What you might want to know
- On October 21, 2010, Microsoft launched Home windows Telephone 7 globally
- The official US launch was a couple of weeks later, on November 8
- Home windows Telephone 7 borrowed loads from the Zune media participant and stood out from the gang
Home windows Telephone 7 goes down as one of many iconic moments for Microsoft’s cell ambitions. Till then, the corporate was driving on fumes with Home windows Cell 6.5 with earlier rumors of a ‘Photon OS,’ aka Home windows Cell 7, to switch it.
However as a substitute of constant with a brand new period of Home windows Cell design, the corporate selected the very daring path of Home windows Telephone 7 Sequence (Microsoft, fortunately, later dropped ‘Sequence’ from the identify).
Home windows Telephone 7 was a completely new mind-set about an working system. The UI borrowed loads from the Zune collection of music gamers, which borrowed from Home windows Media Heart, and located inspiration from the Swiss Motion within the 1960′s. Steeped in fonts like Helvetica and later Segoe WP, Microsoft’s “fashionable and clear” design language had a philosophy behind it and even a intelligent identify – Metro UI – because the structure was like street indicators: Clear, iconic, and text-driven.
Metro UI later advanced to a generic “Home windows 8 consumer interface” as a consequence of a trademark declare by German multinational corp Metro AG. That didn’t cease many apps, like MetroTube, from embracing the philosophy, which Home windows Telephone followers embraced as a badge of honor.
In fact, what made Home windows Telephone 7 so enjoyable on the time was how distinctive it was in comparison with iOS and Android. Microsoft’s design relied on a pure white or black “theme,” with no wallpaper and daring Reside Tiles that showcased pictures, app updates, and no matter builders got here up with.
Reside Tiles advanced to Home windows 8, which, regrettably, was rejected by the general public as too radical of a change from the traditional desktop. Xbox additionally embraced a Tile-like design for a few years as the corporate sought to align its design philosophy throughout manufacturers.
Regardless of Microsoft’s very forward-looking and radical reconceptualization of what a contemporary UI ought to appear like, many individuals discovered the cellphone OS too stark and even complicated from afar versus the extra acquainted app icons on a desktop strategy of iOS and Android.
Principally, you both “bought” Metro UI, otherwise you didn’t.
However let’s face it, Microsoft’s Metro UI flat design language, which rejected skeuomorphism, was virtually artwork. Its look nonetheless resonates with individuals who grabbed Home windows Telephone 7 launch units like Samsung Focus, HTC HD7, Dell Venue Professional, LG Quantum, HTC Encompass, and LG Optimus 7 each day.
Was Microsoft forward of its time, or just too late to the get together?
The reply is each, in fact. Home windows Telephone 7 got here too late to the market, having to play catchup since its inception. However Microsoft, and the proficient folks behind the Home windows Telephone 7 OS, deserve all of the credit score for making the daring option to create an OS that’s nonetheless fondly mentioned 12 years later.
