Windows Phone “Trio” UI Concept
First and foremost, let’s look for some constructive discussion before unleashing your fingers to your keyboards.
OK. We’re looking here at the design of just the homescreen and not the rest of the Metro UI in Windows Phone. This is a good start point as any as that’s what’s often criticised in Metro.
This concept comes from Iffan Morasilp who emailed us his idea . It includes a three screened affair (much ideal, and integral to a few concepts we’ve seen before).
Main screen
The main tile homescreen is present but it now has a background instead of a simple Black/White. This for many makes a huge change to the perception of Windows Phone, simply adding some personality with personalization. Having backgrounds suits Windows Phone, if you check out MarketPlace, Music Player, Photos, your background is adorned with beautiful backgrounds (from your content, by your choice or the phones) and doesn’t affect readability of the display. This, IMO, needs to continue with the ‘homescreens’.
The tile is also aligned to the centre and not the usual left-shift in Metro. This does somewhat make better usage of the space.
Check out this other concept for a particularly beautiful change to the tiles. Whilst still in the tile-grids, the whole width of the phone is used and so optimizes on the available space. Note that there should also be a balance between using all the space and having too much information on screen. Whilst most power users would be fine with that, novice users might not be (and this is where the mass market is at)
Here’s some of Jozef’s take on having backgrounds (See point 3)
Also Peter’s early take on backgrounds.
Optional to keeping the tile homescreen is having cubes, from Peter.
And another of Jozef’s fine work on changing up a lot of the UI for Metro. Maybe for Apollo when Nokia is able to put their ‘Nokia Stamp’? Note Jozef’s multitasker is now in MeeGo Harmattan (albeit N9/N950 has additional grid space when zoomed out)
Right [App List]
The listed app view persists but now has a most recent used apps view at the top. Lists lend themselves to a lot of scrolling, but this big font alphabetical order does make it easier to find an app (than grid/folder hunting). Fortunately scrolling is very smooth and fast. Search button I guess nullifies difficulty of finding apps. As would a PERSISTENT scrollable alphabet on the side.
As a power user myself, I do prefer grid style and hope this is at least a choice we’d be given (I don’t really see the scroll list a mandatory part of Metro – well there are those that would disagree – the big font list thing is very Metro) but the list view is a very easy way of getting around to all your apps (plus things do end up in hubs, like Games, Videos+Pictures, and Mango will be linking all relevant apps together).
Live thumbnails as shown in Jozef’s work could solve the need for folders by pinning grouped apps in the main screen.
Left [Today]
I guess this takes cues from MeeGo’s left screen.
Iffan describes the screen as bringing:
…you the latest information about things that matter to you in a form of widget-like including;
> Breaking news from BBC, CNN, etc.
> Live Weather
> Stocks
> Web feeds e.g. Engadget
> Notes / To-Do List
> ETC.
I agree with the concept of a third screen. It’s much needed in Windows Phone. The whole thing is about panoramic swiping and I don’t think it would be too confusing for even novice users to swipe between three homescreens (once said to be the optimal number).
I think we may have seen another concept of having some freeform widgets on the third screen before, but this mostly replicates tile work. The today screen makes a lot of sense (and is implemented by MeeGo Harmattan) showing you all the relevant stuff to you that is happening right now.
Category: Concept, Nokia, Windows Phone
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… or just buy an N9.
Ballmer must be pissed at all the attention the Meego darling is getting.
correct! why try so hard?
Agreed. Meego Harmattan looks amazing! Definitely getting an N9 when it comes out.
@Kyle What attention? You mean trolls like you posting random thoughts? MeeGo is DEAD, Windows Phone is the future
Hahaha, speak for yourself matey.
WP7x might have all the marketing might in the world behind it.
But true enthusiasts (not fanboys) know when they’re getting a bum deal.
too many concepts for WP UI. meaning we are not satisfied with Wp7/7.5 ui/ it is not appealing??
I see it as there are users interested and motivated enough to produce concepts. As with Nokia Concept pieces.
good point
No offence, but this looks horrendous
I thought wp7 couldnt look any worse but i was wrong
Why are you commenting? You clearly don’t own a WP7 device and likely never will… Why be a douche? Are you that much of a waste of life? Go Fuck Yourself!
Personally I love the concept and being a WP7 user I feel this is exactly what we need… an alternative homescreen
+1
plus 1
+1
I don’t like it. It’s better the Mango UI, and Peter’s multitasking UI.
I agree with having a third screen but not the ones in the pictures.
Yes, a third screen would be useful. Though not particularly sure what would be on it.
At least join the screens so a right swipe brings us back to tiles. It makes sense what with the panoramic nature of Metro.
the concept is nice. i don’t think we need those arrows (what about a swipe instead). and they are little too big and bold. widget screen and recent apps in apps screen is a good idea. How about adding a grid for opened apps instead. so no need a long press for multitask.:)eh? and how about same wallpaper for widget screen?
Please change IE ico
Are you Nokia users that bored? I know the current devices are primitive but can’t you let others actually enjoy others ideas? Please don’t complain about this being mynokiablog… more like mywp7blog… are you kidding me? You realize the giant agreement Nokia and Microsoft signed right?
I love the idea of the 3rd screen… and I like what has been done here. Ideally from my point of view it should be more an extension of the main screen and be more for notifications and updates that don’t fit on a tile. I did like the ‘cube’ concept but think it over complicates and strays from the metro UI.
How about replacing the middle screen (original home screen) with the third screen, but with Metro UI. I love how this is done in MeeGo, you do not need widgets if you have one screen dedicated to notifications and such.
I find the current WP7 HS is nothing more than just a grid of applications like in iPhone (icon + number of new items), albeit more interesting looking one. Mango helps the situation some, but not enough in my opinion.
Ok here’s the thing people: There is no need for a dedicated Today screen on Windows Phone. If live-tiles work properly (and with Mango they will) those ugly variably-shaped widgets on the Today screen are obsolete.
Also remember that Mango will allow custom tiles that span two columns (thus allowing more information to be displayed)
That’s the thing, the Live Tiles currently don’t work well enough. Mango does not help the situation that much, there is nothing new in the most crucial Tiles such as email, messaging and such.
I completely agree a double live tile via Blackberrys today style, all notifications in one place, would go a long way.