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Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

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Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#61

Post by v0cab »

joering2 wrote: post #10
Shank wrote: post #4

That's really a great re-design concept. It looks really good without lacking functionality--I'd love to use that over Metro any day (especially after having used it in Windows 8 developer preview).

its interesting to see how we going back to basics. from windows 3.11 where there was like 256 colors through windows 95/XP more blurry, shadows, rounded stuff, through new windows design that just look "cleaner" and uses better matched color palette, but not much different from initials.

I've said for several years that Windows should abandon the 3D-style UI elements, and stop overwhelming users with color.

Imagine if you went to a website, and all the UI elements were pseudo-3D. It would look a mess.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#62

Post by shriphani »

Raphael wrote: post #36
pilsetnieks wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not killed, it's called Windows Phone 7 now.

There was a program called Zune for Windows desktop which was like Windows Media Player but with a radical UI.

There still is. It is the default way to sync Zune HDs and WP7 devices.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#63

Post by Quiark »

sek wrote: post #6

Is there any good resource to learn how to use colors in design, the stuff i make always looks like crap because i only take standard ones. I envy this guy for this ability, incredible good taste in unobtrusive colors.

I also suck at design, so I always find a palette I like on colourlovers.com and it works good.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#64

Post by d5tryr »

sek wrote: post #6

Is there any good resource to learn how to use colors in design, the stuff i make always looks like crap because i only take standard ones. I envy this guy for this ability, incredible good taste in unobtrusive colors.

Johannes Itten, of the Bauhaus, is the go to guy for colour theory, both these books are fantastic:

The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective Rationale of Color

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Color-Subjective-Experience-Object...

The Elements of Color: A Treatise on the Color System of Johannes Itten Based on His Book the Art of Color

http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Color-Treatise-System-Johanne...

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#67

Post by rbanffy »

pbreit wrote: post #53

Since this will never make its way onto Windows, maybe some Linux distro or UI manager could pick it up? Is this more than the typical skinning/theming capabilities can support? I also always wished the BeOS UI was more available now than just the Haiku project.

Oh no... I hate the small tabs on top of Windows. By making them variable size, you always had to hunt the functions on the right part of the tab.

But I agree it was beautiful. Back then I made a BeOS theme for my Windows NT 4 box.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#68

Post by rbanffy »

tikhonj wrote: post #20
kamechan wrote: post #3

reminds me of the current google design paradigms. wish the creator would make this into a gnome3 theme (and possibly a dark version)? i would totally use it.

Yeah, it would be really nice to see some Linux themes inspired more by the core ideas of Metro and less by Apple's software design (which I find lacking). Also, I can't help thinking that this sort of design is very good for tiling window managers :).

I'm not sure it would work well with tiling windows. Tiled UIs must adapt to very different window sizes and, probably, switch layouts accordingly.

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#69

Post by rbanffy »

lbotos wrote: post #33
tikhonj wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it would be really nice to see some Linux themes inspired more by the core ideas of Metro and less by Apple's software design (which I find lacking). Also, I can't help thinking that this sort of design is very good for tiling window managers :).

How hard is it to theme "linux"(KDE/GNOME/ETC)? I've never done it as I don't use the Linux Desktop (I need Photoshop) but I've always wanted to try and help improve the linux desktop experience. Is anyone working on a theme actively or know someone to put me in touch with?

You can also check the GTK theming tutorial (for Gnome 2 and 3):

http://live.gnome.org/GnomeArt/Tutorials/GtkThemes

or get in touch with the design team at Canonical:

http://design.canonical.com/

Re: Interesting Windows Desktop UI Concept

#70

Post by DrStalker »

kellishaver wrote: post #51
robszumski wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love visual design exercises like this, but it's one thing to throw it out there and a completely separate (10000x harder) feat to actually have this implemented. If you usability test this interface, it's going to fail all over the place. Remember, Windows is probably the only piece of software with EVERY SINGLE segment of users. http://cdn.robszumski.com/share/file-copy.png The file copy window that's tacked on t…

Usability issues aside, the UI is so flat and, in places, so low-contrast, there's a large segment of the population that wouldn't be able to see it, let alone use it.

That won't be a major problem provided there is an easy way to change to e theme that gives better contrast/readability.

They don't need the default UI to acceptably cover 100% of their market if it can do a better job for 95% of people with a switch that does a better job for the other 5%.

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