Re: The "Windows 10 for phone" UI is so similar to Android - Is Microsoft preparing to move to Andro
They headed in the right direction. They didn't copy anyone. But we, in the wrong direction, losing the uniqueness.
I'm going to intervene here for a moment.
It kind of upsets me when people say that the Windows UI becomes more similar to Android/iOS, while the "flat design" of both was inspired from Windows Phone 7/8. Google/Bing "Android ICS" or "iOS 6" and you'll see what I mean. If you look for Windows Phone 7 thru 10, you don't see *that* much of a drastic change. Google introduced KitKat and changed their UI to a more simplified design that was clearly inspired by Windows Phone 7 and made it their own with "Cards". iOS played catch-up with Google Android because it suddenly looked stale and old. Then Google responded with Material Design to muscle up against iOS again.
Sure, Microsoft had some catching up to do as well in order to stay in business, but that makes sense. Essential pieces had to be implemented, like a notification center because people wanted it. They play(ed) catch-up as wel, but they didn't really loose their design language. And I'm not sure if thats positive. A lot of people were (and still are) frustrated with the lack of say, a wallpaper behind the live tiles. Or the ability for third party keyboards. Or Equalizers for their music. Not to mention decent third party apps because 8.0 was locked down so tightly, you couldn't really develop anything worthwhile. I'm glad they opened up since 8.1.
And iOS didn't retain their design language as good as you might think. That notification center wasn't there at first with the button shortcuts, Android was first. Widgets? Taken from Android. Third party keyboards and Swype? Oh my. Android inspired again. If one company made a drastic change, it was Apple with their iOS, not Microsoft. Windows 10 looks to be clean and I welcome it, since 8.1.1 was beginning to feel stale and its UI doesn't work across several devices.
And don't mistake this for a personal attack, it just worries me to see how so many people are waving their pitchforks around lately saying that WP is loosing its uniqueness.
We're STILL
the only OS with Live Tiles and we're the
FIRST OS to have the same system across several devices! You can argue that Android can do that as well, however that only goes for tablets and phones.
If that isn't unique on its own, I'm not sure people know what they are talking about.
And sorry for the long rant fellas. I know its great to be a critic (and complain about stuff), but I sometimes feel that a lot of you are rusted into a particular pattern where every change, be it good or bad, is unaccepted and being rejected.