I haven't forgotten my pledge to join the ranks of Fandroids out there, skipping the cult of the fruit and adopting a future Android mobile phone after a 5 year sabbatical. Still waiting for a specific model's release (come on, Samsung, where is the availability date/pricing already?). But in the meantime our resident Android user sent me a hilarious Tumblr to get me acquainted with all the UI customization wizardry that awaits: Fugly Android. What am I getting myself into?
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As a UI designer, my rule of thumb is to give users the right amount of personalizations to the point that they feel at home, and stop before they cripple the functionality and usability of the product and blame the mess on the developer.
oy.
and this is why we only use apple products.
As a Samsung Fascinate owner....i'd steer you away from them as a brand as they don't seem to keep their products updated. ie...i'm STILL waiting on Froyo.
I guess that is true.. if you are a person who cannot effectively lay out your UI without making it look fugly, you are better off with an Apple product.
How about highlighting a lot of the very awesome looking android UI layouts that people have posted..?
Interesting. It's like each screen has a nugget of good (or at least decent) design that then threw up on the page. After all, if a single beveled chrome button is cool, then an entire screenful must be cool x 25.
I look forward to hearing more about your Adventures with Android when you get your hands on it. I'm sure you'll wring goodness from it.
If you have android and are looking to create a great looking UI, here is what I use: Launcher Pro, SiMi Clock (allows you to hide shortcuts in the clock), Beautiful Widgets, and TypoClock. Just remember less is more and don't be afraid to jump into the settings, these programs are quite robust. FYI, I am running a DInc that is rooted, but none of these programs require root.
I use LauncherPro, SimiClock (has clock, weather, battery), Widgetsoid, and Smooth Calendar. Combined they give me a nice clean homescreen.
From the perspective of a designer, the idea that one throws together disparate elements, and voila, you have a nice UI is counterintuitive to the actual fundamental tenets of design. A cleaner user experience than stock equipment, perhaps, but actually "good design", not likely (UI design is actually one of the most difficult fields currently, since it's not just an aesthetic solution, but one that considers both physical and psychological elements of users and how they interact with the interface on a day to day basis).
One of our weekly contributors on Android pointed out a more thoughtful UI overhaul, Miui ROM, which looks a lot more promising. But to frank, they seem to be borrowing heavily from Apple.
And this: http://www.colormeandroid.com/ is the exact opposite
@gregory: while these are all valid point, in this case, the UI was not designed by anyone but the owner of the phone, who, in all likelyhood, is the sole, or at least primary user of the phone. Your points are more valid for designing a stock or set UI for all consumers to use.
I say, if these people are happy with their UI, then so be it... I have yet to see a ROM that comes "stock" like these...
I've seen more iPhones that look like that than android. Personally I refuse to theme mine in anyway, it's very rare you see a theme that doesnt look like ass.