The Technoverse Blog

Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore described the new Windows Phone 7 Series  interface for smartphones as “typographically intense.” With its noticeable lack of graphics, the WP7S has elicited warm memories for some observers of a simpler, mouse-less time. I’d have relegated these feelings to a misplaced nostalgia, but then I detected another signal that I think may point to a t r e n d.

I recently visited the Google Labs page, which is where Google engineers showcase their pre-beta software and other experiments. While there I accidentally came across an interesting cursor-intensive project buried in one of the back-rooms. The idea is that instead of scrolling and selecting Google search results with a mouse, you can use, ahem, the keypad.

I was reminded of a long-ago time when ASCII console editors ruled the computer screen. Read more …

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There’s a new visual design we code named Metro…Metro actually has it roots in Windows.  Media Center on Windows was the first place we did this typographically intense, high motion UI. Then it moved to Zune. …  And now you’ll see it on Windows Phone. Read more …

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I’m over my winter malaise, and ready to look at the new Windows Phone 7 Series (WP7S) in a fairer light. I was helped with my MS aversion condition by a friend who happens to be a  skilled smartphone therapist. His treatment regimen involved viewing the 22-minute Joe Belfiore walk-through and doing some comparative analysis with a few mobile devices that just happened to be lying around. OK, WP7S is quite good. Read more …

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