Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Feel UX: If Apple Won't Innovate The User Experience, Android Designers Will

forbes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 45 posts

Re: Feel UX: If Apple Won't Innovate The User Experience, Android Designers Will

#3

Post by ryguytilidie »

What an awful, misleading title.

A) Apple is innovating the user experience. The author even specifically says that Apple is far ahead in the game, but doesn't seem to acknowledge that this is precisely because of past innovation. B) It's not even necessarily Apple who have to innovate. There are tons of developers writing libraries for iOS that make UX and user experiences better. Tons of developers meaning more developers than exist for Android. C) To claim that Android designers are innovating is just such a weak claim. Most Android apps I see are either ports of legit iPhone apps or really awful designs, note that I specifically mention the design.

Re: Feel UX: If Apple Won't Innovate The User Experience, Android Designers Will

#4

Post by shadesandcolour »

For all of the innovation that Android claims to have going for it, is this Feel UX really the best that you can do? Honestly this is barely changed from the default android UI. You repackaged the widgets so they're on their own page which you could already do. You added a shortcut screen which can hold both widgets and apps and contacts which is the same as any regular Android screen and you put the apps on one page like the launcher. Changing the way the lock screen looks with swiping is cool but that's not all that special. That's a jailbreak tweak away from being an iPhone.

I've got no problem with Android but when you claim to be innovating over another platform when you aren't, that bugs me.

Re: Feel UX: If Apple Won't Innovate The User Experience, Android Designers Will

#6

Post by tysonjennings »

ryguytilidie wrote: post #3

What an awful, misleading title. A) Apple is innovating the user experience. The author even specifically says that Apple is far ahead in the game, but doesn't seem to acknowledge that this is precisely because of past innovation. B) It's not even necessarily Apple who have to innovate. There are tons of developers writing libraries for iOS that make UX and user experiences better. Tons of developers meaning more dev…

It may have been true at one time that most Android apps were just ugly ports of iphone apps but in my experience that is no longer the case. Devs are taking the platform seriously and it its really coming into its own. Iphone apps on the other hand are starting to look like just mashups of each other all with the same generic looking animations and U X elements. New apps on my Xoom tend to be exciting and original. My iPad? More of the same.

Re: Feel UX: If Apple Won't Innovate The User Experience, Android Designers Will

#7

Post by tysonjennings »

shadesandcolour wrote: post #4

For all of the innovation that Android claims to have going for it, is this Feel UX really the best that you can do? Honestly this is barely changed from the default android UI. You repackaged the widgets so they're on their own page which you could already do. You added a shortcut screen which can hold both widgets and apps and contacts which is the same as any regular Android screen and you put the apps on one page…

I don't think 'Android' is claiming anything. There was a story on here a few days ago about the online religious battles between the various tech factions, mobile in particular. It was kind of pathetic. When you start anthropomorphizing an electronic gizmo, maybe its time to go outside and get some fresh air. Just a thought.

Re: Feel UX: If Apple Won't Innovate The User Experience, Android Designers Will

#8

Post by batista »

tysonjennings wrote: post #6
ryguytilidie wrote: post #3

What an awful, misleading title. A) Apple is innovating the user experience. The author even specifically says that Apple is far ahead in the game, but doesn't seem to acknowledge that this is precisely because of past innovation. B) It's not even necessarily Apple who have to innovate. There are tons of developers writing libraries for iOS that make UX and user experiences better. Tons of developers meaning more dev…

It may have been true at one time that most Android apps were just ugly ports of iphone apps but in my experience that is no longer the case. Devs are taking the platform seriously and it its really coming into its own. Iphone apps on the other hand are starting to look like just mashups of each other all with the same generic looking animations and U X elements. New apps on my Xoom tend to be exciting and original.…

>Iphone apps on the other hand are starting to look like just mashups of each other all with the same generic looking animations and U X elements.

Yes, if you do that you are "just mashups of each other", if you don't you are "inconsistent".

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

>New apps on my Xoom tend to be exciting and original. My iPad? More of the same.

That's just in the superficial sense --looking different etc. Not in any new cool interaction models.

The way Cocoa Touch works though, means that when Apple will redesign the UI elements (the "look" part), all the "generic" apps will get the new look.

In ad-hoc UI Android, not so much.

Re: Feel UX: If Apple Won't Innovate The User Experience, Android Designers Will

#9

Post by cooldeal »

tysonjennings wrote: post #6
ryguytilidie wrote: post #3

What an awful, misleading title. A) Apple is innovating the user experience. The author even specifically says that Apple is far ahead in the game, but doesn't seem to acknowledge that this is precisely because of past innovation. B) It's not even necessarily Apple who have to innovate. There are tons of developers writing libraries for iOS that make UX and user experiences better. Tons of developers meaning more dev…

It may have been true at one time that most Android apps were just ugly ports of iphone apps but in my experience that is no longer the case. Devs are taking the platform seriously and it its really coming into its own. Iphone apps on the other hand are starting to look like just mashups of each other all with the same generic looking animations and U X elements. New apps on my Xoom tend to be exciting and original.…

>New apps on my Xoom tend to be exciting and original. My iPad? More of the same.

Can you name a few so that I can try them on my tablet? Also would be helpful if you can point me to a place where the good and new tablet apps are showcased(not just the Play store's Tablet picks) since most apps seem to be phone apps that look terrible on a tablet.

Post reply on HN