WhoNeedsAniPhone.com Conceptualizes New WM UI

[Nurhisham Hussein]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3993' target='_blank'>http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=3993</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The developer also wants to let everyone know that the intent of this project is not to duplicate the iPhone interface but...take some of the principles of that user interface and bring it to Windows Mobile platform! One of the big keys here is operating the phone with just the thumbs. The Beta (or better Alpha) isn't yet available for public download but you can register on the site if you are interested to become a Beta tester."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hisham-20070713-WhoNeedsAniPhone_slider_small.jpg" /><br /><br />If I'm honest about it, I find the iPhone absolutely intriguing - but not because of the specs, or the applications. The real revolution Apple has created with the iPhone (apart from creating the ultimate case study on how to properly hype a product) is the <i>user interface</i>, which is why so many people have been inspired to try and duplicate it on various devices - including believe it or not, <a href="http://www.pocketables.net/2007/07/iphone-interfac.html">this one</a> (check out the first comment :lol:). The big stumbling block of course is the multi-touch capability, and the fact that the iPhone is designed to use finger interaction rather than the stylus/joystick/menu-driven interface most other phones use. WhoNeedsAniPhone.com has come up with a unique way to get around this fundamental barrier, and if he succeeds, more power to him - he's one of the first to get beyond the "it looks like the iPhone" skins, and get to the real substance behind the UI. About the only concern I have here is how power-hungry flash can get, and whether we'll have to accept performance hits for a chance to merge the capability and flexibility of WM, with the innovative UI Apple has come up with. My fingers are crossed.

[isajoo]

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[Jason Lee]

All this iphone crap is pretty and all but if you want real added functionality why not use Spb Mobile Shell (http://www.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/?en)?

It has the lock screen, the contact interface, the weather applet, and much much more.. All before the iphone even came out.

[rookcnu]

I agree with Jason Lee (sorry,... I wasn't trying to rhyme).

Anyway,... Mobile Shell is very useful on my Cingular 8125. With Smartskey also installed,... I barely use my stylus at all except maybe for a soft reset.

I have pretty much full finger touch capability with my unit.

[abeery]

sneak peek...

http://beerysbit.blogspot.com/2007/07/serene-phone.html

[rookcnu]

Okay,... so I know I just posted about Mobile Shell and how it works for me,....

but what abeery just showed us with his link is unbelievaby cool.

Kudos to you my friend.

Do you need any beta testers on this? :D

[galt]

but what abeery just showed us with his link is unbelievaby cool.Um. Wow. Agreed, very cool and looks very functional as well.

I'm very well served by a nicely populated today screen (like my info at a glance) and a hardware key app/doc/web/phone launcher like PQZ, but this looks like a very unique take on the traditional today screen.

[surur]

sneak peek...

http://beerysbit.blogspot.com/2007/07/serene-phone.html

Nice, but there does not seem to be a consistent metaphor, and those buttons seem a bit small. Nice technology, but it needs some refinement.

Surur

[Nurhisham Hussein]

Really, really cool - but I'm wondering how much CPU cycles are going to be needed for all that fancy animation, and how much battery life its going to eat up. I'm thinking TI OMAPs no need to apply.

[TOCA]

That Serene thing is looking quite nice, but maybe it needs a VGA display and a GPU, to run smoothly.

I have previusly tryed out animated Today screens, looks nice in the cradle, but dont want them, when on battery, they are worse than having WiFi and BT turned on :?

[abeery]

Actually one of the options available is an animation while craddled and a static photo (like iPhone) when uncraddled... this greatly reduces wear and tear on the battery and gives you the best of both worlds. The currently published video is an early beta so expect to see a lot of clean up before final product becomes available in a few weeks. GPU not required, VGA not required... there are a dozen plus animations -- some simple, some complex... the user can pick and choose what works best on their hardware

[Joelacrane]

I'm seeing a problem with this. It sounds great, and the screenshots look great, and I have high hopes for it, but what happens when you need to use a program that WNAiP does not support? Sure, you can lock the screen and check the weather, but how can it support more programs without a new interface being added for each one? As of right now, It only looks like a glorified program launcher.

I really do hope that I am proved wrong. I am anxiously awaiting the release of a public beta. I hope they add WiFi management and Skype support.

[abeery]

I'm the programmer and I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that at the end of the day all this is -- is a glorified program launcher... and does not seek to be anything else.

The program icons are pulled from whatever programs and listed in your \\Windows\\Start Menu\\Programs directory (including shortcuts).

If you load a new program just drop a shortcut to it in this directory and Serene Phone will give you a launcher button for it.

http://beerysbit.blogspot.com/2007/07/serene-phone.html

[PeterChenoweth]

rumble..rumble...RUMBLE... CRASH...whirrrr....booowwwwwammmmp!!!
Think War of the Worlds walkers coming to life. 0X

What the heck was that?

That was the sound of Apple's Legal team warming up. I guarantee that the iPhone interface is patented. This poor developer is about to be 'cease-and-decisted' into oblivion. :(

[abeery]

Too funny! Actually my interface is very different from Apples. You launch programs on the iPhone by pressing buttons... you drag them on mine. Their phone lock is just that... a lock. Mine is a bi-directional quick access slider that lets you go one way for the phone and other direction for options. My interface is intended primary for use while craddled and is full of background animations. If they have a problem with the Clownfish background image of which there are countless variations floating around the internet I will be happy to go down to my local pet store... snap another photo and replace it. I've seen the iPhone up close and truely love it but the Serene Phone which has been in development for well over a year is a completely different beast.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

abeery, I think Peter was refering to the original post, not your app. Good luck with it btw!