outunderthestars
Banned
I actually quite like the simplicity of it. (it just needs widgets)
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Should Apple change the home screen for their iOS devices?
- Thread starter Joel Was Right
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I actually quite like the simplicity of it. (it just needs widgets)
I get that. But defaults are also the most important thing in a UI that you intend millions to use. The lack of visual choices in iOS is one of the best thing about it from a consumer market standpoint, it's that simple and it stays that way, making it marketable and iconic (no pun). Choice is great but most people won't ever even bother tbh.
Good design shouldn't need to be a choice anyway, but that's for a different conversation.
Obviously, but how can that be applied linearly when the method of interaction is completely different across mobile and desktop. With a mouse cursor you know where you want to click, as there's a visual target. Gridding doesn't really matter as much. With unique/inconsistent shapes on a mobile UI, your finger is going to intrinsically go for the element of that shape which is most prominent against the backdrop. For example even though a triangular shaped app icon still sits in a square box (albeit invisible) you wouldn't tap on the empty space in a corner even though that is within the invisible hit frame, you would go for the center of the triangle. Problem is this varies across different icons since each hold a different shape within the same hit point. Not as pleasing as all the hit points being plainly/consistently visible as circles or squares. Another thing is that it becomes harder to differentiate a static (visual) element that has a unique shape with a interact-able element that also has a unique shape. Drop shadow isn't enough imo, and it can get ugly. But of course i'm taking about mobile app shapes in general and not strictly android since that's so visually customizable anyway.I love that you said mobile device because I was just going to point you to look at the OS X Dock
Other than that, it has been established that shapes are very good for recognition and are equally as important as colors when designing good UX, so Android 1, Apple 0 in this regard.
You mention the dock, but the launchpad is literally an iOS home page for OS X apps, but it's nicer because everything is so large. Unique shapes on the dock aren't a big deal since they're visually fixated so there's a natural grid anyway even when the dock is small.
mescalineeyes
Banned
Kid works at Apple now.
I am not talking about interaction, but simply about quickly and efficiently recognising different elements. Shapes help. Also, the natural grid is persistent throughout all interfaces discussed here.
I am fairly happy with the icons on iOS as they are now, but the ones on Android are objectively still better -- if not necessarily prettier.
So, funny story...
Everyone in here talks like a hot shot UI designer but I bet if they did design a UI the only person that would like it would be themselves. That's why the UI is so good with apple it serves everyone, its easy to use. The icons are generally nice. And if u use folders the pages are generally manageable.
Android UI isn't as slick as the iOS UI, it feels great to swipe the page of icons, it doesn't have the same feeling on the android. It's close but not as nice.
Android UI isn't as slick as the iOS UI, it feels great to swipe the page of icons, it doesn't have the same feeling on the android. It's close but not as nice.
Sure, iOS has to rely more on the app text than android for recognizability but I guess i'm anal about the symmetry which is why small wildly different shapes as icons bugs me.
What is this wallpaper? Please let me know, I'm intrigued!
mescalineeyes
Banned
Sure, iOS has to rely more on the app text than android for recognizability but I guess i'm anal about the symmetry which is why small wildly different shapes as icons bugs me.
make no mistake, android's icons, (especially with WhizUI), are ugly as shit.
It's a high resolution cast shot of The Venture Bros Season 3 I found on Google Image Search.
This is the source I used
http://i.minus.com/ibuc5eAtAvQRdU.jpg
I cropped it a bit on the PC then the launcher cropped it even more when I made it the wallpaper.
I think they just went overboard with the small tiles. For basic missed call/message notifications, the small tile with a number is fine. but you'd probably only need one group of four, with the rest being the normal sized or wide tiles.
mescalineeyes
Banned
less spacing now, too. also some tiles have icons on them some don't, some are a flat color, some have a huge picture, some have text, some don't... it's a bit messy.
but yeah, what you said is true as well.
I think it is even sillier on a tablet:
ipad:
competition:
Chameleon launcher is not out yet. Isn't that just a concept?
As for ios, the biggest thing that they need is live icons.
I've said it before and I will say it again. Widgets are mostly useless. The useful widgets are probably only calendar and to do list.
MarkMclovin
Member
iOS is designed to put apps at the forefront. Every feature of the phone is an app. It's the most effective way to push a new software ecosystem and encourage people to buy more apps. That's why the home screen is nothing but apps.
Not that the design isn't showing its age, especially with the iPad, but widgets muddy the design philosphy and take away from what Apple wants you to use your phone for: Purchasing apps.
Not that the design isn't showing its age, especially with the iPad, but widgets muddy the design philosphy and take away from what Apple wants you to use your phone for: Purchasing apps.
w00pdiw00p
Banned
I hate it. One of the main reasons I went with Android.
widgets + the ability to fully customize my homescreen really make a big difference.
edit: should also add that this is coming from a guy who barely has any flare on his homescreen
What widgets are you using?
And what icon pack?
Also, seems that you have good taste in music.
Glass Rebel
Member
outunderthestars
Banned
It launches in August, and has been shown off a couple of times for members of the media. It's well beyond concept at this point.
I'd love widgets for weather, Pulse, Geochaching, Roadside America, twitter, etc.
MilkLizard
Member
When you jailbreak your phone you can have a lot of those things people here are asking for. Like Widgets on the homescreen, place icons where ever you want, change the size of them, etc...
I used to mess around with that stuff quite a lot, but I'm back to this now
I like it simple.
I used to mess around with that stuff quite a lot, but I'm back to this now
I like it simple.
Widgets are incredibly useful. Sure there is some dumb ones, but good ones really save time and effort.
On android i especially love the evernote, google drive and google calendar widgets. Samsung has also useful Alarm widget that i use every day.
Overall i really like that Android has the homescreen for people to customize, but it also has the iOS 'app grid' in app drawer that just shows all the apps that the phone has. It feels to me just as simple as iOS, but it has the customization aspect if i want to take advantage of it.
On android i especially love the evernote, google drive and google calendar widgets. Samsung has also useful Alarm widget that i use every day.
Overall i really like that Android has the homescreen for people to customize, but it also has the iOS 'app grid' in app drawer that just shows all the apps that the phone has. It feels to me just as simple as iOS, but it has the customization aspect if i want to take advantage of it.
I think Apple could be inspired by something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb-IF20JdSI
I like how it keep things minimal and organized while still offering all options that available to them.
Personally, I think iOS home screen could do well with additional section. Let's say if you slide up, it reveal widget and stuff that's available on the left most screen of the multi-task tray. However, this could be confusing as now we would have two trays down the bottom. Widgets tray and multi-task. But that should not be a problem as iOS also currently has the drawer for application folder as well.
I dont think iOS should add widgets directly into the home screen but rather find a place to store them that can be easily accessed.
Just my two cents. But I totally think that iOS need some sort of widgets function to catch up with competition in term of functions.
I like how it keep things minimal and organized while still offering all options that available to them.
Personally, I think iOS home screen could do well with additional section. Let's say if you slide up, it reveal widget and stuff that's available on the left most screen of the multi-task tray. However, this could be confusing as now we would have two trays down the bottom. Widgets tray and multi-task. But that should not be a problem as iOS also currently has the drawer for application folder as well.
I dont think iOS should add widgets directly into the home screen but rather find a place to store them that can be easily accessed.
Just my two cents. But I totally think that iOS need some sort of widgets function to catch up with competition in term of functions.
My Galaxy Note home screen.
My point is I have the freedom to make the screen whatever I like but mine is very similar to the iPhone launcher. It's a good and ergonomic hone screen.
I'm really liking those icons. Shame YouTube has to mess it all up with their smaller square icon.
Lol u got me i don't own an android so I can't say for sure but I've played with one. It was ok. Apps on the iPhone keep me from switching over for now
Captain Tuttle
Member
iOS is getting long in the tooth, it badly needs a re-design imo. It's the main reason I went with Android and the Windows 8 phone reveal is the main reason I'm strongly considering jumping over to the Windows platform.
Since we're all posting our home screens;
I just use Emoji icons for the folder titles (no JB tweak). I do use a JB tweak to turn the newsstand into something useful, an actual bookstand for quick access to books i'm reading etc.
As well as changing the background of NC. Other than that i'm pretty pure, don't use JB for visual tweaks and whatnot much at all.
I just use Emoji icons for the folder titles (no JB tweak). I do use a JB tweak to turn the newsstand into something useful, an actual bookstand for quick access to books i'm reading etc.
As well as changing the background of NC. Other than that i'm pretty pure, don't use JB for visual tweaks and whatnot much at all.
I like the home screen fine. Some parts of iOS bug me with certain apps dry design choices (though it makes sense considering apple's desire to have as wide of a demographic as possible) but it's smooth and works great. I'd like to see a home screen update for the fun of it but I'm in no dire need.
Here's my home screen. I think it looks nice. You just need to make sure the wallpaper is simple enough to not distract from the icons and not too bright.
Here's my home screen. I think it looks nice. You just need to make sure the wallpaper is simple enough to not distract from the icons and not too bright.
mescalineeyes
Banned
they are on a seperate keyboard. they can be found with the other international keyboards.
It's not quite what you want, but you can get most of that exact same information with a simple swipe down from the top of the screen to show notification center. There's a weather and stocks widget, can get a preview of your recent emails, text messages, see calendar stuff, etc..
I just wish they would let us choose the background graphic/pattern for the notifications pulldown.
These icons are from the MIUI theme "msi.plus". I convert it to Go Theme and made half of the icons myself. The Youtube app is new I haven't modded the icon yet.
krypt0nian
Banned
No dear god no.
Every time someone posts an "I wish I'd looked like this" I lose my lunch. So much fucking ugly.
Leave it be, and if you want something else, go buy something else.
*vomit*
Every time someone posts an "I wish I'd looked like this" I lose my lunch. So much fucking ugly.
Leave it be, and if you want something else, go buy something else.
*vomit*
thesoapster
Member
'Cause they look so different amirite lolol
Interface change is definitely why I went to Android. ICS is very nice to use.
so on the one hand, you say they shouldn't do a total revamp, yet on the other hand, you Jailbreak and change notification center to add direct access to convenient things - kind of how some of us are suggesting could be done in the official iOS with widgets or whatever?
SolsticeZero
Banned
I think a lot of people who don't like things about the Android UI are failing to realize that you can install a completely different home launcher that will custom tailor it to what you want (for example: ADW EX, Go Launcher, or SPB Shell 3D)
That's the beauty of Android devices. Customization. Don't like the icons not having backgrounds? ADW EX can do that. Like just having pages of icons with no app drawer? MIUI launcher does that. And, just for example, here's my home screen using the CM9 Trebuchet Launcher on my Skyrocket (quoted for size):
That's the beauty of Android devices. Customization. Don't like the icons not having backgrounds? ADW EX can do that. Like just having pages of icons with no app drawer? MIUI launcher does that. And, just for example, here's my home screen using the CM9 Trebuchet Launcher on my Skyrocket (quoted for size):
Technosteve
Banned
I wishes the iPad OS was more geared towards multitasking or more sophisticated then what it is now. But none that multitasking card shit cause that shit don't work.
LyleLanley
Banned
I just found it funny that he used an image of the original jailbroken iPhone OS.
ShinNL
Member
I'll just join the screenshot sharing part of the discussion.
The numbers under the weather tells me how much data and free minutes I have left. Pretty handy.
TrackID is like Shazam and will instantly try to identify a song after pressing on the widget.
I really like widgets.
For Android people: almost every amazing clock you see is UCCW.
The numbers under the weather tells me how much data and free minutes I have left. Pretty handy.
TrackID is like Shazam and will instantly try to identify a song after pressing on the widget.
I really like widgets.
For Android people: almost every amazing clock you see is UCCW.
My home screen/iOS looks like a total revamp to you? I never said they shouldn't do widgets or live icons or whatever. All I said is they shouldn't ditch the gridded app icons as it's become too accustomed.
What I think they could do is turn the lock screen into spotlight, as in you swipe right to unlock and the lock screen literally slides away to left as if it were a page. You could throw NC style widgets like weather/stocks and other ones they implement onto the lock screen as well in some capacity. Notification center would be for notifications purely. But the premise of a grid of apps should (and will) remain imo.
None taken my man, it takes all sorts. I just like my phone to be as clean as possible, none of this widget nonsense or having the date written out 3 times in different ways.
The application is finished and ready to be deployed, they're just trying to secure their money bags by kick starting it since android users are too cheap to pay for it.
outunderthestars
Banned
I switched from Android about two years ago, and the big issue was that nobody was willing to pay for apps. Sad to hear that it is still a problem.
Speaking of customizability though, it keeps being brought up as such a pro in terms of Android, which is fair, but what's stopping someone from doing the same on iOS?
Jailbreaking is super easy and can grant crazy levels of customizability if that's your thing. Just doesn't seem like enough to sway someone to use Android over iOS imo.
Jailbreaking is super easy and can grant crazy levels of customizability if that's your thing. Just doesn't seem like enough to sway someone to use Android over iOS imo.
SolsticeZero
Banned
It might be based on the difficulty to do it. Android is completely open sourced, so you can do anything if you have the right programming skills. iOS on the other hand is completely closed source, so you can only do so much without having the source code.
LyleLanley
Banned
It's pretty easy to jailbreak an iPhone and install any number of skins/extensions/etc.
RobotChant
Member
if those icons weren't so big and blocky you'd be able to see more of your wallaper. And that sunflower is always staring at you, looking like its reaching out for a hug.
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