Windows 8 designers are blind.


Recommended Posts

One of the problems with Microsoft is the lack of UI consistency across product teams. Take a look at the following screenshot:

capture.png

Four MS programs, four ever so slightly different UIs. How hard can it be to design a consistent HIG for Windows and all first-party applications, and force the various units within Microsoft to adhere to it?

Superlike it!! This point needs to get across. Microsoft has been just too careless with respect to the implementation of Metro across platforms or software.... They are just sleeping over the laurels which the Metro UI received when first introduced when they should be focusing on making it more refined and flexible for various implementations....

One of the problems with Microsoft is the lack of UI consistency across product teams. Take a look at the following screenshot:

Four MS programs, four ever so slightly different UIs. How hard can it be to design a consistent HIG for Windows and all first-party applications, and force the various units within Microsoft to adhere to it?

This.

I can ignore the little pixel details that are wrong, but I can't ignore almost different UI designs across windows. I think someone spotted a windows 3.11 icon in control panel somewhere in windows 8. Although a single icon isn't going to make a massive difference to the OS as a whole, they could have easily paid a 3rd party, or had an extra internal team working on new icons.

;)

Why do you have aliased curved corners? :|

One of the problems with Microsoft is the lack of UI consistency across product teams. Take a look at the following screenshot:

capture.png

Four MS programs, four ever so slightly different UIs. How hard can it be to design a consistent HIG for Windows and all first-party applications, and force the various units within Microsoft to adhere to it?

I couldn't agree with you more.

It was a huge issue back in Windows Vista, then in Windows 7 they partially fixed it. Now even though it's not as bad as it used to be, there's still room for improvement.

They should look at what Apple has done with Leopard and learn from it. I've never used an Apple product but for what I know at least under this aspect they unarguably excel.

  • Like 2

Its not that they blind but they have really given up trying to fix windows desktop for consistency. If you want consistency then the Metro apps are for you.

Lets not pretend they ever put any serious effort into it to begin with.

Microsoft seems to not care about design. The OP images show some of the "bugs" not fixed in the RTM, but there are more.

For example, command links buttons are still rounded and with gradients; also command links arrows are still the aero ones. In the main control panel window, where it says "View by", if you hover over "Category" the selection button still has rounded corners and a grey gradient (just like in 7). Also in the control panel, the detail pane in some windows (like the program uninstaller) still has the same baby blue gradient as 7. It doesn't stop there though. In IE10 desktop, the manage add-ons window still has a blue gradient near the bottom. Also when you type something in the URL bar and move the keyboard arrow key down, the links hover is still rounded and with a gradient (just like in 7). There are probably more inconsistencies.

When it comes to refined and polished UIs, in my opinion Apple is the winner. I think most of these issues can be fixed with an update, as many just require and edit of the msstyle file, but knowing Microsoft I doubt they even care.

Forgot to mention: the minimize, maximize and close buttons still have the XP-era yellow tooltip.

  • Like 3

When it comes to refined and polished UIs, in my opinion Apple is the winner. I think most of these issues can be fixed with an update, as many just require and edit of the msstyle file, but knowing Microsoft I doubt they even care.

I agree Apple is good at polish, but have they ever changed the majority of the design? Too me Mac still looks like something from the 90's :/

I agree Apple is good at polish, but have they ever changed the majority of the design? Too me Mac still looks like something from the 90's :/

Quite a few interface elements in Windows are still actually from the 90s. :p

  • Like 2

Apple aren't the masters of UI design, in fact I find the design of OSX to be obnoxious and overly gaudy. Windows 8 for me goes the other way and is just bland and boring. I thought they had a reasonable compromise with Windows 7.

  • Like 2

I agree Apple is good at polish, but have they ever changed the majority of the design? Too me Mac still looks like something from the 90's :/

Well Apple makes small UI changes with each OS release. While OS X is not perfect either, it is more polished and consistent than Windows (whether some people like the OS X theme or not is another matter). Windows 8 brings huge changes to the whole UI, true, but that is no excuse to leave some things incomplete. I mean they've been working on 8 for approximately 3 years (or more) so they've had more than enough time to polish everything.

Too me Mac still looks like something from the 90's :/

In some ways, OS X is indeed starting to look like Platinum again. :rofl: And of course some of the NextStep UI influences are still there as well. When Aqua, in 2000, was first introduced though it was pretty different from anything that came before it. It's just been toned down a lot over time. More evolution than revolution. And of course nowadays you have the iOS influences, whatever you may think of that...

Well Apple makes small UI changes with each OS release. While OS X is not perfect either, it is more polished and consistent than Windows (whether some people like the OS X theme or not is another matter). Windows 8 brings huge changes to the whole UI, true, but that is no excuse to leave some things incomplete. I mean they've been working on 8 for approximately 3 years (or more) so they've had more than enough time to polish everything.

It's about priorities. Why spend money on a skin, when you have a completely new UI to work on. Also there are numerous other things that would have higher priorities. I see why someone would notice it, but it really is not an issue at all.

Quite a few interface elements in Windows are still actually from the 90s. :p

That is true, but that is legacy icons. I was thinking about icons and themes. Looks so quite dated. But that is just my opinion.

The sad part about that is that it basically proves the people right that claim the Desktop's been written off. :/

True. Microsoft may deny it, but maybe they think it's not worth putting much effort into the desktop when it will probably disappear in future Windows releases.

I've got a feeling Microsoft rushed the new .msstyles when people using the release preview complained that the desktop wasn't consistent with the Metro UI, which is why there's still W7/8RP Aero elements left in the RTM.

Hopefully they'll update the theme by the time the retail comes out, though I'm not holding my breath on that.

The sad part about that is that it basically proves the people right that claim the Desktop's been written off. :/

No it doesn't. Those issues in OP are minor and will have no impact at all. Wasted resources. I wouldn't want to have used time on a skin, instead of system performance/stability.
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • I don't hate the new menus, I am not a fan of the lack of features and how they went live when they clearly are not complete. The menu itself presents much better than the previous - but what's lacking (IMO) is: 1) Any kind of automated manipulation such as: "this goes on the new menu because you use this feature more often on this filetype" "this is rarely used and will fall back to the old menu" 2) Any kind of user manipulation such as: "a UI to add/remove/order items to the new menu"
    • The biggest issue in this version of Win 11 context menu, from usability standpoint, is the movable row with basic commands. Think of a car analogy...if You turn the week left the infotainment screen will move right and vice versa. With how it works now Microsoft made something forbidden in designing in any UI, software or hardware. I can't grasp who were the morons within Microsoft suggesting it was a good idea and gave it a green light.
    • LibreOffice 26.2.4 by Razvan Serea LibreOffice is the free power-packed Open Source personal productivity suite for Windows, Macintosh and Linux, that gives you six feature-rich applications for all your document production and data processing needs: Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, Math and Base. Support and documentation is free from our large, dedicated community of users, contributors and developers. You, too, can also get involved! Choosing Between LibreOffice Still and LibreOffice Fresh: LibreOffice Still is a good choice if you value stability, a longer support cycle, and a more conservative approach to software updates. It's suitable for businesses and organizations where reliability and compatibility are crucial. LibreOffice Fresh is ideal if you're an enthusiast or an early adopter who wants to stay on the cutting edge of LibreOffice development and is willing to accept more frequent updates and occasional minor issues. Features: Writer is the word processor inside LibreOffice. Use it for everything, from dashing off a quick letter to producing an entire book with tables of contents, embedded illustrations, bibliographies and diagrams. The while-you-type auto-completion, auto-formatting and automatic spelling checking make difficult tasks easy (but are easy to disable if you prefer). Writer is powerful enough to tackle desktop publishing tasks such as creating multi-column newsletters and brochures. The only limit is your imagination. Calc tames your numbers and helps with difficult decisions when you're weighing the alternatives. Analyze your data with Calc and then use it to present your final output. Charts and analysis tools help bring transparency to your conclusions. A fully-integrated help system makes easier work of entering complex formulas. Add data from external databases such as SQL or Oracle, then sort and filter them to produce statistical analyses. Use the graphing functions to display large number of 2D and 3D graphics from 13 categories, including line, area, bar, pie, X-Y, and net - with the dozens of variations available, you're sure to find one that suits your project. Impress is the fastest and easiest way to create effective multimedia presentations. Stunning animation and sensational special effects help you convince your audience. Create presentations that look even more professional than the standard presentations you commonly see at work. Get your collegues' and bosses' attention by creating something a little bit different. Draw lets you build diagrams and sketches from scratch. A picture is worth a thousand words, so why not try something simple with box and line diagrams? Or else go further and easily build dynamic 3D illustrations and special effects. It's as simple or as powerful as you want it to be. Base is the database front-end of the LibreOffice suite. With Base, you can seamlessly integrate into your existing database structures. Based on imported and linked tables and queries from MySQL, PostgreSQL or Microsoft Access and many other data sources, you can build powerful databases containing forms, reports, views and queries. Full integration is possible with the in-built HSQL database. Math is a simple equation editor that lets you lay-out and display your mathematical, chemical, electrical or scientific equations quickly in standard written notation. Even the most-complex calculations can be understandable when displayed correctly. E=mc2. LibreOffice also comes configured with a PDF file creator, meaning you can distribute documents that you're sure can be opened and read by users of almost any computing device or operating system. LibreOffice also comes configured with a PDF file creator, meaning you can distribute documents that you're sure can be opened and read by users of almost any computing device or operating system. Download: LibreOffice 64-bit | LibreOffice 32-bit ~300.0 MB (Open Source) View: LibreOffice Website | Screenshot | Release Notes Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi system 2-pack is 27% off by Ivan Jenic The Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi system is currently $239.99 on Amazon for the 2-pack, down from $329.99. That's 27% off and $90 saved for a solid Wi-Fi solution that covers your entire home (purchase link down below). The 2-pack covers up to 4,000 square feet (372 square meters) and supports 100+ connected devices, which handles the vast majority of home setups without breaking a sweat. Wi-Fi 6E brings access to the 6 GHz band for lower latency across the network, and the 2.5 Gb Ethernet port supports gigabit+ internet plans if your ISP offers them. eero's TrueMesh technology handles traffic routing automatically, so you're not manually managing which devices connect to which node. You set up the entire thing through the eero app, and the entire process takes a few minutes. The system also receives automatic security updates in the background, so once you set it up, you don't have to worry about compatibility issues. If you're covering a larger home or want more nodes, the 3-pack is $329.99 and the 4-pack is $479.98, both at similar discount levels. It's worth mentioning that a newer model exists, which is likely the reason for the discount, but the Pro 6E is still perfectly capable hardware for most homes. Amazon eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi system 2-pack - $239.99 | 27% off on Amazon This Amazon deal is US-specific and not available in other regions unless specified. This is a first-party seller link (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you also purchase from a first-party seller link only. If you don't like it or want to look at more options, check out the previous deals that we have covered, OR you can also visit Amazon US deals page. Get Prime (SNAP), Prime Video, Audible Plus or Kindle / Music Unlimited. Free for 30 days. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      I2D earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Dr Jared Dental Studio earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      RG INVESTMENT GROUP earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Very Popular
      The Norwegian Drone Pilot earned a badge
      Very Popular
    • Very Popular
      s0nic69 earned a badge
      Very Popular
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      484
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      258
    3. 3
      Skyfrog
      84
    4. 4
      FloatingFatMan
      64
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      63
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!