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.
So these are my thoughts on the issue. I've tried to approach things in a level-headed way and try to understand the rationale behind the changes. Would love to hear what others have to say in this regard.
Thanks.
p.s. Please vote on the official Windows Phone UserVoice page for at least an OPTION to maintain the current Start Screen configuration here
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.
So these are my thoughts on the issue. I've tried to approach things in a level-headed way and try to understand the rationale behind the changes. Would love to hear what others have to say in this regard.
Thanks.
p.s. Please vote on the official Windows Phone UserVoice page for at least an OPTION to maintain the current Start Screen configuration here