33 replies to this topic 2 votes

[warwagon]

Have you ever noticed how every new major version of a piece of software always has to have a new redesigned UI (Excluding Chrome and Firefox). For example It seems like every new update to Norton / Norton Internet security always has a new redesigned UI. What was wrong with the old UI? Although hit looks like Norton did damn good up until version 2008 then they started to change / redesign the UI every new version. Or is it software venders way of justifying the new upgrade?

Norton 2000

Norton 2001

Norton 2002

Norton 2003

Norton 2004

Norton 2005

Norton 2006

Norton 2007

Norton 2008

Norton 2009

Norton 2010

Norton 2011

Norton 2012

Norton 2013

[Hardcore Til I Die]

To make it look new.

Why waste time on implementing new features when you can just redesign it

[typu]

if you lack content just make it look new...

[Shane Nokes]

It's often to help customers differentiate between versions. A lot of what you're looking at for Norton is just simple graphics changes.

They just change the art assets and call it done. Note...I'm referring to the aesthetics, not the under the hood changes.

[AJerman]

Ugh, Norton.

[+Jdawg683]

new version, new UI ::shrug::

keeps people thinking that there's something better about it. if you have an appealing UI then people think they need it.

[warwagon]

Shane Nokes, on 30 November 2012 - 20:28, said:

It's often to help customers differentiate between versions. A lot of what you're looking at for Norton is just simple graphics changes.

They just change the art assets and call it done. Note...I'm referring to the aesthetics, not the under the hood changes.

Speaking of which, that's another thing. Norton on their boxes call it Norton 2012, Norton 2013 but when you open the program up and go under "about" to see which version they are using there is never any mention of 2013 or 2010 just version numbers like version 18.0 or 19.0. Sure you could look at the copyright date to get close, but still .. it annoys me!

[Aergan]

Looks like 2012 was a very bad year.

[Shane Nokes]

warwagon, on 30 November 2012 - 20:33, said:

Speaking of which, that's another thing. Norton on their boxes call it Norton 2012, Norton 2013 but when you open the program up and go under "about" to see which version they are using there is never any mention of 2013 or 2010 just version numbers like version 18.0 or 19.0. Sure you could look at the copyright date to get close, but still .. it annoys me!

That's not really any different from Windows 8 really being NT 6.2 or Windows Phone 7.5 actually being version 7.1.x, or Office 2013 being version 15.

Branded names and actual version numbers often aren't in alignment with each other.

[warwagon]

Shane Nokes, on 30 November 2012 - 20:36, said:

That's not really any different from Windows 8 really being NT 6.2 or Windows Phone 7.5 actually being version 7.1.x, or Office 2013 being version 15.

Branded names and actual version numbers often aren't in alignment with each other.

In windows you just go into the system proprieties and it will tell you which version. It will say "Windows 8 or Windows 7. It won't just say NT 6.1 or NT 6.2

[Nothing Here]

warwagon, on 30 November 2012 - 20:20, said:

Have you ever noticed how every new major version of a piece of software always has to have a new redesigned UI (Excluding Chrome and Firefox). For example It seems like every new update to Norton / Norton Internet security always has a new redesigned UI. What was wrong with the old UI? Or is it software venders way of justifying the new upgrade?


~snipped~

You forgot a few. One being this:

Attached Images

• 

[Shane Nokes]

warwagon, on 30 November 2012 - 20:38, said:

In windows you just go into the system proprieties and it will tell you which version. It will say "Windows 8 or Windows 7. It won't just say NT 6.1 or NT 6.2

Ah I see what you're saying there. In that case doesn't the entry on the start menu/start screen normally list the Branded name with the year on it?

[Guth]

They do that to sell them.
Everyone wants the new sexy, good looking product.
Look at iPhones! Ooooh, its "new" (ie. shiny) must have it. Its the same with software.
Also, to move with the times, like the new version made to look metro-like.

[DudeBro]

Well if UI's didn't change then web browsers would still look like netscape navigator and websites would still look like geocities. Interfaces sometimes do improve each version and at least I notice they try to blend better with the latest OS version. I notice newer apps UI's are trying to look modernui/metro so it looks nice on windows 8. Webdesign also seem to influence things. When web2.0 came around, gradients and rounded corners seemed to be a thing for awhile.

[ThunderBuddy]

I get bored looking at the same UI all the time, as long as it's functional and doesn't detract from the product then I really look forward to new UI's.