Concept

Nokia Lumia Tablet concept looks pretty cool

February 8, 2012 | By Surur

nokia-coffee-tab

There is something to be said for having a consistent design language, and this concept Windows 8 Nokia tablet certainly takes its cues very well from the much lauded Nokia Lumia 800 design.

The concept, created by a MyNokiablog reader, has the following specs:

Lumia “coffee” tab

1.4GHz cpu

512Mb ram

16/32/64Gb storage

9.7? AMOLED “clearblack” display (1280×800)

8Mp Rear camera, 2Mp front facing camera

Windows 8 tablet edition

Wifi/3G connectivity

lumia-coffee1-600x450

Looks pretty great, and who knows, with Nokia strongly believed to be working on a Windows 8 tablet, it may even become reality.

See another picture after the break.

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Windows 8 watch concept should be Windows Phone

January 31, 2012 | By Surur

There has been some speculation recently about Windows 8 replacing Windows Phone 7, even on the phone. While the Windows 8 UI on a Windows Phone is very, very unlikely, the above concept design by Mithun Darji from Ahmedabad, India shows that it could in fact look pretty cool, and could in fact be stuffed in many innovative from factors.

His concept features a Windows 8 PC with WIFI and Phone functionality on a watch strap with an integrated Bluetooth headset, 4 music transport keys, two volume keys and 4 other keys, including phone keys.

Mithun’s design is just a concept, and it is somewhat a pity Microsoft no longer has a mainstream OS that can be stuffed into interesting form factors, much like Android is being used these days.

See Coroflot for full-sized pictures.

Via MotoringCruch.com

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Thurrott wants Windows Phone 8 start screen to scroll horizontally

November 11, 2011 | By Surur

Paul Thurrott has put in his 2c regarding his wish for the future UI of Windows Phone 7.

His ideas are a bit more radical than most, and would see a significant change in the UI paradigm of the OS.

His idea would be replacing the start screen and app list with a single, horizontal-scrolling panorama.

He writes:

… instead of having to scroll up and down on the Start/all apps screens, you would scroll left to right and vice versa.

I’ll take it a step further. There shouldn’t be two screens, but just one, as with the Windows 8 Start screen. Every time you install an app, it is added to the Start screen, on the far right. You can remove (unpin) apps from this screen as you would in Windows 8, and to find them, you could utilize search (again, as per Windows 8).

The Windows Phone Start screen should evolve to work like that of Windows 8, and offer left-to-right scrolling.

As with Windows 8, this screen should include customizable groups so that the user can create a phone-based version of folders and organize things as they wish. And Microsoft should add the ability to easily contract and expand groups so that little-used apps could be hidden by default and be more easily swiped over. That could look something like this:

This screen should orient itself automatically with the phone, so that if the user holds it horizontally (in landscape mode), the view switches to accommodate that and is thus not "sideways" as it is today.

Windows Phone 8 should also support a Windows 8-style Edge UI, both from a system-wide perspective (charms) and within apps. This could work much like it does in Windows 8 and doesn’t bear much discussion.

He also said users should be able to toggle between a square and double-sized tile, and background images should be allowed.

Paul basically wants Windows 8 on the phone, saying:

Put simply, if you accept the fact that Windows 8 represents the latest thinking when it comes to a Metro-style UI, you should further accept that the best ideas from Windows 8 should be pushed into Windows Phone as well. In fact, where possible these user experience elements should be identical, to provide a similar or nearly identical experience where it makes sense. I feel strongly that people who see Windows 8 tablets and PCs in stores next year are going to be very excited by this system. And they’re going to want it on their phones too.

What do our readers think of Paul’s exposition? Should Windows 8’s paradigms come to Windows Phone, or are the platforms very different? Let us know below.

Another Windows Phone Notification Concept

October 12, 2011 | By Pradeep

XDA Forums member the0ne has done this notification system concept for Windows Phones.

This is how it works,

To go to the Notification center, just drag down from any app. That is works even in the lock screen. The Notification center, have pinned apps like weather, Zune or the radio. In the notification tab appear missed phone and skype call, mails and messages, new Facebook and Twitter updates. In the reminders tab appear all from your calendar as meetings, tasks, alarms and others. New toast notifications appear briefly at the top of your screen. Quick toast notifications are used to promote awareness of a new event to the user and request action from the user in an unobtrusive and friendly manner. Users may interact with the toast notifications by tapping on it. The toast will then launch the Notification center, or directly the notifying application.

You can give him feedback over this concept here. Even though Microsoft’s intention is to not create a notification center( they call it as Junk drawer), its interesting to see new concepts from designers.

via: XDA Forums

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Potential Windows Phone 8 UI design concepts

October 7, 2011 | By Surur

Update: Well, the best proof that these are real is that we just received a take down notice from Microsoft. I guess those large and mini-tiles are coming after all XXXX has taken down his whole site it seems.

We often feature Windows Phone UI concepts, but it is not often that these concepts originate from Microsoft designers.

XXXXX worked at Microsoft in the design department.

The mockups and drawings show much larger live tiles with greater visual identity, almost providing a background image effect without actual wallpaper, and also shows collections of mini-tiles which may be a folder concept for Windows phone often imagined by many fans.

Of course there is no guarantee that these concepts will make it into a real UI, but this is likely as close to seeing Windows Phone 8 as we will get for many months.

We are somewhat hampered from interpreting these concepts by not understanding Chinese. If our readers spot anything else new and interesting let us know in the comments below.

The images have been taken down in most sources.

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Windows Phone 8 UI concepts updated

October 6, 2011 | By Surur

Jozef Kocur, who’s concepts we have featured before, have updated his concepts of what the next version of Windows Phone should look like.

He has refined his ideas somewhat, and thrown out the concept of combining Aero and Metro. His latest idea for the control bar has been simplified, a now would allow one to slide the music controls to the side and have access to common toggles (see above).

He is also suggesting “folders” of Grouped Apps. He writes:

Group Tiles let you to create a “Group” of Applications, Contacts, or Web Sites’ bookmarks (2-4 mini Tiles). It’s the simplest way to keep your Home Screen organized. I think this is usable just for the titles that are not showing life content, such as Adobe Reader, Netflix, different games, etc. Also, if you add a Live Title or a Contact Tile, they won’t be showing any further information, just a plain icon. It basically divides a Tile into 4 small mini-Tiles.

To Create a Group just tap and hold a Tile. Then drag that Tile and drop it on top of another Tile. A group tile will be automatically created.

Lastly he suggests the lock screen should get daily Bing wallpaper updates, and that there should be a way to answer SMS messages directly from the lock screen if the phone is not password protected.

Usually these concept ideas are just shouting into the wind, but Microsoft’s User Voice Section, which explicitly asked for Windows Phone 8 ideas, provides a place for users to surface popular ideas.

If you like Jozef’s concepts you can vote them up here, and see his ideas in more detail on his website here.

Thanks WPuser for the tip.

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Concept for new Notification system for Windows Phone 7

September 6, 2011 | By Surur

Cameron McKinnon from Gadgeroo.net is proposing an expanded notification system in Windows Phone 7, noting the current system is far from “in, out and get on with your life” but requires the user to enter each app to see what the notification is about.

His idea, borrowed from Meego, is to add a page to the left of the start screen that would unify notifications from local and web services, and allow users to read more detail about each before deciding if they are worth their attention or not.

See the rather stylish Meego version after the break.

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Yanko Design turns their eye to Windows Phone 7

September 4, 2011 | By Surur

Yanko Design is a Russian design firm famous for their outrageous concepts.

On this occasion they have turned to Windows Phone 7, imagining the OS running on 3D hardware.

The designer explains his concept as such:

3D phones are the new thing in cellphones, but price point and compatibility issues make them less desirable at the moment.

Catering to this genre is the Cobble 3-D concept; it features a 4-inch 3D 16:9 HD screen giving the device more depth sans the awkward 3D glasses. The adaptive camera tracker follows your finger and anticipates your move on the screen, making the touchscreen experience smooth as silk.

The Cobble takes stunning pictures thanks to the motion scroll, which adjusts the zoom and takes realistic snaps. Love the multiple color-back options and finished proposed.

The design is certainly unique, but I do not feel fit the minimalist and rather severe paradigm of Windows Phone 7.

See more pictures at Yanko Design here.

What do our readers think? Let us know below.

Thanks Lam for the tip.

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HTC BLAST Concept by NAK …

May 30, 2011 | By Psikopathe

nakhtcblast0600 I recently noticed in several HTC news reports that customers want HTC to renew their design for their future phones …

Here is my personal answer to this question…

All your comments are welcome. nakhtcblast3win600

See the specs after the break.

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Another program menu concept for Windows Phone 7

April 27, 2011 | By Surur

We have already seen Microsoft’s new implementation of the Programs menu on Windows Phone 7.5, which basically uses jump lists, but some people are of a more organized bent and would like to categorize their apps, rather than just have a long alphabetical list.

GRZStudios have created this concept design, which would basically be a collapsible list of apps, but this time not organized by the first letter of the app, which is pretty arbitrary after all, but rather by what the app does.

Of course some may say this is exactly what Hubs do, but of course not all categories have hubs, for example there is no financial information hub.

Do our readers think the design ads unnecessary complexity, or does it solve a problem? Let us know below.

Via WMPItalia.com

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Concept – HTC TUBE final part …

April 22, 2011 | By Psikopathe

htcfulltube600

Two month ago I showed you a new concept coming from my mind, a smartphone powered by cartridge, the HTC TUBE, then the second part of it, the HTC TUBE Tablet.

After a short break here’s the last part of this concept, now the HTC Tube solution included all the multimedia package powered by the phone cartridge.
It is composed by a phone, a tablet (with this additional basic phone) and the keyboard so now it’s a complete solution.

All information for the concept and all the images are on NAK STUDIO, don’t hesitate to go to have a look, and your comments are welcome here (good or bad).

Of course I know it’s just a dream and all is virtual so HTC, could you hear me ? …

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More Windows Phone 7 UI concepts from Nokia’s blog

April 19, 2011 | By Surur

Nokia fans can just not leave Windows phone 7’s Metro UI alone, and of course Microsoft did not help, with its Double sided Live tiles and extra Deep Link tiles it announced at MIX 11, not to mention giving Nokia carte blanche with modifying Windows Phone 7 as they see fit.

Peter over at the MyNokia blog has created 3 new concept designs which he would like added to Windows phone 7.

Above is his concept of Live Cubes, which takes Microsoft’s Double Sided Tiles to the 3rd dimension. Swiping would turn the cube, and moving to the list of apps could be accomplished by starting swipes from the right unoccupied area.

Secondary-Tiles1-600x327

His next concept is secondary tiles, which allows for larger, double sided tiles to bring additional functionality and control to existing Live Tiles apps, e.g a Secondary tile for the email app which would show the content of a new email, or one for Spotify that would present playback controls. Deep link tiles, already announced at MIX, would be the closest to this concept.

His last concept is the most innovative, and would have all the tiles in the start page switch to functionality for a specific tiles e.g. browser shortcuts, on long press of a single tile. See the video above for the concept in action. He notes re-arranging tiles is little used, and could be re-assigned to another control.

Peter explains his concepts in a lot more detail on the MyNokiaBlog here.

What do out readers think, given that Microsoft is already extending the user interface in Mango. Could they learn a thing or two from Peter? Let us know below.

Thanks Just Visiting for the tip.

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Another concept WP7 task-switching UI

April 17, 2011 | By Surur

I think most people would agree the fast task switching UI for Windows Phone 7 Mango is rather plain and even ugly. Long Zheng from the istartedsomething blog has proposed only a minor modification that would frame the pages and use a black background.

To my eyes the improvement is immediate and it now looks rather attractive.

Do our readers agree? Let us know below.

Via Mascobz.com and Roguecode.co.za.

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