Concept

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.

Continue reading →

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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.

Continue reading →

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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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Another Windows Phone 7 multi-tasking concept

April 12, 2011 | By Surur

Click for full-sized version.

Adrian has written us about about his concept of what he wishes multi-tasking in the next major version of Windows Phone 7 will look like.

Inspired by Build 7753 with its search button, he added a taskbar button below the arrow. Pressing the button would drop down a list of apps, and pressing and holding would close them.

While he was at it, he also added a double-wide mail tile for previewing the latest emails, a dedicated music tile, semi-transparent tiles, backgrounds and a whole range of new accent colours and themes.

See more of his designs after the break.

Continue reading →

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Nokia shows off concept phones

April 5, 2011 | By Surur

nokia_kinetic2

Nokia’s blog have published some interesting concepts Nokia phones from the past on their blog, and from the many designs the one above, the Nokia Kinect, in particular caught my eye.

The design, which seems pretty standard and could easily be a Windows Phone 7 Chassis 1 device, has one unique feature – a movable weight in the base which allows the device to pop up from lying flat when a call comes in.

The concept device features:

For every incoming call, text, email or alarm, the phone raised up from lying down. If it’s not the right person calling or you wish to dismiss the alarm, simply tap the phone back down to dismiss.
Camera capture button at bottom right of phone means you grip the phone like an SLR camera when taking a photo.
Standby mode is perfectly balanced; Screen is raised from the surface.
Top half is 8mm in thickness with bottom being 18mm.
The shape and weight at the bottom of the phone mean ergonomically it is much better to hold than other phones.
2 taps on power button allows you to manually set stand up mode. (For a clock on your desk, a digital photoframe, or to play music).
Proximity sensor on front of the phone, means that the stand up feature does not activate when in your pocket.

The student project designed by Jeremy Innes-Hopkins for Nokia at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design and was interestingly intended to reach market in 2012. See many more pictures at Yanko Design here.

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Nokia fan envisions a post-Mango UI update for Windows Phone 7

March 29, 2011 | By Surur

I know not all readers are fans, but I love design concepts, be they cars or phones. Above is Jozef Kocur’s idea of how Microsoft should update the Windows Phone 7 UI come Mango, and I must say I don’t see much I disagree with.

First Jozef would like to see the Zune media control bar updated to add more functionality, like toggling WIFI, Bluetooth or phone profiles, accessed by swiping left. He would also like more flexible background theming, including semi-transparent live tiles.

thumbnails His next new concept is a more Metro multi-tasking UI, noting the horizontal scrolling version shown of at Mobile World Congress 11 is out of keeping with the typical vertical scrolling of lists in Windows Phone 7.

His last innovation is shortcut tiles, which would be folders of sort, allowing similar apps to be grouped together.

Read his whole concept in more detail on his blog here.

What do out readers think of these proposed changes? Welcome, or is Metro perfect already? Let us know below.

Via MyNokiablog.com

Thanks Just Visiting for the tip.

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Unique phone concept design uses Windows phone 7

March 28, 2011 | By Surur

It’s rare to see brand new phone form factor, but schultzeworks’s triple-flip-cell-phone certainly qualifies.

The keypads serve numerous purposes, from desk stand to screen protector and the case even includes a solar charger.

Now unlike most concepts designs which include Windows Phone 7 we do not see much which violates Microsoft’s chassis specifications (besides the super specs of course), so who knows, maybe it will become reality one day.

Via Windows Phone Secrets.

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IdentityMine Shows Retail Solution Across Devices

March 13, 2011 | By Pradeep

IdentityMine, an interactive design, software development, and user experience (UX) company which often works with Microsoft has come with a retail solution that works across devices. The above video shows a retail solution which allows a customer to browse products on their mobile, add to shopping cart,etc. When they enter the shop, the list automatically will be reflected on a tablet through which he/she can continue the shopping. From tablet, a customer can compare different products which will be displayed on the digital signage or locate the desired product in the store,etc,. Lets hope these solutions soon hit the market.

Video Description:

IdentityMine was once again chosen by Microsoft to demo retail solutions at the NRF conference in New York (Jan. 2011). This video shows a customer experience that incorporates a mobile device, tablet, and digital displays. The demo includes customer and retailer alerts, suggestions, interactive displays, and more. It demonstrates ways to leverage mobile apps for self-assist and in-store scenarios, facilitates more effective interactions with retail staff, and increases the ROI on digital signage. www.IdentityMine.com

Via: 1800pocketpc.com

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Concept: Windows Phone 7 contact page with a dash of history and presence

March 12, 2011 | By rush24

As a follow up from the last concept design for a hybrid unified email hub, I have come up with concept that I think will enhance the individual contacts page. The two additions are a “presence bar” and a history page.

Presence bar

When the user taps on one of their contacts, they are sent to the normal profile page, but this one includes a new addition, a presence bar. The primary function of the bar is to quickly alert the user if their friend’s availability on Windows Live Messenger, Xbox live, Twitter or Foursquare (an interval period since the last entry can be set for the last two in order to approximate whether the contact is online) e.t.c. The four tabs are customizable to take into account what network the friends are on. The tabs will be gray if they are not available, and change to different colors or maybe just have an overlay indicating whether they are busy, away or available in case of IM. I just used icons, but a different design that fits better with the Metro UI could still work.

History tab

With Windows phone 7 ‘s philosophy of trying to save users from having to jump in and out of apps, I think a history tab would be perfect to help in this regard. With it, a user can quickly glance at all the various communications they have recently had with a particular contact and act accordingly. In addition to the list above, there could be tweets, Zune social updates, Xbox live notifications and more. The History could be filtered so that only updates within the last day, week or month appear.

What do you guys think?

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