Mobile Phone GUIs
Discussion
Loooong before the iPhone, HTC were making phones that did everything, with a front end that makes the iPhone appear stone age
HTC have been making phones for a very long time. Phones branded Palm, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and many others are designed and built by HTC. The GUI is whatever the customer spec's.
HTC have been making phones for a very long time. Phones branded Palm, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and many others are designed and built by HTC. The GUI is whatever the customer spec's.
Mmm, someone doesn't like the iPhone then....
The reason why lots of manufacturers are copying it, is because it actually works really well. Touchscreen phone have been around for years but no one had actually cracked the interface. In fact, most of the previous attempts had bee dismal failures, though LG was getting close. Apple spent a couple of years getting it right. Getting the technology, performance and usability aspects correct meant that they were regarded as the leaders from day one of the release. Unfortunately, everyone else has been playing catch-up ever since. Only HTC have been brave enough to spend time and effort to try and do the same, but with their own particular twist. And from what I understand, the recent HTC Sense reviews have been VERY positive.
But, in the case of people like Microsoft, its pretty obvious how you can get things wrong. The Windows Mobile interface is cludgy, old, awkward and even in its most recent revision (6.5) its not much better. Most manufactures choosing to re-skin it so that users dont have to drop to using the native interface! Why is everyone copying the iPhone? Because, bar HTC, everyone else has fundamentally failed to do it correctly. Thank god someone got it right, but fingers crossed someone else does soon.....
The reason why lots of manufacturers are copying it, is because it actually works really well. Touchscreen phone have been around for years but no one had actually cracked the interface. In fact, most of the previous attempts had bee dismal failures, though LG was getting close. Apple spent a couple of years getting it right. Getting the technology, performance and usability aspects correct meant that they were regarded as the leaders from day one of the release. Unfortunately, everyone else has been playing catch-up ever since. Only HTC have been brave enough to spend time and effort to try and do the same, but with their own particular twist. And from what I understand, the recent HTC Sense reviews have been VERY positive.
But, in the case of people like Microsoft, its pretty obvious how you can get things wrong. The Windows Mobile interface is cludgy, old, awkward and even in its most recent revision (6.5) its not much better. Most manufactures choosing to re-skin it so that users dont have to drop to using the native interface! Why is everyone copying the iPhone? Because, bar HTC, everyone else has fundamentally failed to do it correctly. Thank god someone got it right, but fingers crossed someone else does soon.....
Silent1 said:
off_again said:
Mmm, someone doesn't like the iPhone then....
not at all, I have an iPhone 3G!!Plotloss said:
t84 said:
Johnniem said:
I am lead to believe that HTC make the internal gubbins for the iphone anyway.
Is this true?Its got various components in it but who handles the final assembly is shrouded in secrecy.
FoxConn is one of the most often quoted contenders.
Silent1 said:
It seems since the Jesus phone came out everyone is copying it, down to being al
ost a chinese knock off, do apple have no recourse about this or did they steal it from someone else.
For a prime example look at the HTC hero it's a blatant copy
I'm not sure the HTC Hero is a blatant copy.ost a chinese knock off, do apple have no recourse about this or did they steal it from someone else.
For a prime example look at the HTC hero it's a blatant copy
Apart from the way that you zoom in and out, and the fact that they are both touch screen, where have HTC copied the iPhone?
As others have said, HTC have always made good user interfaces. Unfortunately, until very recently, you always had to drop back into old school WinMo for some tasks which rather ruined it.
Some of the user interface niceties that you see now couldn't have been done with touch screens of old because they were resistive screens, as opposed to capacitive, which means that they could only register one touch at a time. We've probably got the iphone to thank for the wider introduction of capacitive screens.
The thing about copying is that it always goes on. If you think the iphone was completely originally then you've fallen for the (very effective) marketing. Companies will always copy bits and pieces from each other, and if the rumour mill is to be believed then Apple will be copying some of the HTC Sense stuff in the next iphone.
Shuvi said:
Loooong before the iPhone, HTC were making phones that did everything, with a front end that makes the iPhone appear stone age
HTC have been making phones for a very long time. Phones branded Palm, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and many others are designed and built by HTC. The GUI is whatever the customer spec's.
HTC make phones for Nokia and all that? You sure? I know that HTC were making devices for the telcos, and have typically just been WM or Android devices.HTC have been making phones for a very long time. Phones branded Palm, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and many others are designed and built by HTC. The GUI is whatever the customer spec's.
However to say that HTC were making phones with a front end that makes the iPhone appear stone age is just plain wrong.
The TouchFlo interface was kinda nice, but it was a kludge on top of an abomination that is the WM interface. Although in the case of WM "interface" is the wrong word. An interface is normally something thats been designed. The WM front end was just bashed together by a bunch of muppets aping the look and feel of Windows 95 without any thoughts as to it being suitable for a mobile.
In my experience a lot of people buy phones more as fashion/status icons then they do as devices and this is where alot of people trying to compete with the iPhone are getting it wrong. They need to come up with something that makes the phone "cool" in eyes of the consumer rather than making knock offs.
The Moto Razr V3 is a perfect example, as a phone it was distinctly average, and using the UI was like sticking white hot pins in your scrotum but the phone was very "cool" and therefore sold millions.
The Moto Razr V3 is a perfect example, as a phone it was distinctly average, and using the UI was like sticking white hot pins in your scrotum but the phone was very "cool" and therefore sold millions.
clonmult said:
Shuvi said:
Loooong before the iPhone, HTC were making phones that did everything, with a front end that makes the iPhone appear stone age
HTC have been making phones for a very long time. Phones branded Palm, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and many others are designed and built by HTC. The GUI is whatever the customer spec's.
HTC make phones for Nokia and all that? You sure? I know that HTC were making devices for the telcos, and have typically just been WM or Android devices.HTC have been making phones for a very long time. Phones branded Palm, Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and many others are designed and built by HTC. The GUI is whatever the customer spec's.
However to say that HTC were making phones with a front end that makes the iPhone appear stone age is just plain wrong.
The TouchFlo interface was kinda nice, but it was a kludge on top of an abomination that is the WM interface. Although in the case of WM "interface" is the wrong word. An interface is normally something thats been designed. The WM front end was just bashed together by a bunch of muppets aping the look and feel of Windows 95 without any thoughts as to it being suitable for a mobile.
Meh. Can't say I see a massive difference in the UI of my post iPhone Xperia to my pre-iPhone W950. One has a keypad, the other doesn't. The rest (the SE part anyway) is pretty damned similar.
So yeah, meh. What has the iPhone done for UI's? In my honest opinion?
It's made them shinier. Oh good oh.
So yeah, meh. What has the iPhone done for UI's? In my honest opinion?
It's made them shinier. Oh good oh.
KaraK said:
In my experience a lot of people buy phones more as fashion/status icons then they do as devices and this is where alot of people trying to compete with the iPhone are getting it wrong. They need to come up with something that makes the phone "cool" in eyes of the consumer rather than making knock offs.
The Moto Razr V3 is a perfect example, as a phone it was distinctly average, and using the UI was like sticking white hot pins in your scrotum but the phone was very "cool" and therefore sold millions.
Razr is a damn cool phone, my spare phone to my iPhone is a Razr.. fashion victim?The Moto Razr V3 is a perfect example, as a phone it was distinctly average, and using the UI was like sticking white hot pins in your scrotum but the phone was very "cool" and therefore sold millions.
Shuvi said:
The Nokia E63 is an HTC phone, also sold as a Blackberry with mild styling alterations, Sony Xperia is an HTC phone, as are numerous Palms... Anyway, the comment about the front end. Yes Apple's, 'Just works'. But don't imagine they hadn't looked at what others had done with WM for inspiration. Apple aren't innovators, just great at marketing.
Are you saying that the E63 is also sold as a Blackberry?I am also not sure about you saying that the E63 is a HTC phone. If they are the manufacturer of the phone then fine, but its NOT a HTC phone. That would be like saying that the Porsche Boxster isn't a Porsche at all and in fact its a Valmet.
As for Apple copying what everyone else did - of course they did. But they happened to do everything right. WM was utterly dire. Clever, but rubbish. Microsoft had the opportunity of a lifetime (and are paying the price now). They had the option of doing everything, office documents, browser, touchscreen. Unfortunately they screwed it up badly and left everyone with something that just ran slowly and eventually stopped after a while. Some manufacturers (HTC being one) tried their best to integrate an operational front end, but get past the basic functions and you were back to the rubbish interface that is Microsoft again. Some coders and hackers tried the best with re-skins and new interfaces for 80% of the interfaces for WM - but again, it was only for the major functions. Anything else was back to WM again, and they typically cost money to use. Nice looking and full of promise, but the writing was on the wall.
HTC have subsequently admitted that their future is in Android phones. The fact that Microsoft restricts what they can do means they need to build their brand on a platform that allows innovation and modification. That is why HTC has developed Sense and why its the future for them. HTC will continue to launch new WM mobiles, but they will sell in tiny numbers in comparison to Android. With Android they can control their own destiny, not be bound to the likes of WM 6.5 (or 7 / 8 when its released). Look at all of the manufacturers who backed WM? Where are they now? The Smartphone market has moved on and it even looks like Nokia missed the boat too. Who would have thought?
Plotloss said:
t84 said:
Johnniem said:
I am lead to believe that HTC make the internal gubbins for the iphone anyway.
Is this true?Its got various components in it but who handles the final assembly is shrouded in secrecy.
FoxConn is one of the most often quoted contenders.
KaraK said:
In my experience a lot of people buy phones more as fashion/status icons then they do as devices and this is where alot of people trying to compete with the iPhone are getting it wrong. They need to come up with something that makes the phone "cool" in eyes of the consumer rather than making knock offs.
The Moto Razr V3 is a perfect example, as a phone it was distinctly average, and using the UI was like sticking white hot pins in your scrotum but the phone was very "cool" and therefore sold millions.
Sorry but as a phone the razr v3 is a pile of sThe Moto Razr V3 is a perfect example, as a phone it was distinctly average, and using the UI was like sticking white hot pins in your scrotum but the phone was very "cool" and therefore sold millions.
t. Dreadful handset with a really crap internal design that breaks (or did break) every single one of Motorola's design rules.However what you say is correct. This is one of the main reasons for Motorola's downfall from No.2 in the market. Because they got a hit with the style of the Razr they tried to recapture the success in every handset they produced. A lot of very very good handsets got canned within Moto as they only wanted products to be iconic.
Apple have been very very lucky with the jesus phone. good bit of kit though
Edited by tim2100 on Tuesday 8th December 23:14
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