Seeing the Windows unlock mechanism, well, caused a similar response."

This is a really well-balanced and thoughtful look at the interface on the iPhone vs. the interface on Windows phone 7. Well worth the read - the person writing it is someone who thinks deeply about user interface and his impressions of Windows phone 7 are interesting to read.


Monday, February 15, 2010

Behind the Design of Windows phone 7

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Windows Phone Software" @ 10:31 AM

This is a Microsoft produced video where Albert Shum, Director of Mobile Experience Design at Microsoft, discusses the design inspiration for Windows Phone 7 Series. What do you think of how he describes what a phone experience should be? Does this sync up with what you want from your mobile phone?


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Resco Releases Contact Manager 2nd Edition

Posted by Jon Westfall in "Pocket PC Software" @ 12:30 PM

http://www.resco.net/company/press/.../2009-07-22.htm

"The application allows you to easily navigate, search quickly using letter navigation, view text message conversations in a chat-like view and much more to make your phone calls and sending text messages a fun and easy activity. Since its official release it has gained strong attention and now many users find it to be the right contact managing tool they were looking for. The key factor affecting the new version development was the growing popularity of social networks such as Facebook. Facebook integration, therefore, represents the key feature of Resco Contact Manager 2nd Edition."

If you're not happy with the built in contacts management program on your Windows Mobile device, Resco has recently released the second version of their contact manager. Featuring facebook integration and some other goodies, it may be the solution to your contact woes.


Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 Adds Widgets, Facebook Support, 3D Carousel

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC Software" @ 11:00 AM

http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/poc...re/mobileshell/

"Spb Software, a leading maker of mobile software, releases Spb Mobile Shell 3.0, the next-generation user interface for Windows phones. According to Handango Yardstick, Spb Mobile Shell was the world's number one bestselling application of 2008 among all mobile platforms. Spb Mobile Shell 3.0 accounts for two different smartphone use scenarios: at work and at play. The application offers distinctive 'professional' and 'lifestyle' desktops, integration of picture contacts with Facebook, account-sensitive email indicators, handsome time and weather screens, widgets, responsive kinetic scrolling, signature 3D animation engine, and other appealing assets that change the way a Windows phone is used altogether."

Spb Software has released v3.0 of its ever-popular UI for Windows Mobile, and it adds some impressive features such as widgets, Facebook integration, a 3D carousel with hardware acceleration support, and Professional and Lifestyle home screens. Interested in trying or buying? Head over to our affiliate software store. If you're a registered user of v2.x, the upgrade is available at a discounted price of $14.95, or free if you purchased it within the last 90 days.


Friday, March 20, 2009

Microsoft Tweaks Honeycomb UI

Posted by Darius Wey in "Pocket PC News" @ 02:20 AM

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...oneycomb-ui.ars

"While the layout remains the same and the icons are in the exact same place, they have been enlarged and the actual honeycomb outline (hexagons around each icon) is gone. Furthermore, scrolling up or down no longer means going all the way to the top or all the way to the bottom: the second the finger leaves the screen, scrolling will stop."

You're either going to love or hate the changes made to Windows Mobile 6.5's honeycomb UI. If you've forgotten what the previous version looked like, take a gander at our screenshot thread posted back in February. Now, looking at the image above, you'll notice that the latest version no longer sports hexagonal outlines, yet the hexagonal layout remains. It's a double-edged sword, because while visual clutter has been reduced, it becomes less apparent to uninformed users that these zigzagging rows actually represent a hexagonal layout, in addition to why it was adopted, prompting them to question whether such ocular trauma is really necessary.

That aside, Microsoft has made noticeable usability and performance tweaks to Windows Mobile 6.5 on the whole. It's definitely looking smoother and shinier than ever before.


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