Bring back the gutter

[ninjaap]

I dunno how I feel about it yet, until I get 7.8. I mean I don't mind the gutter, but im not attached to it either. I dunno, I think I like the idea of resizable tiles.

 

[blehblehbleh]

You know if you think about, you could technically make it so there is a gutter. You'd just have to make sacrifices on the size of some tiles, but there would be a gutter.

 

[ninjaap]

Hey OP, maybe you shouldn't call it gutter. Sounds ugly and dirty. Its not helping your cause.

 

[eastbayrae]

The gutter was a massive waste of real estate. Goodbye and thanks for nothing!

 

[rluka]

This...

It was part of the Metro design that gave you a mental hint that there was something more available to you if you swipe to the left.

The blank space give the impression that it's less cluttered. Maybe not in fact less cluttered, but still feels so. It's a space with purpose instead of just a waste of space.

mase123987's idea about using it for notification icon (that has no background box) would be great.


But well, I'll adapt.

 

[cedarlog]

if there was one thing i didn't like about windows phone 7 it will be the gutter thankfully its gone

 

[psiu_glen]

I like the gutter...then again I have been fascinated with and studied graphic design and typography since childhood. Negative space is a crucial element and to see it used effectively was very nice.

Would simply like it to be an option (gutter, with resizable tiles? Yes please!).

 

[xmind]

I don't know why people are complaining here. YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR TILE SIZES! So if you want your gutter, then don't put tiles on the far right column. You also don't have to use all the 1/4 sized tiles as shown in the pictures. Use all medium or large tiles if you want. There is not excuse to complain if MS gives you the option....

For the record, I liked WP because they were trying to streamline and reduce time spent on the phone. I hate touch swipe scrolling if I don't need to, so the fact I can get to things quicker by having most of my tiles on one screen is great.

 

[dkp23]

Odd odd odd, those that are complaining about the screenshots looking cluttered and bad representation, think about it. If they are displaying the capabilities of the new resizable tiles and customization, do they want to make it just look nice and neat with all medium sized tiles one large and two small ones? You aren't showing anything other than showcasing what it looks like now.

They are showcasing the possibilities that you can do with tiles so they are going to show more of what they can do than not. If they just showed a clean basic version, people would be saying "um, looks the same, but no gutter, thanks MS for a slight change"

The gutter is gone, good riddance, but guess what, i am sure you can still swipe left to get to the apps listings...

 

[doublebullout]

Here's an interesting thought experiment. Imagine that this change was being made in 7.8, but IN REVERSE. (i.e., no gutter in 7.5, but gutter added in 7.8)

How many would think that was a great idea?

 

[selfcreation]

Here's an interesting thought experiment. Imagine that this change was being made in 7.8, but IN REVERSE. (i.e., no gutter in 7.5, but gutter added in 7.8)

How many would think that was a great idea?

not many people would liek it... . ALLOT more people complained about having the gutter then people complaining about not having it...

 

[ninjaap]

not many people would liek it... . ALLOT more people complained about having the gutter then people complaining about not having it...

I dunno bout that. I think those guys were just more vocal. I think the empty space or off centered tiles were a refreshing style. Similar to photography. With the Lumia 900, I had to start reading up on camera settings and how they work to get the best shots I could get out of it. I came across articles talking about you don't always have to center your subject. Sometimes you get a nicer picture when you put the subject off to the sides. I actually started doing that with a lot of my pics, especially if I want to show off the background.

 

[blehblehbleh]

Yeah the gutter has its uses aesthetically for sure. It'll be hard to say for sure how much it'll be missed though until we get our hands on the new UI

 

[ninjaap]

I don't think I'll miss it. I like that the startscreen is changing aesthetically and I hope it changes again with WP9. Constant, yet timely, changes to the start screen keeps the OS fresh IMO.

 

[TheDarKnight]

Actually I hate the new start screen, its a clusterf#*k IMO. What I really wanted is the background options (like windows 8) where you can add a bit of color to the start screen, and the tiles to be multicolor as well just like W8, it makes it more alive and dynamic imo

basically a vertical W8 start screen with app grouping by tiles. Is that so hard to do?

actually this sounds good, I've always thought the WP8 will be just like Windows8, with all the colors, grouping and the backgrounds.

But I still like the new home screen, it's more mobile and compact, and having the small size tiles is a good idea for small screens, also the tiles will still be live, which matters a lot.

 

[blehblehbleh]

... I hope it changes again with WP9. Constant, yet timely, changes to the start screen keeps the OS fresh IMO.

I'm with you on that. It'll be interesting how they keep live tiles fresh as time goes on.

 

[vaultboy21]

Windows Phone 8 & The Start Screen [My Take]

My take on the newly announced WP8 (and WP7.8) Start Screen. Tried to take a more in-depth look at it and argue for exactly what I like, don't like, and why. Note: I originally wrote this as a comment on the official WP UserVoice page and also posted this on The Verge as well, thought I'd throw it up here to discuss with my fellow WPCentralists (<- you like that?).

Love the new mini-tiles, hate the removal of the gap and stretching-out of the existing tiles. The start screen has become considerably more cluttered and has lost much of its charm. And it?s not the addition of mini-tiles, but the lack of whitespace that makes the new start screen look so noisy now; and it?s so sad to see it, in that it?s in such sharp contract to the cleanliness and beautiful design aesthetics of WP7.

I?ve had a WP for over a year now (as long as Verizon has let me, but I?ve been an enthusiast since first sight), and every time I pull it out, till this day, I?m left with a sense of wonder just looking at the level of detail and thought that went into designing the UI, especially the start screen. Just navigating and sliding around is so enjoyable and gives such a great feeling of relaxation and calmness that I?ve never witnessed interacting with any other interface (including the previews of W8; though it has its own charm as well).

I believe I understand why the gap was removed and why the existing tiles were scaled-up to stretch the screen. This is necessary to make the new mini-tiles large enough to display notifications/counters (missed calls, # new emails, etc?). But it has completely ruined one of WP?s greatest assets, its design. Again, I?d say the mini-tiles look great, but look at the traditional tiles now? The square tiles have become comically large for their purpose (look at all the stock apps? tiles like phone/email/messages, having them as full-sized squares makes them look bare and stale, and adds absolutely no value to me as a user, they just take up more space). As for the double-wide tiles, I am glad to see greater flexibility in their use, but increasing them in size doesn?t add value here. It?s great that all apps? tiles can now be expanded, but that could have been accomplished just fine in the existing layout (as the pictures hub and calendar are).

I really believe the ideal solution would have been to keep the current configuration (left-aligned columns of tiles, with the gap and arrow) but just allow for smaller mini-tiles (but with no notification capabilities). I think this concept highlights it well: http://i.imgur.com/tIAaw.png. In this case you get the added benefits of having small tiles, which if my math is correct, would come-out to roughly the size of the tiles used in the app list, making for a nice consistency.

I know it?s probably too late in the design process to see this come about but I really hope Microsoft is listening to feedback and will at least allow for an option to reintroduce the gap (even if it means I don?t get mini-tiles)...

I really can?t say why this is bugging me so much, but it is. As a hardcore WP enthusiast since the very beginning, and someone who has loved watching the platform grow and expand (and fully understands the needs of it to do so), for the first time, I?ve been left with an uneasy feeling about the platform and the decisions being made.

p.s. please vote on the official Windows Phone UserVoice page for at least an OPTION to maintain the current Start Screen configuration: Add setting to enable the "gutter" and app arrow in WP 7.8/8

 

[genuine555]

Optional is the way to go. What I don't get is why simple things like this aren't optional in WP. Its like they are more interested in limiting options and controlling the experience than providing basic flexibility.

I could have NEVER have said this better or more true. This is the whole WP experience wrapped inside 2 little scentences. Perfect statement ?nd arguement. So true.

And BTW, it's not "like" they're limiting options deliberately...they just are!
And I think you could go upto Windows Phone 38.5 or whatever, it will always stay that way on WP phones!

 

[andrewkim789]

Liked the gutter, but now it's removed. Now, I am OK without it, but I just don't like the idea that all your apps will be on one page...

 

[vp710]

Like I posted in the other thread: there you go. WOW!! THE GUTTER IS BACK!!!

Now compare it to this:

MILES better!!!