Microsoft, Samsung Take on Apple With New Smartphone Announcements

[reden]

I'm not a fan of the "spillover on purpose" look.

I guess it's an aesthetic decision, but it seems a bit counter-intuitive when you have to explain that there's more info to the sides.

Some people prefer different types of design. I personally like the approach their taking with the UI for this phone. To me, it's intuitive.

I like this phone, need to see more of it though, and I might just make this my next phone. I'm tired of no multitasking and no folders on the iPhone.

 

[lex750]

Yes, I got your point. But Aqua isn't as pervasive as you think it is. The flat metal look seems to be what Apple is now.

But we're arguing different things. Aqua is just a pretty coat of paint on the underlying UI. There's a difference between getting a new coat of paint, and completely rebuilding the interface, which seems to be what many people are clamoring for, much to my amusement.

How do you expect Apple to create a new UI if they can't even evolve from a minor UI change like changing the Aqua elements in 10.6 to this "flat metal look" you describe? The fact remains the same. The iPhone UI is dated and boring. Imagine the Windows Phone 7 Series UI on the iPad, now that would have made it "revolutionary". Instead we got the same old iPhone/iPod touch UI. Not very creative is it? Thank God for the ability to theme and use 3rd party software to change the UI in 10.6.

 

[tonyhunterajh]

Neither the samsung nor the iphone screen-of-icons looks substantially different than the palm os home screens.

Icons are icons and no one has cornered the market on them. That phone looks like a copied and tweaked iPhone! No way around it in my opinion.

 

[iRACK]

you keep thinking 99% of the people have ipods and that apple is the greatest, they arent, look at how many people are in this forum

http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/ (most popular on google)

then look at how many people are in this ipod forum

http://forums.ilounge.com/ (most popular on google)

it sure as hell aint a 9.9:1 ratio

Zune has a 2% share of the market, apple coming in at about 70% (usa data only)

So all your post shows is that a massively higher percentage of ZUNE users needs support in a forum ;-)

 

[iphonegeek786]

Well they say they have skins or themes like a jailbroken iphone.

 

[cmaier]

How do you expect Apple to creat a new UI if they can't even evolve from a minor UI change like changing the Aqua elements in 10.6 to this "flat metal look" you describe? The fact remains the same. The iPhone UI is dated and boring. Imagine the Windows Phone 7 Series UI on the iPad, now that would have made it "revolutionary". Instead we got the same old iPhone/iPod touch UI. Not very creative is it? Thank God for the ability to theme and use 3rd party software to change the UI in 10.6.

That looks horrible

 

[pr5owner]

Now, for the MS fanboys, this phone is NOT multitasking, NO flash. I don't see you guys complaining at all. You may reason with silverlight, but last time I checked, silverlight can't play flash content either, just like html5. Why the double standard?

we are complaining, go take a look at xda developers, however unlike the iphone, most microsoft os's are hella easy to customize add/remove features.

you can even dual boot operating systems on windows phones right now with android.

http://techblips.dailyradar.com/story/how-to-dual-boot-windows-mobile-and-android/

win7 is a step down from 6.5 if it lacks features but since it hasnt been released yet and knowing microsoft is all about the corporate integration i think the functionality will be there but they just havent announced it.

corporate functionality meaning, Remote desktop, VPN, exchange connectivity, sharepoint connectivity, ability to edit office apps, a FILE BROWSER etc.

 

[adammull]

Hubs? Is that MFST speak for Expose?

Microsoft has proven, yet again, their impeccable ability to copy things.

 

[0098386]

There's something I don't like about Microsoft's recent UI's. There's also the subconscious thing that whilst they display your information, there's always a nagging little link or hint at something you have to pay for. MSN messenger, Windows Vista+7, even Xbox Live has constant reminders of this. It's one of the reasons why I'm sticking with XP and why I don't connect my Xbox to my network.
That spillover design is horrendous, good God!

Also OLED displays? From what I've seen of them they're not good outdoors, which is where I'd be using a mobile phone.

 

[diamond.g]

we are complaining, go take a look at xda developers, however unlike the iphone, most microsoft os's are hella easy to customize add/remove features.

you can even dual boot operating systems on windows phones right now with android.

http://techblips.dailyradar.com/story/how-to-dual-boot-windows-mobile-and-android/

win7 is a step down from 6.5 if it lacks features but since it hasnt been released yet and knowing microsoft is all about the corporate integration i think the functionality will be there but they just havent announced it.

corporate functionality meaning, Remote desktop, VPN, exchange connectivity, sharepoint connectivity, ability to edit office apps, a FILE BROWSER etc.

They did show the Office Hub briefly. If the images are anything to go by, the 7 phone will be able to do at least the bolded stuff...

 

[iRACK]

we are complaining, go take a look at xda developers, however unlike the iphone, most microsoft os's are hella easy to customize add/remove features.

you can even dual boot operating systems on windows phones right now with android.

http://techblips.dailyradar.com/story/how-to-dual-boot-windows-mobile-and-android/

win7 is a step down from 6.5 if it lacks features but since it hasnt been released yet and knowing microsoft is all about the corporate integration i think the functionality will be there but they just havent announced it.

corporate functionality meaning, Remote desktop, VPN, exchange connectivity, sharepoint connectivity, ability to edit office apps, a FILE BROWSER etc.

I do not see the UI they showed off today in the market for business at all!
Really i just do not see it!

 

[dcranston]

I never said the iPad is doomed. I believe it will be a success. They just missed a chance to unveil their new "mobile OS". I shouldn't have to point out that the iPad and the iPhone both run the "iPhone OS". As it went, the reviews after the iPad event were dominated by "it's just a big iPod Touch" comments...if Apple had used that opportunity to launch the iPad an introduce an new mobile OS, the buzz would be at an even higher pitch than it is now...

Or maybe releasing a new mobile OS at a separate event will generate twice the publicity, and keep the focus of events tightly controlled instead of spread thin. I'm not arguing the iPad will necessarily be a success, I'm just arguing that not releasing an iPhone OS update simultaneously with the iPad hardly seems like a major misstep.

 

[Garion]

Bada, eh?

I just can't wait to see what the headlines will be when Samsung decides to incorporate Microsofts search engine into Bada. Get it?

 

[pr5owner]

Zune has a 2% share of the market, apple coming in at about 70% (usa data only)

So all your post shows is that a massively higher percentage of ZUNE users needs support in a forum ;-)

actually it indicates that more tech savvy people use zunes and more of them in relation to the total number are on forums.

the iphone/itouch/ipod users that i see on the street or the ones that i work with don't even know what a forum is. Thats he kind of user base apple has.

 

[Friscohoya]

Not impressed with the UI though it is much more about functionality than looks and I have yet to use it. iPhone definitely needs an updated UI. The Samsung thing has been done to death. Dont bring that out a year from now. The world will be light years ahead. Microsoft, however, at least is trying.

 

[mikem7522]

Just saw the engadget video and the UI looks like it's a clusterf**k to navigate through. It's almost way too over the top.

 

[cwubbels]

New iPhone OS

Just my 2 cents, but I think this should push Apple to revamp the current iPhone OS UI. I mean, the lockscreen is a waste of space, you have a full screen with nothing on it but the time, date, and lock slider. Weather? RSS? Anything informational on the lockscreen please?

Secondly this OS has been out for how long now? New features have been added which are great (i.e. copy & paste) but the UI as a whole has remained the same. Give us SOMETHING. HTC Sense is spectacular, and that’s based on Windows 6.5, imagine what they can do with 7. Apple needs to change it up, yes it works fine the way it is but it lacks some pizzazz.

Anyways, just a thought.

 

[Consultant]

That looks horrible

Yeah it looks horrible. Looks like a counterfeit anyway.

 

[Friscohoya]

I do not see the UI they showed off today in the market for business at all!
Really i just do not see it!

Yeah they are definitely going after the prepubescent teen crowd!

 

[mikem7522]

How do you expect Apple to create a new UI if they can't even evolve from a minor UI change like changing the Aqua elements in 10.6 to this "flat metal look" you describe? The fact remains the same. The iPhone UI is dated and boring. Imagine the Windows Phone 7 Series UI on the iPad, now that would have made it "revolutionary". Instead we got the same old iPhone/iPod touch UI. Not very creative is it? Thank God for the ability to theme and use 3rd party software to change the UI in 10.6.

Looks really good. What theme application do you use?

 

[Consultant]

The iPhone UI is dated and boring. Imagine the Windows Phone 7 Series UI on the iPad, now that would have made it "revolutionary".

So someone thinks driving a car with a round steering wheel and round wheels is dated and boring.

Let's make the steering wheel extends through the window! That'll surely make it hip.

I guess some people like triangle wheels too?

 

[Eye4Desyn]

I'd really like a change up. I want stacks on my iPhone. A better way to organize all my apps.

I also want custom backgrounds that show full time.. not just at the locked screen.

+1, Bingo! Stacks would be a great way to organize apps on the iPhone. For example, right now I have pages dedicated for different things I do on my iPhone. I have 16 distinct apps I use for when I travel, but if I wanted more, the current system/OS forces me to another page. If I could create a stack for travel, I could theortically have as many apps in the travel stack as needed. I love my iPhone as it does many things very well. However, it's time for Apple to give us a serious OS refresh.

 

[aaquib]

Looks really good. What theme application do you use?

+1. Please post a link to the theme.

 

[lex750]

Yeah it looks horrible. Looks like a counterfeit anyway.

Looks like a counterfeit what? I guess you didn't know you can change your UI now did you?

Go ahead give it a try, "Think Different" for a change.

http://totalfinder.binaryage.com/

 

[Colrath]

Windows Phone 7 looks like a winner, I watched some of the demos. It is a new unique interface that does in fact makes the iPhone and Android look dated. Microsoft is really coming out swinging here.

Have you ever used a Zune? It's not as intuitive as they demo it to be.