Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

Who else is Chris? Or did you mean Josh? Because I'm good with a pencil, but have zero graphical skills.

From what I'm hearing, we may be able to benefit from an extended library of widgets, buttons, etc. Is there a way we can do that? Joshua has some great skills, and this may be where he can help out.

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

I'm not sure that I like the Application Manager's main screen as it looks so different from everything else. I wonder why it is different and what you guys think of that.

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

i agree with you. the n900 is a beast but the average cell user will most likely be turned away by look of alot the apps. even though these are functionaly great.

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

just consider, the n900 is not the avarage mainstream consumer product, it is stll a niche product for tech geeks.

most people with that kind of tech affinity rather tend to like their gadgets clean, simple and minimalistic style wise. I do work as I Graphics Artist and Userinterface Designer and I really appreciate Interfaces that tend to reduce instead of trying to cram tons of unnecessary visual information into a tiny space. There are times were I work on projects were the clients wants a *blinged* out interface and it always breaks my heart if the client doesn't listen to my advice saying that it will most likely confuse more people, and it will not give the application the extended usability they actually long for.

in a sentence:

keep it as simple as possible and you will most likely have no confused user of your application - and this one of the most important rules of interface design

just my 2 cents

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

You know something, while the Josh's mock up looks great from a functional end - and seems to borrow form Gravity (Symbian^1 version) - the second one seems to better follow the UI guidelines, and evne introduces a bit of a nuance with the bottom text box that needs to be considered for future updates to the UI guide.

In light of this respective thread (since I posted the above paragraph in the other), I would also be more inline with a theme that changes *most* of the look and feel of the UI elements, but then some better attention paid to the usage paradigm or user flow when designing applications.

Maemo 5 more or less relies on the idea that most of the interactions are linear and sub-actions are given thru simplistic (end-user perspective) means. If you will, craming the window full of features isn't good, yet leaving a page devioid of them isn't as well. Discoverability should be a defining characteristic of any application, especially in an environment which is emphasizing touch with fingers over touch with styli.

Now, looking at this app, I can see off the bat that there should be smaller buttons on the sidebar, and that a gesture-based interface needs to be utilized for interacting with it. This app has a similar user process flow as Fennec/Firefox Mobile. And the UI really should be similar because of it.

The "shiny" is another matter. Once the functionality of the UI is met, then let's get a theme and/or some custom elements on the screen - maybe even specfic for that app - which makes sense, and endears some positive opinions.

By the way, the sidebar button sizes might not be in the UI document. If not, its best *not* to take the same rule that Symbian^1 has for size, and functions. Working on an N97 everyday, I can tell you that those button guidelines aren't optimial.

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

I go agree with both partys here..

I agree with the developers making their app as basic as possible so every1 can use it.
Also their aim is to make an application that works and not something that looks nifty but doesnt do jack. Plus their probably not into designing something and they dont want to kill their app with weird looking designs.

On the other hand as an app-user and a graphic designer I do like to have some eye-candy. As some already pointed out that most apps are made by ''just'' people. People who don't have must experience with aspects of design like: User experience, Interaction Design and Interface Design.

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

Does the guidelines suggest a size, what size would you suggest? I'm a developer first, albeit a flash dev, but I take criticism well and focus on making things better. I'll read through the guidelines tonight and make changes.

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

How do I get started? I downloaded theme maker, but those psds are a bit confusing, could you send me a psd of a theme you started?

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

There's nothing confusing about the psds. You really just have to use trial and error to learn. All you need is already in the template so you wouldn't really benefit from any of my templates.

Re: Most maemo apps are buttafaces
 

Are the layers in the PSDs named and commented? That would seem to me as the only reason for confusion.

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Maemo 5 Human User Interface Guidelines
http://wiki.maemo.org/Documentation/...ace_Guidelines