Windows

Windows Phone Modern UI: do you like it?

posted by Victor H. / Oct 30, 2012, 8:21 AM

Windows Phone Modern UI: do you like it?

When you first take a look at a Windows Phone device you instantly get it - this is different. And it’s different mostly because of the Modern UI (or what Microsoft used to call Metro interface).

What is the Modern UI? Two things, mostly: Live Tiles and big typography.

Inspired by the design language used in the Seattle public transportation system, the interface is at the core of the Zune and later on the Windows experience.

Modern UI is all about the visual.

Zune failed, and Windows Phone so far has generated little momentum despite huge efforts from Microsoft, Nokia and a bunch of other partners. Windows Phone 8 has just been released, and we can’t help but wonder: will it succeed? And what is the reason for WP slow start so far?

Digging down to the core, we bump into the Modern interface. On one hand, it’s dynamic, with some Live Tiles changing on the go, but on the other the tiles seem just like icons, and a weird monochrome take on icons.

Next comes the funky typography. It’s fun, but nay-sayers accuse it of being impractical, leaving tons of unused spaces.

And the combination of the Tiles and typography that dominates the Windows Phone platform could be interpreted as both modern and plain. Apple and Android are hugely successful with fairly traditional interfaces, giving preference to practicality over those avant-garde looks. So help us out here - is the Modern UI what’s stopping Windows Phone from succeeding? Finally it all boils down to whether you like it or not. Have your say below.

Windows Phone Modern UI: do you like it?

Yes, Live Tiles are dynamic and more useful than icons, and the funky typography is nice.

82.03%

No, Live Tiles are awkward, traditional icons and widgets are more flexible. The new typography is not practical.

17.97%

Modern UI with Live Tiles and big fonts.

Modern UI with Live Tiles and big fonts.

Options

82 Comments

1. Mozarrt

Posts: 301; Member since: Oct 08, 2011

Can't live without them, using Android or iOS always feels so backwards compared to the Metro UI.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:22 AM 47

9. denied911

Posts: 361; Member since: May 31, 2012

seriously? good post microsoft marketing team

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:33 AM 18

16. MeoCao unregistered

OMG, did they call WP UI modern? 1. All devices look the same, no personalization 2. You have to look at each tile for tiny bits of information against centralized interactive Notification center of Android 3. The multitask management is awful, no swipe to delete gesture like Android ... and can there be any launchers possible?

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:43 AM 15

22. eisenbricher

Posts: 973; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

Yeah, and not in a whim. Why is that so surprising? 1. Customization is at middle level. Above iOS and below Android 2. That's not a bad thing, I can also say that you have to look at the centralized info center... Are we so lazy that we can't even take a LOOK? 3. Do you imply that Windows should just copy the swipe gesture of Android? I don't think so. I'm not Android hater, in fact I love it. Just that your post is underrating WP8 so horribly than it deserves. Remember everyone, WP8 is meant to fill the gap between openness of Android and strict closed ecosystem of iOS.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:55 AM 27

49. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4767; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

I'm with you man!! I don't know what the outcome will be if Windows had customizable icons and widgets like Android. We won't be able to differentiate between them! And thank God Microsoft left it this way because everyone and i mean everyone (!!!) can easily differentiate between Android, Windows and iOS. +1

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 10:23 AM 6

62. MeoCao unregistered

2. That's bad thing when you have a lot of live tiles spreading several pages, then you have big troubles kepping track with all those tiles. 3. I agree that WP should not copy Android but it should offer something equally convenient or better, Right now it cannot. I think WP has an important role but what I'm criticizing is WP's failure to fill it.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 11:25 AM 3

67. haseebzahid

Posts: 1853; Member since: Feb 22, 2012

meh i can eaisly track a tinny little tile thats because they are perfectly sorted and when we set it we know where it is. you will say that cuz android icons are tiny and hard to find when u only have to identify the logo not the name of app or take the whole thing to home screen :P i know that is harder for android cuz i used symbian S60 and android UI is symbian copy

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 11:51 AM 0

79. Lboogey6

Posts: 281; Member since: Jan 31, 2012

Lol so creating an organized folder of categorized apps is.... Confusing or boxes that look alike riiiiight millions of people are just idiots then

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 5:04 PM 1

74. saiki4116

Posts: 413; Member since: Mar 31, 2011

yup,you are right man...the live tile looks sexy when shown on ads,but when you populate your screen with so many of them,organizing them would be definitely a mess....in android i keep widgets in home screen in a classified order like one screen for social networking,one for chat,one for productive apps...

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 1:57 PM 2

23. Aeires unregistered

I've been wondering what type of mod community W8 will have. If they can hack in launchers, that'd be a major win.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:56 AM 1

36. gothicheart

Posts: 83; Member since: Oct 17, 2012

yes, there are launchers possible, on the android market, several actually. now you can change you're crapdroid to WP ui. enjoy what you've missing on android... :)

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 9:39 AM 0

41. erick01

Posts: 22; Member since: Sep 10, 2012

"All devices look the same, no personalization..." did you see the video with MS´s Belfiore comparing the screen layout among Android and iOS??? Those screens maaan......: boring.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 9:59 AM 2

68. haseebzahid

place 100 SGS3 off what is the difference between them all :\ now turn them all on except home screen what is the difference nothing dont know what personalization u are crying about

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 11:53 AM 0

55. GoodFella

Posts: 112; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

Did you forget that android copied webOS with the "swipe to delete" feature? Stop being a fanboy, son. All OSs have many similar features. I like where Mas is going with this.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 10:49 AM 2

65. haseebzahid

yeah because WP is not a copy of android its a differnt thing and it donest even need stuff u chanting it is well made to double check all what u saying very effectivly i believe u didnt used WP at all and from adroid u will obviously think negitive that what fandroids do

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 11:45 AM 0

30. Mozarrt

I wish, I'd love them to give me all the MS goodies.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 9:07 AM 0

75. wp8forever unregistered

Wow wp8 getting a lot of love cuz at the end we all know is a great product, we can't deny that, and Microsoft did a terrific job with wp8 I can't wait for at&t to release it.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 2:02 PM 0

81. TROLL

Posts: 4851; Member since: Apr 13, 2012

it will be another epic fail, just like there previous.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:25 PM 1

39. wp8forever unregistered

They just mad cuz windows phone 8 rocks and they know it, is just the best of both world but what I like the most is that is original no and ios copy sorry didn't mean to refer to android maybe I did, and on top of that u add that surface pro whattttt running full windows 8 on a tablet jesus don't do that to android and apple Microsoft hater hate all you want wp8 and windows in general are coming hard.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 9:52 AM 3

69. tusshharish

Posts: 342; Member since: Oct 23, 2012

the poll should have one more option BETTER THAN IOS UI

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 12:39 PM 2

78. pookiewood

Posts: 631; Member since: Mar 05, 2012

I like it as well and have since my Zune HD. Just Different. It looks good as well. I do miss 2 things from the Zune like the augmented reality when tilting the Zune and being able to tap on the text at the top to go back.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 4:53 PM 0

2. hung2900

Posts: 966; Member since: Mar 02, 2012

Somebody think it's beautiful, interesting and the tiles are very useful But i think i will be boring few years later, like N9/L800/L900/L920 design

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:23 AM 9

5. gothicheart

probably, it will be boring in a few years, unlike android and ios, which is already boring today...

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:27 AM 15

18. MeoCao unregistered

I can see it boring right now, no need to wait at all.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 8:44 AM 3

27. chaoticrazor

Posts: 2347; Member since: Aug 28, 2012

Well if its so boring to you why comment, just move on. Others like it. Its down to preferance But have to say bored of android users hating so much on anything wp8. You all go on about how apple wants everything under there control yet you say things like 'android will replace everything' or 'only need android Theres no room for others etc,

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 9:01 AM 6

38. AliNSiddiqui

Posts: 382; Member since: Sep 19, 2012

He commented because it's a poll!

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 9:48 AM 2

45. chaoticrazor

You can vote without commenting the same thing that most android users seem to be trolling on every wp article

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 10:09 AM 4

50. MeoCao unregistered

Hey, are you from North Korea? In North Korea people can only speak like Dear Leader or keep quiet. But here people have right to say what they think so get used to it.

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 10:26 AM 0

51. papss unregistered

Agreed..if you dont like then see you way to another section.. stop trolling

posted on Oct 30, 2012, 10:29 AM 2

56. MeoCao unregistered

This shows weakness of WP, when you are weak you don't want people to talk about that b-c you can't talk back. I think WP is boring but I love talking about WP poor quality, that's not trolling by any means. LOL