Windows Mobile 6.5's Honeycomb Layout Explained

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090302/windows-mobile-65-honeycomb-menu-simple-ingenuity/' target='_blank'>http://www.istartedsomething.com/20...mple-ingenuity/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Contrary to popular belief, the tip of human fingers is not squared, but in fact circle-shaped when depressed against a hard surface like a touchscreen. When you're space-constrained as you are in something like the applications menu - where there's a fine balance between how many icons can be displayed at one time and how easy it is to hit the icons, large circular hitareas makes it easier for users to touch the desired icons and avoid accidentally hitting nearby icons."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/ppct/auto/1235979028.usr2.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>If you checked out our <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/news/show/92572/1/1/2" target="_blank">"Windows Mobile 6.5 Screen Shot Walk-Through" thread</a> on the day of said OS' unveiling, you'd have a general idea of why Microsoft opted for a honeycomb layout over the conventional square grid layout. Long Zheng, over at istartedsomething.com, <a href="http://www.istartedsomething.com/20090302/windows-mobile-65-honeycomb-menu-simple-ingenuity/" target="_blank">elaborates on this</a>. But there are still skeptics out there, and if you're one of them, we'd love to hear from you. What aspect of the honeycomb layout do you truly dislike, and what would you prefer to see in its place?</p>

[xdev]

its all very well to be easy to press, but its harder to read, thus i think the trade off produces negative benefits.

if it takes me longer to find the icon i was looking for, having to press the middle of the icon for accuracy is the least of my worries. i guess i'll reserve judgment until i've tried it on an actual device, but even looking at the huge screenshots magnified on my laptop screen im finding it difficult to scan thru.
oh well

[Stinger]

The problem scanning icons your
only is the with eyes

:p

[superrrguy]

The problem scanning icons your
only is the with eyes

:p

I completely agree!

Either way, are we all having problems starting applications? This is what they spent time on?

[TTown]

First off I want to say I like the look 6.5. It does have an updated feel to what we (windows mobile) are currently using.

I don't buy how it is being pitched. If it is true that it is easier to hit a circle/hexagon shape than a square one, then why didn't they change the start menu, volume and X button. If you can't hit a program or settings icon with your finger, then you surely can't be expected to hit the start button. I've had a pocket pc since 2000 and I don't think, nor have I heard anyone complain about hitting the wrong program icon. You can argue about how the hexagon system is more efficient, but two halves doesn't make a whole in this situation. The old system displays more icons in the same amount of space.

I've played with but didn't buy an iphone, and at this point don't see buying one in the forceable future. I love the today screen. Being able to see my next appointment and tasks when I first turn my phone on is what I like. If I was looking for an ipod phone, I would probably druel over the iphone. What the iphone does have is a nice UI.

Windows Mobile does need an updated look. The fact that they haven't updated the calculator boggles my mind. Improving the UI along with the trend to release phones with better screens will help. Finally, make me trust the my alarm will go off for the time I set it. Although I haven't had problems with my Touch, I still wouldn't rely on it to wake me up if I had a interview!

Just my 2 cents

[virain]

I like the idea! I just wish icons inside the "comb" were larger and more colorful, otherwise this menu looks cheap

[andyb]

I suspect the honeycomb layout creates the most consistent results when scaled to different screen sizes and resolutions. It looks like there's a lot of wasted screen real estate on these big high res screenshots, but shrink it down to a 2.8 inch screen and you probably would notice more accuracy with a circular contact area than a square.

But even so, it does make it much more difficult to read, and I hope they improve the method of reorganising the icons before this gets released too.

[Eriq Cook]

Thinking the honey comb interface was not necessary and Microsoft was just trying to think of something "new" to bring to the table. Well, it's not Windows Mobile 7. It's not a "fail", but unecessary. I've been using the platform since the Windows CE days and never once had an issue or complained about pressing program buttons. In fact, long ago I used Conduits Pocket Launcher to fit more program launch buttons on the screen with tabs at the bottom to group/organize 'em.

I hope MS allows us to disable the 'comb interface in favor of older one that displays more buttons on screen and in different fashion. Give us a choice at least. It doesn't improve the platform for me and unecessary to introduce this late in the game.

[JKingGrim]

The honey comb is a moot point to me. One thing good about it is that the start menu (which was difficult to operate with the finger) is gone. You go straight to your list of programs. Maybe a little more visually pleasing too with the transparent background. While the honeycomb might not be a huge improvement to the old programs list, bear in mind it replaces both the programs list and the start menu.

The new today screen is a complete failure. I hate it for the same reason that I can't get into TF3D. The old today screen displayed a large amount of info on one screen but was difficult to navigate with the finger. The new one sure is easy to navigate, but shows you almost zero info! If I want to see my appointments i have to swipe over to it. Now it only shows one appointment at a time. Now I have to swipe some more to see my other appointments.. Its rediculous.

[V-iPAQ]

why such huge hexes? You can fit 4 cols and I wouldn't complain. But maybe MS people have giant hands. After all, their mice, xbox controllers, etc are all huge and need tob e shrunk for o/s markets.

Why not go all the way and have 1 icon/page if you're so worried about huge hands. The shape argument is a gimmick. They'd be just as accurate at that size and squares.

[xdev]

i like the HTC custom UI on my touch HD much more than than these screenshots of WM6.5

the only thing that looks nice is the transparent status bar and virtual buttons i suppose.

with all the modifications htc has made on their diamond/touch hd phones i dont think 6.5 is going to provide much of an upgrade.

[juttonn]

I don't mind the hex layout visually, it does help set WinMo apart. But I'm not sure how efficient it will be. I use iLauncher as my today screen launcher. I have 6 tabs and my application shortcuts seperated by categories. I can get to any of the apps I use in 2 thumb presses. I have the Touch Pro (with TouchFlo 3d disabled)

The argument presented here would only be believable if the hex pattern could be shrunk down to fit a lot more icon shortcuts on the screen. My current device has a 2.8" screen and I have my icons in a grid pattern 6 across the screen. I never have any problem selecting the icon I want with my thumb.

[Janak Parekh]

I don't buy the argument. It's possible to do various heuristics to determine which item the user is trying to click on. The thumb (or other finger) doesn't need to hit the entirety of the button, just the majority. I don't think people have had problems with the iPhone's (or Android, etc.) launchers at all.

Edit: Some of the commenters on the linked post are speculating this is due to the reduced touch resolution for a resistive screen. <shrug> Seeing as how it is possible to make styli for capacitive screens, I'd much rather see MS encourage/enable OEMs to adopt those; they're far more accurate for touch application.

--janak

[bnileuk]

The problem scanning icons your
only is the with eyes

:p

It's just like learning another keyboard. After the first hour you'll know exactly where everything is. So long as we can scroll up and down and add a huge number of buttons it should be awesome!