Windows Phone Problem?

Phil Getzen has an interesting take on the future of Windows phone over on his blog. What makes this interesting isn't that someone is doubting the ability of Microsoft to gain traction in this market. That happens all the time. It's his stated reason, the Metro UI.

As I started looking at different UI and UX elements on my newly won phone, I was impressed. The design was clean, functional and didn’t look like complete shit like Android does. I thought to myself, why aren’t more developers attracted to this platform?

Then I started looking at apps (both stock and 3rd party), and I realized something. Every app looked the same. Every. Single. App.

I've been a big fan of what Microsoft has done with Metro. I thinks beautiful and very elegant, something lacking even in iOS. However, I've never used it on a regular basis and I think maybe he's got a point. Has Microsoft of all companies designed a UI that's too elegant for the majority of users?

Hat tip to Marco Arment.

 

Microsoft Makeover

There's so much to unpack following Microsoft's Surface announcement. The eventual launch of Surface signals a radical departure in their business model, away from solely supplying software and towards a more Apple inspired one. As Steve would say, they're going to attempt to make the whole widget. This raises all kinds of interesting questions, many of which are pondered by Horace Dediu over at Asymco.

Interesting times ahead.

The Price of Progress

There has been a lot of complaining about the lack of upgradability with Apples recent products. It began with batteries in the iPod, iPhone and Macbooks. It arose again when the MacBook Air was launched. The most recent target is the new retina display MacBook Pro. iFixit really doesn't like the new design, in part no doubt because Apple's choices directly affect their bottom line.

Nick Chaves takes to his blog to lend his voice to the issue. I'm inclined to agree with his opinion even though part of me will miss the ability to upgrade components later. I've done it numerous times with hard drives, RAM and most recently by removing the optical drive in my MacBook Pro to add an SSD. Most consumers however, will never undertake such a task.

Apple is once again catering to the 80%. Take an extra minute before you order your new laptop and be sure to order it the way you want to use it. Then just use it and enjoy all the benefits Apple's current design decisions yield.

Hat tip to Daring Fireball.