Alex Eckermann

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Windows 7 Mobile Series impressions: Interface

I watched a demo video by some blokes at Microsoft [mp4] showing off the new Windows Mobile platform. I’ve compiled a list of my first impressions and what I think is wrong with what they have done…

Zune, Zune, Zune, Zune, Zune, Zune…

The new interface is all Zune. Strangely enough the UI team had worked on the Zune Interface, the guy on the left is one of them. It’s all big text and very typographical. Stuff slides from left to right and all that fancy animation Jazz.

But is it the right style of interface? No. Why? Well it’s simply a Zune interface on a device other than a Zune. It worked for the Zune very well but for a mobile phone it looks like it hinders productivity. It is almost like Apple giving the iPhone a scroll wheel and Table interface just like the iPod, it doesn’t work!

When I want a smart phone I expect some order and simplicity to the interface that doesn’t get in the way when real work needs to be done. The iPhone has killed this, navigating to Apps is a piece of cake. The ‘tile’ interface on the demo show’s too much noise and animation going on, every app fighting to get your attention and love.

The in-app interface shown in the demos is also very heavily Zune influenced. Navigating between different modes/views of content is through a top navigation filled with text that’s waaaay to big. This text at the top doesn’t show any kind of hit area so do I click on the text, requiring precision, or just anywhere in the area? It’s taking up valuable screen real estate for something that doesnt need it.

In comparison the iPhone uses the UITabBar, bottom black bar in some apps, which uses far less vertical space and is more defined, less noisy and lets the content be king. Mail.app on the iPhone uses a UITable interface for navigating with the <[Back] icon at the top. The ‘metro’ interface here just has way too much emphasis on the navigation and it overshadows the content.

Seriously?! Maroon red on a dark grey background. Microsoft engineers must have the best eyes in the world. Think about one of your parents, probably has to wear glasses to see, trying to use this out on a sunny day… not going to happen.