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I had an icon design for this that I created last month: Archive (a box with a label tag on it, https://www.storagegiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/a3-archive-bo

I had an icon design for this that I created last month: Archive (a box with a label tag on it, https://www.storagegiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/a3-archive-box.jpg https://www.storagegiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/a3-archive... from the frontside) Unarchive (same box, but the lid is slightly tilted open) You know why it works? Because the button also has the text on it that says 'Archive' or 'Retrieve' and the interface actions change accordingly on whether the resource is archived or not. It's not about iconography, it's about ever increasing loss of context through simplification. It's the curse of the modern UI/UX designer.

alpaca128 6y ago
I still don't get why Windows Phone's UI concept for this didn't catch on, it was great for touchscreen based apps. All relevant actions were on a grey bar on the bottom of the screen, in every app. And you could drag the bar up to reveal labels for each button as well as a list of options(the equivalent of the burger menu everywhere else). But instead Android has most of these buttons on the top of the screen, which is the hardest to reach place on the whole damn thing. And every other app out there uses a completely different set and style of icons and that one curved arrow symbol in the mail app does something completely different from the same button in the note-taking app and the calendar. It's a convoluted, insane mess.
- chillfox 6y ago
  I really liked the Windows Phone UI. It just felt right.
  - _Microft 6y ago
    That, updates and the lack of mobile provider branding.
- mrweasel 6y ago
  It's really a shame, I would claim that the Windows Phone UI in may ways where better than anything on Android and iOS. Even if Microsoft created a Android launcher or fork, it wouldn't really help, because the apps are still free to do whatever they want.
- ghosty141 6y ago
  Windows Phone UI just looks way too lifeless. There are good reasons why iOS' UI appeals to way more people. For example hard edges and 90° angles are something we associate with man-made "things" while rounded corners feel more natural if done right. Just watch how apple reasons about their UI, compared to this the Windows UI seems way more "random" and less thought through.
  - alpaca128 6y ago
    I disagree. The sharp corners might not be the style everyone favors, but it's still the best phone UI I've every used. It elegantly solved the tooltip problem, is the only mobile OS that feels 100% usable for left-handed people like myself and everything is consistent throughout the whole system including third-party apps. And neither Android nor iOS can compete at text input/editing. It feels like Microsoft put more thought into that component alone than Google does for an entire major Android update. Yes, it also had a fair share of weird quirks and weaknesses. But in my opinion the Windows Phone 8 UX was easily the best thing Microsoft made since Windows 7, and it keeps being years ahead of Android because Google seemingly rejects any idea that would fix existing issues or reduce confusion.

alpaca128 6y ago

I still don't get why Windows Phone's UI concept for this didn't catch on, it was great for touchscreen based apps. All relevant actions were on a grey bar on the bottom of the screen, in every app. And you could drag the bar up to reveal labels for each button as well as a list of options(the equivalent of the burger menu everywhere else). But instead Android has most of these buttons on the top of the screen, which is the hardest to reach place on the whole damn thing. And every other app out there uses a completely different set and style of icons and that one curved arrow symbol in the mail app does something completely different from the same button in the note-taking app and the calendar. It's a convoluted, insane mess.

chillfox 6y ago
I really liked the Windows Phone UI. It just felt right.
- _Microft 6y ago
  That, updates and the lack of mobile provider branding.
mrweasel 6y ago
It's really a shame, I would claim that the Windows Phone UI in may ways where better than anything on Android and iOS. Even if Microsoft created a Android launcher or fork, it wouldn't really help, because the apps are still free to do whatever they want.
ghosty141 6y ago
Windows Phone UI just looks way too lifeless. There are good reasons why iOS' UI appeals to way more people. For example hard edges and 90° angles are something we associate with man-made "things" while rounded corners feel more natural if done right. Just watch how apple reasons about their UI, compared to this the Windows UI seems way more "random" and less thought through.
- alpaca128 6y ago
  I disagree. The sharp corners might not be the style everyone favors, but it's still the best phone UI I've every used. It elegantly solved the tooltip problem, is the only mobile OS that feels 100% usable for left-handed people like myself and everything is consistent throughout the whole system including third-party apps. And neither Android nor iOS can compete at text input/editing. It feels like Microsoft put more thought into that component alone than Google does for an entire major Android update. Yes, it also had a fair share of weird quirks and weaknesses. But in my opinion the Windows Phone 8 UX was easily the best thing Microsoft made since Windows 7, and it keeps being years ahead of Android because Google seemingly rejects any idea that would fix existing issues or reduce confusion.