Windows Phone 7: The Final Look & Feel

[Jason Dunn]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899046.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>We've seen a lot of different screen shots over the past six months of Windows Phone 7, but now that everything is at 1.0, the UI is locked down and the products are going to ship soon. Here's a bunch of UI screen shots of Windows Phone 7, including several of the apps and hubs, after the break.&nbsp;<MORE /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899091.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899112.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899361.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899389.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899411.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899453.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899480.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899539.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899567.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899605.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899642.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899676.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899706.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899787.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899813.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1286899838.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p>

[whydidnt]

I know that right now I'm in the minority, but the UI isn't doing it for me. It seems like there is a LOT of wasted space. You can only see 4 contacts and 5 emails at a time in portrait view? Can you configure the text size? What's with the huge space devoted to the title on every page, even if the title isn't even present? It looks like the calendar also gets the same treatment. While this sort of stuff looks good in screen shots, it really hurts the usability for those of us that actually, you know, use the phone.:rolleyes: I'm hoping there are some options available that allow configuration of some of this.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Whyyyyyyyyyy are there no Tasks?

After Apple introduced the damn iPhone without Tasks/ToDo, everyone has decided that no one needs it. This despite the plethora of apps filling in this missing gap.

[humayunl]

Whyyyyyyyyyy are there no Tasks?

After Apple introduced the damn iPhone without Tasks/ToDo, everyone has decided that no one needs it. This despite the plethora of apps filling in this missing gap.

My thoughts EXACTLY! I've been trying to look for a "tasks" application every time during WP7 demos they show someone swiping to the application screen but it doesn't look like there's a tasks app. I really hope they didn't get rid of it.

I recently jumped ship to android and was considering the possibility of moving back to WP7 because I really miss (and need) the native support for OneNote and Outlook tasks.

Does anyone know if tasks are present in WP7 or not?

[juni]

That first screenshot is the new today screen? All I can say is: Ew. I bet there won't be any way to customize anything either.

[Janak Parekh]

I know that right now I'm in the minority, but the UI isn't doing it for me. It seems like there is a LOT of wasted space. You can only see 4 contacts and 5 emails at a time in portrait view? Can you configure the text size? Agreed. The most egregious, by far, is the maps view. I'm hopeful that scrolling will hide the huge titles at the top in the others, and that there's another map view, but I guess we won't know for sure until people start playing with them extensively.

--janak

[Fritzly]

Personally and based on what I have seen in the pictures and clips I like the GUI.
A must is the ability to customize it: I could not care less to have Facebook, the plague of the 21st century, icon stealing space on my screen.

[Macguy59]

It looks like UI is heavily dependent on being in portrait mode. Is this correct ? If so how is that going to work with slide out keyboard that requires landscape ?

[Jason Dunn]

I know that right now I'm in the minority, but the UI isn't doing it for me. It seems like there is a LOT of wasted space. You can only see 4 contacts and 5 emails at a time in portrait view?

I don't think the space is wasted in most cases, though I do agree that in contact view if you've got a lot of contacts to go through, that might get a little tedious. The design choices in Metro are very purposeful though; it's based on a typographic, magazine-like layout rather than the spreadsheet-like layouts we're used to seeing on other platforms and Windows Phone 6.x. It's a big difference to be sure - but I can't personally say much until I get a device in my hand and use it. I've had more than one person say that Windows Phone 7 has to be used in person to be fully appreciated...which of course is a big challenge when it comes to selling the phones! :o

[Jason Dunn]

Whyyyyyyyyyy are there no Tasks? After Apple introduced the damn iPhone without Tasks/ToDo, everyone has decided that no one needs it. This despite the plethora of apps filling in this missing gap.

Yeah, this is a big irritation for me as well - Microsoft has always had a weird relationship with Tasks. It's a core part of Outlook/Exchange, yet on their mobile platforms, it rarely gets much love. I really hope they'll add it!

[Jason Dunn]

That first screenshot is the new today screen? All I can say is: Ew. I bet there won't be any way to customize anything either.

Nope, the very first screen shot is the Games hub.

[Jason Dunn]

Does anyone know if tasks are present in WP7 or not?

They are not - it's a feature that didn't get added in this 1.0 version.

[Jason Dunn]

Personally and based on what I have seen in the pictures and clips I like the GUI. A must is the ability to customize it: I could not care less to have Facebook, the plague of the 21st century, icon stealing space on my screen.

You can pin items from your programs menu/settings menu to the home screen - so I'd assume that you could remove them...but I can't say for sure because I still lack of device. :(

[Jason Dunn]

It looks like UI is heavily dependent on being in portrait mode. Is this correct ? If so how is that going to work with slide out keyboard that requires landscape ?

Correct. I haven't seen how well it works in landscape mode - I suspect it's just a rotate/crop of the UI, not an expansion in width, thus it probably doesn't make good use of the space. That's just a guess though. :(

[Fritzly]

I don't think the space is wasted in most cases, though I do agree that in contact view if you've got a lot of contacts to go through, that might get a little tedious.

Isn't there, eventually all the way on the right, a columsn listing, in a vertical order, all the letter of the alphabet so that touching T, for example, the contacts list jump to the ones starting or containing that letter?

I have almost 900 contacts and scroll up and down is really a no go....

[Jason Dunn]

Isn't there, eventually all the way on the right, a columsn listing, in a vertical order, all the letter of the alphabet so that touching T, for example, the contacts list jump to the ones starting or containing that letter? I have almost 900 contacts and scroll up and down is really a no go....

I think so - but if you have 50 contacts that start with the letter "A", that's still a lot of scrolling. The fact that they haven't re-created Smart Dial for WP7 yet is the pain point...Smart Dial was just KILLER for those of us with big contact lists.

[Fritzly]

They are not - it's a feature that didn't get added in this 1.0 version.

Ouch! This will be a big issue for a lot of business users; especially the one connecting to Exchange that can have tasks asigned etc. etc.

[Fritzly]

You can pin items from your programs menu/settings menu to the home screen - so I'd assume that you could remove them...but I can't say for sure because I still lack of device. :(

Thanks; I hope so because both Facebook and Xbox are two completely useless hubs for me. I agree that seems unconceivable that there is no ability to choose what is in your Start screen but.....

[Jason Dunn]

Thanks; I hope so because both Facebook and Xbox are two completely useless hubs for me. I agree that seems unconceivable that there is no ability to choose what is in your Start screen but.....

I know at the very least you'll be able to push it down to the very bottom, so it's not in your way. :D

[whydidnt]

I don't think the space is wasted in most cases, though I do agree that in contact view if you've got a lot of contacts to go through, that might get a little tedious. The design choices in Metro are very purposeful though; it's based on a typographic, magazine-like layout rather than the spreadsheet-like layouts we're used to seeing on other platforms and Windows Phone 6.x.

I don't know, it looks to me like a third of the screen is completely wasted not only in contacts, but also the calendar, email, menus (games) and just about any core Microsoft application. Even the browser, if the entry bar at the top and toolbar at the bottom don't auto hide have wasted much of our very limited screen real estate.

The magazine reference sounds cool, but most magazines have a full 8 1/2' x 11" page to work with, we are limited to about 4" on these devices so real estate is valuable. It looks to me that Microsoft decided to go with form over function. There was some of this in previous versions where title bars etc were large and took up this screen space, but it looks like they've taken wasting screen real estate to a whole new level.

[Paragon]

From what I have read the Home Screen does NOT do landscape. As pointed out....why would you need to use the keyboard while in the Home Screen anyway. Seems kind of logical to me.

Anyone else notice what else is missing? Again, from what I've read, it's not present at launch.....turn by turn GPS navigation????!!!!!

[Jason Dunn]

Anyone else notice what else is missing? Again, from what I've read, it's not present at launch.....turn by turn GPS navigation????!!!!!

I believe that's correct - it's not as good as the Google Android solution right now with real turn by turn directions, it's what we had before that - a non-real time solution. Doesn't bother me personally too much, but it's definitely an area ripe for improvement!

[Paragon]

- it's not as good as the Google Android solution right now with real turn by turn directions

And iPhone, and Symbian, and Windows Mobile, and Blackberry, and WebOS. Or maybe it would just be easier to say everyone else has it!

[efjay]

It looks like UI is heavily dependent on being in portrait mode. Is this correct ? If so how is that going to work with slide out keyboard that requires landscape ?

From the videos I've seen most builtin applications that accept text entry will rotate into landscape mode eg emails, word/excel, texts. Third party devs have the option to enable landscape mode as well if they choose.

Seems like I'm the only one who doesnt have a problem with WP7, I can see a vast improvement over 6.5 in functionality for me and am quite looking forward to grabbing that Dell as my first WP7 device.

I think so - but if you have 50 contacts that start with the letter "A", that's still a lot of scrolling. The fact that they haven't re-created Smart Dial for WP7 yet is the pain point...Smart Dial was just KILLER for those of us with big contact lists.

Actually you can easily search by typing the contact name and it filters down just like smart dial would. Or you could use voice commands to open a specific contact.

[Fritzly]

You might want to wait a little bit and see what the real story is:

http://windowsphonesecrets.com/2010/10/12/windows-phone-7-and-removable-storage/

[Jason Dunn]

Actually you can easily search by typing the contact name and it filters down just like smart dial would. Or you could use voice commands to open a specific contact.

Right, but that's from the search button, right? Not the contacts or phone app. It would be nice to have it everywhere.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Right, but that's from the search button, right? Not the contacts or phone app. It would be nice to have it everywhere.

That's eerily like Android. That's the other thing these new generation smartphones have dropped; call and hangup buttons!

[Janak Parekh]

That's eerily like Android. That's the other thing these new generation smartphones have dropped; call and hangup buttons! I've noticed you still pine for those buttons, and while I understand what you're getting at, I think they're gone for good. As it stands, Smartphones are increasingly becoming all-purpose communicators, and having two dedicated buttons to just one function is less useful.

--janak

[efjay]

Right, but that's from the search button, right? Not the contacts or phone app. It would be nice to have it everywhere.

It works in the contacts application.