People say the same things about Microsoft's UI, but they've done pretty well for themselves anyway. Google has well for themselves too. I really don't doubt that Google can do this, they aren't technology slouches. Some of the stuff I've heard about is pretty amazing.
Sure, they're not "tech slouches", but that's not the same as having a demonstrated knack for UI design, and when it comes to phones, UI design is pretty much the whole ballgame-- especially if, as is rumored, Google intends to partner with handset manufacturers to provide some kind of OS or functionality layer on top of an existing OS.
MS got away with some pretty shoddy UI design for many years due to their dominate position on the desktop, certainly they didn't achieve that position because everyone thought MS-DOS or Windows 3 had really great interfaces. If they had entered a market resembling the current cell market with those offerings it seems pretty unlikely that they would ever have had much success.
I think it's pretty clear that the whole point of a Google phone would be some kind of value added play that involves Google services, but if such services are wrapped in an unlovely, indifferent UI (which everything Google has ever done suggests that it would be), just how appealing would that be, really?
If making a great, or even decent, phone UI were as simple as having resources, a portfolio of services and a notion to try, then we would have a lot more great or decent phone UIs out there.
I also wonder how much "wow" Google can bring at this point, since their web based model means that any phone with a browser already has access to anything they do. I'm sure they can cook up some cross app fun, but still.
Basically, I still can't understand why "Google" and "phone" in the same sentence makes anyone think "awesome", given the look and feel of what Google has done in the past.
I think Addabox brings up some good points. I'm sure someone knows, but what exactly is Google trying to do or improve upon? Are they just introducing a UI to cell phones that makes search easier? If so I don't think that adds a lot to what's already out there.
In addition, the iPhone has 'raised the bar' when it comes to cell phone UI. What might have looked good in the google lab 12 months ago might not cut it now.
Sure, they're not "tech slouches", but that's not the same as having a demonstrated knack for UI design, and when it comes to phones, UI design is pretty much the whole ballgame-- especially if, as is rumored, Google intends to partner with handset manufacturers to provide some kind of OS or functionality layer on top of an existing OS.
I'm still sure they can do a lot better than most of the existing players, most of which don't necessarily have said knack. I think focusing on just one element of the device does a diservice to an adequate analysis. If the UI was really that important to the market as a whole, I don't think most of the current companies would be in the position they are in.
I was wondering. If google is interested in branching out, why haven't they released an internet browser? Seems much more aligned with their core business and competency.
Comments
People say the same things about Microsoft's UI, but they've done pretty well for themselves anyway. Google has well for themselves too. I really don't doubt that Google can do this, they aren't technology slouches. Some of the stuff I've heard about is pretty amazing.
Sure, they're not "tech slouches", but that's not the same as having a demonstrated knack for UI design, and when it comes to phones, UI design is pretty much the whole ballgame-- especially if, as is rumored, Google intends to partner with handset manufacturers to provide some kind of OS or functionality layer on top of an existing OS.
MS got away with some pretty shoddy UI design for many years due to their dominate position on the desktop, certainly they didn't achieve that position because everyone thought MS-DOS or Windows 3 had really great interfaces. If they had entered a market resembling the current cell market with those offerings it seems pretty unlikely that they would ever have had much success.
I think it's pretty clear that the whole point of a Google phone would be some kind of value added play that involves Google services, but if such services are wrapped in an unlovely, indifferent UI (which everything Google has ever done suggests that it would be), just how appealing would that be, really?
If making a great, or even decent, phone UI were as simple as having resources, a portfolio of services and a notion to try, then we would have a lot more great or decent phone UIs out there.
I also wonder how much "wow" Google can bring at this point, since their web based model means that any phone with a browser already has access to anything they do. I'm sure they can cook up some cross app fun, but still.
Basically, I still can't understand why "Google" and "phone" in the same sentence makes anyone think "awesome", given the look and feel of what Google has done in the past.
In addition, the iPhone has 'raised the bar' when it comes to cell phone UI. What might have looked good in the google lab 12 months ago might not cut it now.
Sure, they're not "tech slouches", but that's not the same as having a demonstrated knack for UI design, and when it comes to phones, UI design is pretty much the whole ballgame-- especially if, as is rumored, Google intends to partner with handset manufacturers to provide some kind of OS or functionality layer on top of an existing OS.
I'm still sure they can do a lot better than most of the existing players, most of which don't necessarily have said knack. I think focusing on just one element of the device does a diservice to an adequate analysis. If the UI was really that important to the market as a whole, I don't think most of the current companies would be in the position they are in.