meddyrainzo
New member
It was a sad day when I found out that this is what Microsoft is planning for WP 8.1. I keep asking myself why and never get an answer.
Why I believe that skinned tiles isn't the way to go:
- It would clutter the home screen.
- Flipping skinned-tiles will make the background image look like a chess table with pieces on it!
- How would they manage having a very tall wallpaper to cover up a long start screen? God please not by repeating the background!
- It's just plain ugly and ruins the simplicity of WP.
Why I believe that background image is the answer (with tiles grouping + Semantic Zoom):
- It's a step closer of unifying the experience between WP and Windows 8.
- Users can choose from a pre-set of simplistic backgrounds (Just like Windows 8), which keeps the OS simple too.
- Grouping tiles is a must, especially for people who have more than 50 pinned tiles on their start screen.
- Semantic Zoom can be used to quickly jump between tiles on your start screen (it's the answer for Androids pinch out that brings all the different home-screens in a quick jump, small view list).
- Grouping tiles creates gaps between them, so the background can show (this argument is for people that always say there is no point of having a background.)
I have made some mock-ups (with interactive tiles, which is not my subject today). Please check them out and let me know what you think:
View attachment 58479
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(You can visit my other post named: Windows Phone 9 Concept-linking1990)
If you agree with me, please give me your vote on the feature suggestion page for Windows Phone. HERE
They are a lot of people that love the skinned tile idea. I am one of them. At first I didn't, now I do. I would have supported your cause IF you said "give us the ability to also have backgrounds" but by saying don't give us skinned tiles, I have no interest in supporting your cause.
The reality of it is that, with the skinned tiles, better customization is achieved. Only a few pictures can work behind the tiles but a lot can work as skinned tiles. No offence to your concept but it looks too busy and the homescreen does indeed look cluttered.
Imagine if someone wanted to use a picture of her baby as her background picture. Behind the tiles, it would just be pointless. With the skinned tiles it would make more sense.
Let me just post an example of a picture with the skinned tiles and one behind the tiles
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd....0x720/1957840_633426783371476_671272517_o.jpg
You cant even tell what the hell is behind the tiles in the first picture. Let's be real, more casuals would be pleased with the second than the first. Matter of fact, I showed the picture to a lot of android users and they said that it (the second option)is actually so cool.
With skinned tiles, like many have suggested, you can even go as far as creating a custom accent color!
Btw, your points against skinned tiles are weak and your points for backgrounds are kinda weak too
-It's plain ugly? a lot of people disgree with that.
-Long picture? The background would be stationary while the tiles move (MS isnt stupid)
-Clutter the homescreen? IMO, your concept looks a lot more cluttered
-Step closer to unifying the OS: OSX and iPhone/iPad are quite unified but have a different look(OSX and iphones/pads
-Users can choose from a "preset"..:The whole point of this is to increase customization. Using preset themes defeat the purpose especially when they can implement it in a way where i can use my pictures and see them fully on the screen
-Grouping tiles: I approve
...
Bottomline, skinned tiles seems to be the better of the two options. I would support options but not when it involves me losing what i like permanently
There
credit: windows phone lovers (for the picture i used)
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