[scottcraft]

I think there are areas that could be refined, but overall I'm pleased with it how the space is used. I think there are other areas of the os that need attention more than the ui.

[Reaction80]

I think it looks great just the way it is. Obviously things will be changed here and there in future updates - that's simply evolution - but no, I'm more than happy with it.

[Rodolfo#WP]

The current design is excellent. Califdude, your "new kid on the block" characterization/thinking misses the understanding that these are advanced design commitments that are part the creative path to Windows 8, a path designed to optimize touch where big tiles are functionally as well as visually ideal. Of course, they won't be ideal for everyone, especially early on, and many old kids will remain where they are.

The last thing I want are little-tile grids that simulate the mindless app grids that populate the screens of the usual suspects. If that is old-kid "design", I'm going with the new kids. I agree with aubreyq's sense that the original poster may have landed on the wrong platform. ;)

[scottcraft]

Earlier I was playing with my wife's iPhone 4. I wish my WP had some of the refinement the iPhone offers, but I find some of the ways it does things to be awkward. I hope as WP evolves it retains the easy to use characteristics I enjoy, but adds some of the features I enjoy on the iPhone.

Sent from my Windows7 Phone using Board Express

[canesfan625]

That might work if all the text on the screen scales accordingly, but again, Microsoft probably won't go for it because it affects the Metro's look and feel in general.

Microsoft won't do this for the same reason they don't want a web browser on the xbox.. it would look like trash. More likely we would see pinch zooming instead.

[firebrewd]

I didn't realize the keyboard wasn't fully extended in Landscape. That's a major oversight.

That's not an oversight. I remember they mentioned it in a really old video when WP7 was in development. The reason is, if they extended the keyboard, it wouldn't be centered because the menu bar covers some space on the right. So it's a design decision to make typing easier, having the keyboard on the center of the screen.

[Calidude]

Sounds like you're not a designer.

Sounds like you're misapplying a general concept in design to something that is not actually great design, and that would make you a bad designer, if you actually are one.

[Calidude]

Sometimes I wonder why people have a wp7. I read what they say they want, and it sounds just like android, or ios.

Sent from my SGH-i937 using Board Express

I like WP7, but it tries so hard to be different from the other two that it has gone so far off as to misuse things like space usage. I want to get a Nokia device when Apollo comes out, but Apollo needs to refine the UI before WP can be taken seriously by most people and not just appreciated because it's so DIFFERENT from the major OS's

The whole thing with text running off the screen is part of the Metro style and design. That's essentially its "signature" and I honestly don't see that going away.

This is what I was talking about in this post. The text running off the screen serves no purpose to the user. It's just about trying to be different. Good design is ALWAYS purposeful.

That's not an oversight. I remember they mentioned it in a really old video when WP7 was in development. The reason is, if they extended the keyboard, it wouldn't be centered because the menu bar covers some space on the right. So it's a design decision to make typing easier, having the keyboard on the center of the screen.

If it absolutely makes typing easier, why do some people in this thread not like having the keyboard be centered? If it does as you say, everybody would think it was fine as is.

[blehblehbleh]

This is what I was talking about in this post. The text running off the screen serves no purpose to the user. It's just about trying to be different. Good design is ALWAYS purposeful.
.

Heheh and what if that purpose was for aesthetics? Does that make it "bad" design because your idea of purpose must be functional?

If it absolutely makes typing easier, why do some people in this thread not like having the keyboard be centered? If it does as you say, everybody would think it was fine as is.

That's kind of weird logic. You can have people still disagree on the implementation of something that was intended for a benefit.

[Calidude]

Heheh and what if that purpose was for aesthetics? Does that make it "bad" design because your idea of purpose must be functional?

Good design when it comes to gadgets is always nice looking and functional.

That's kind of weird logic. You can have people still disagree on the implementation of something that was intended for a benefit.

Not if the product actually benefits everybody, as Microsoft's design is intended to do.

[Dormage]

When you build a house you always leave some free place so you can build more in the future.

[Reflexx]

Sounds like you're misapplying a general concept in design to something that is not actually great design, and that would make you a bad designer, if you actually are one.

Stop faking dude.

[aubreyq]

I agree with aubreyq's sense that the original poster may have landed on the wrong platform. ;)

Appreciate the comment but to be clear, I was referring to N8ter in my remarks, not the OP, although in general, it appears that there's a few of our members here that are probably on the wrong platform and would be better off switching to the competition until WP wins them back ;)

[gtg465x]

I definitely don't agree with the OP. He seems to have an engineer's mentality, wanting to cram as much information and functionality on the screen as possible. That is anti-design. Consider interior decoration. Decorators try to create open spaces as much as possible. If they put three couches and six chairs in the same room there would be more places to sit, but the room would look cluttered and would be harder to navigate through. Let's not sacrifice beauty and ease of use by cluttering up Windows Phone in the same manner.

[Reflexx]

Agree with a bunch of you. It's not about cramming things in. It's not Tetris.

As for the headers that cut off at the top... It's meant to signify yo the user that more information can be found with a swipe to the side.

However, I will agree with the arrow not being all that great. But since this is a completely different paradigm, the user doesn't know to swipe yet. I expect that arrow to eventually disappear once the OS is mainstream.

[jdd77]

The metro idea is great in theory, but I think the entire UI needs a complete overhaul..
from notifications, menu information, app list, etc.. to the whole look and wasted real estate of the home screen.

[N8ter]

The metro idea is great in theory, but I think the entire UI needs a complete overhaul..
from notifications, menu information, app list, etc.. to the whole look and wasted real estate of the home screen.

Yea, I've basically given up on giving feedback. And I agree the theory of Metro was nice but the excecution leaves much to be desired.

Nice for someone who just wants to see or use something new and different, but I'm beyond that point (probably cause I've had this device so long now).

[Rodolfo#WP]

.. Good design is ALWAYS purposeful.

.. this is as accurate as it is incomplete.

... Not if the product actually benefits everybody, as Microsoft's design is intended to do.

I doubt that any mature designer practices with this illusion -benefit, nor please everybody, or even close to everybody; and this thread illustrates the illusion.

It's not Tetris.

However, I will agree with the arrow not being all that great. But since this is a completely different paradigm, the user doesn't know to swipe yet. I expect that arrow to eventually disappear once the OS is mainstream.

Tetris.. good one, WG; but, still too much open space in my game.

As for the arrow, I've learned that I'm a better arrow-toucher than swiper. It may be a matter of manual dexterity or hand-size, but I'd actually like the arrow lowered about a cm or half-inch in both forward and back modes. BTW, it's not major, but that arrow's rotation is a good example of Microsoft's elegant design.

[Reflexx]

The reason I'm not a fan of the arrow is just because it isn't as subtle as everything else. The whole Metro design in general is almost built on what we've already been conditioned to know. Almost instinct I suppose. It doesn't have to explicitly tell us something. Instead, we get visual hints through animation, text going off screen, or seeing hits of the next screen.

But I do see the benefit of having a button to press if you don't want to swipe. And I do see how the arrow adds clarity to its function. Clarity that is needed because the paradigm is essentially an unfamiliar one to most people. But I imagine that in time the explicit nature of having an arrow will be replaced with something more subtle.

[jfa1]

once you know to swipe right to left if you could have a dialog box with a check box box dont show this again (admitedly windows mobilesque) or something similarly metro, then that screen space could be opened up. Its not something I am in favor of but it would be an option to consider. I like it the way it is probably because I am used to doing it ( Its the presbyterian in me)!

[Winterfang]

Another thing that I don't like is that for example in the Documents app, there's also that wasted space on the right. I mean what's the point in having the battery and such hide in landscape if you can't use that space?

[steve_w_7]

The Metro design and layout is what converted me from the iPhone to Windows Phone. I still have my MP3 collection on my iPod Touch and I cringe every time I have to look at that stale, outdated mess.
Metro is elegant and intuitive. As far as the look and layout goes, it's apparent that the devlopers invested a lot of well thought out time into the aesthetic of the user interface. I think they nailed it and I wouldn't change anything.

[Calidude]

Stop faking dude.

Faking? Faking what, exactly?

I definitely don't agree with the OP. He seems to have an engineer's mentality, wanting to cram as much information and functionality on the screen as possible. That is anti-design. Consider interior decoration. Decorators try to create open spaces as much as possible. If they put three couches and six chairs in the same room there would be more places to sit, but the room would look cluttered and would be harder to navigate through. Let's not sacrifice beauty and ease of use by cluttering up Windows Phone in the same manner.

Your analogy is flawed. Interior design isn't the same as UI design. Nobody LIVES in the WP UI design, and I never said that every space had to be filled. I'm saying that too often, there's empty space that isn't being used, or space that is being taken up by fonts and buttons that are too big. Good UI design optimizes the use of space.

The reason I'm not a fan of the arrow is just because it isn't as subtle as everything else. The whole Metro design in general is almost built on what we've already been conditioned to know. Almost instinct I suppose. It doesn't have to explicitly tell us something. Instead, we get visual hints through animation, text going off screen, or seeing hits of the next screen.

But I do see the benefit of having a button to press if you don't want to swipe. And I do see how the arrow adds clarity to its function. Clarity that is needed because the paradigm is essentially an unfamiliar one to most people. But I imagine that in time the explicit nature of having an arrow will be replaced with something more subtle.

Know why the arrow in the start screen is there? It's there so that start screen doesn't look like a screen that is packed with very large icons, like an oversized iOS. That's it. No other reason.

[Reflexx]

Faking? Faking what, exactly?

Faking being a design expert by telling others that they don't understand design principles.

Your analogy is flawed. Interior design isn't the same as UI design. Nobody LIVES in the WP UI design, and I never said that every space had to be filled. I'm saying that too often, there's empty space that isn't being used, or space that is being taken up by fonts and buttons that are too big. Good UI design optimizes the use of space.

And WP has been praised for its clarity and focus on making task-centric activities quick and easy. So what's the problem? You don't like the tiles? Then get an iPhone.

Know why the arrow in the start screen is there? It's there so that start screen doesn't look like a screen that is packed with very large icons, like an oversized iOS. That's it. No other reason.

lol

Are you being serious?

You should check out Mike Kruzeniski's blog. Some good stuff in there. And after reading it, you might be able to realize that this wasn't just thrown together haphazardly.

Mike Kruzeniski – From Transportation to Pixels
Mike Kruzeniski – The Aesthetics of Interaction Design
Mike Kruzeniski – How Print Design is the Future of Interaction

[Calidude]

Faking being a design expert by telling others that they don't understand design principles.

You don't have to be a design expert to see that WP needs to be refined. You really don't.

And WP has been praised for its clarity and focus on making task-centric activities quick and easy. So what's the problem? You don't like the tiles? Then get an iPhone.

I like the tiles. I like WP's potential. However, the lack of refinement in the UI is what WP needs work on. It is too minimalistic at times and oversized where it shouldn't be. Once those things go away, you'll see a lot of people adopting Windows Phone.

I'm not saying I don't like Metro. I do like it. I just think Metro on Windows Phone hasn't been optimized for the screen size. Once the UI has been made more focused, you'll forget that it ever used to look like this.

lol

Are you being serious?

You should check out Mike Kruzeniski's blog. Some good stuff in there. And after reading it, you might be able to realize that this wasn't just thrown together haphazardly.

I know it wasn't, but I know the UI isn't even close to perfect yet. It still needs to be tweaked.