4 ms·

Is this how the smartphone OS market is going to go now? Companies imitating other companies design? Besides WP7 and WP8's interface, there really hasn't been

Is this how the smartphone OS market is going to go now? Companies imitating other companies design? Besides WP7 and WP8's interface, there really hasn't been a huge leap in this space for a while. Is this because companies are simply following the market leader and playing it safe?

Groxx 13y ago
when has this not been the case? heck, iOS was just a less-useful PalmOS clone at the start (with better default apps and hardware).
- at-fates-hands 13y ago
  Am I being too optimistic in thinking these interfaces could be a lot better than they are? It's the copying of what seems like mediocrity is what I was trying to get across.
  - Groxx 13y ago
    No, I very much think they could be better :) And tbh, I'm not all that much of a fan of the iOS7 changes, but I'll have to wait and see how it all works together. Screenshots are usually poor examples of a system as a whole. As to copying mediocrity, what's the best flat style out there now? Or are you referring to flat styles in general? I would expect improvements through iteration, but I can't recall seeing any great flat-ish UIs. I think Windows 8 / phone 7 has some great concepts (live tiles) but poor execution (live tiles, button == label visually). Android is overall decent (though those neon underlines are a bit odd) but they're not very consistent. Individual app implementations are sometimes awe-inspiringly well done but don't necessarily scale up to an OS as a whole. I'm not sure there's anything but mediocrity right now, similar to when Apple got into the phone market (with something relatively mediocre).
freyr 13y ago
Apple did unveil a few new features (some derivative, some original), but the consumers have focused entirely on the interface, and particularly the icons. If that's all anybody gets concerned about, where is the pressure to deliver product innovation?

Groxx 13y ago

when has this not been the case? heck, iOS was just a less-useful PalmOS clone at the start (with better default apps and hardware).

at-fates-hands 13y ago
Am I being too optimistic in thinking these interfaces could be a lot better than they are? It's the copying of what seems like mediocrity is what I was trying to get across.
- Groxx 13y ago
  No, I very much think they could be better :) And tbh, I'm not all that much of a fan of the iOS7 changes, but I'll have to wait and see how it all works together. Screenshots are usually poor examples of a system as a whole. As to copying mediocrity, what's the best flat style out there now? Or are you referring to flat styles in general? I would expect improvements through iteration, but I can't recall seeing any great flat-ish UIs. I think Windows 8 / phone 7 has some great concepts (live tiles) but poor execution (live tiles, button == label visually). Android is overall decent (though those neon underlines are a bit odd) but they're not very consistent. Individual app implementations are sometimes awe-inspiringly well done but don't necessarily scale up to an OS as a whole. I'm not sure there's anything but mediocrity right now, similar to when Apple got into the phone market (with something relatively mediocre).

freyr 13y ago

Apple did unveil a few new features (some derivative, some original), but the consumers have focused entirely on the interface, and particularly the icons. If that's all anybody gets concerned about, where is the pressure to deliver product innovation?