Why Microsoft's Metro UI Should Hit Tablets
Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 features a unique experience called the Metro UI. This design philosophy drives the content-centric designs initially implemented to Windows Media Center and Zune. By bringing the Metro UI to Windows Phone, Microsoft is able to fully differentiate themselves in the mobile phone business.
We define Apple and Android-based phones to be "app-centric". Simply put, app-centric devices rely on applications to "fill the gap". The app-centric model worked successfully for Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices. Meanwhile, Android rides on the same app-centric model and markets itself similarly.
Granted that Microsoft is betting on Windows Phone to bring back their lost relevance in the mobile industry, a unique user-experience can make them stand out. Looking into the potential of the Metro UI, they introduce a new concept called "content-centric" design. The Metro UI is the manifestation of this concept, which completely deviates from Microsoft's usual task-centric designs. Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft's first product that's using Metro UI to the fullest.
There are hints that perhaps the experience would reach tablets despite Microsoft's denial. Regardless, I believe that it is exactly what Microsoft should do next.
The tablet/slate PC form factor has been available in stores for quite some time already. However, it can't seem to kick off as well in the market. That's until Apple's iPad
showed everyone how to do it. The user interface and the navigation design would have to be changed to directly serve the purpose of the targeted tablet users. In addition, the tablet should not feel like just another PC. As it turned out, what really works is that the tablet should fell like it's something new altogether but not so much as to greatly deviate from the phone version's experience.
The Metro UI on a tablet makes sense! A larger estate to show content could easily make content-centric products easier to use. The Metro UI on the Windows Phone features panoramic hubs which require the user to scroll left or right across the hub to view the related content in it. If you have a bigger screen, there should be less scrolling needed and, therefore, more content can be accessed by the user at a time. Most web sites are better browsed on a bigger screen. E-books are better read on a bigger screen. Videos and games are always better on a bigger screen. You can see and find more content at a time. You can do and accomplish more tasks at a time. Productivity is improved and overall satisfaction is, therefore, higher.
Like the iPhone, the iPad is also app-centric. If the content-centric Windows Phone would sell well, it should be logical for Microsoft to take the new user experience to a bigger screen by bringing the Metro UI to the tablet/slate PC. Taking it further to a higher level, they can even make it far better by combining the Metro UI with the Microsoft Surface user experience. Now that's a sure winner on a tablet!
We define Apple and Android-based phones to be "app-centric". Simply put, app-centric devices rely on applications to "fill the gap". The app-centric model worked successfully for Apple's iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices. Meanwhile, Android rides on the same app-centric model and markets itself similarly.
Granted that Microsoft is betting on Windows Phone to bring back their lost relevance in the mobile industry, a unique user-experience can make them stand out. Looking into the potential of the Metro UI, they introduce a new concept called "content-centric" design. The Metro UI is the manifestation of this concept, which completely deviates from Microsoft's usual task-centric designs. Windows Phone 7 is Microsoft's first product that's using Metro UI to the fullest.
There are hints that perhaps the experience would reach tablets despite Microsoft's denial. Regardless, I believe that it is exactly what Microsoft should do next.
The tablet/slate PC form factor has been available in stores for quite some time already. However, it can't seem to kick off as well in the market. That's until Apple's iPad
showed everyone how to do it. The user interface and the navigation design would have to be changed to directly serve the purpose of the targeted tablet users. In addition, the tablet should not feel like just another PC. As it turned out, what really works is that the tablet should fell like it's something new altogether but not so much as to greatly deviate from the phone version's experience.The Metro UI on a tablet makes sense! A larger estate to show content could easily make content-centric products easier to use. The Metro UI on the Windows Phone features panoramic hubs which require the user to scroll left or right across the hub to view the related content in it. If you have a bigger screen, there should be less scrolling needed and, therefore, more content can be accessed by the user at a time. Most web sites are better browsed on a bigger screen. E-books are better read on a bigger screen. Videos and games are always better on a bigger screen. You can see and find more content at a time. You can do and accomplish more tasks at a time. Productivity is improved and overall satisfaction is, therefore, higher.
Like the iPhone, the iPad is also app-centric. If the content-centric Windows Phone would sell well, it should be logical for Microsoft to take the new user experience to a bigger screen by bringing the Metro UI to the tablet/slate PC. Taking it further to a higher level, they can even make it far better by combining the Metro UI with the Microsoft Surface user experience. Now that's a sure winner on a tablet!
Comments
Post a Comment