I am really, honestly sorry (as I have been using symbian devices for very long time) to say that S^4 is faaar behind Android in developing the UI

S^4 just delivers little improvments while android is rushing fast understanding what consumers need and want and giving it to them

just compare the pictures which shows groups of apps on S^4

with this grouping of pictures on android (it is said that this kind of interface will be used in next version of android) : www.youtube.com/watch?v=1E1mSSBKEPU

- was it so difficult to invent such attractive and natural (resembling what we do in real life) way of grouping things

I believe Android in this case features a concept (that is said to be revealed in next android versions) of making UI as close to real life experience and that is easy to operate as it is our natural way of accting - this may change way we operate mobiles

...what is Symbian response ?

with really great regards and wishes for great ideas !!!

--Xp135 23:39, 16 July 2010 (BST)

My previous comment could be harsh - I did not mean to offend anybody – If somebody feels offended I am sorry for that but I was so frustrated when I saw the pictures and compared them to what android already delivers (so in some part I even lost logical sense of sentences) …I just would like Symbian to deliver something... of top quality – the most intuitive and attractive UI

I am afraid that small improvement of what we already have is not enough Symbian need to run (not walk) in search for most intuitive and attractive UI

How much more natural and intuitive is grouping apps in a pile (or something similar that we know from real life) rather than repeat the same way of grouping apps as we had before and we know that is not appreciated by consumers (the issue of finding an app that was hidden in unintuitive menus has long been criticized)

If Goggle guys could why could not somebody else ?

--Xp135 23:56, 16 July 2010 (BST)

Can we please leave this comments section for query's about the instructions and perhaps some specific constructive criticism of the UI? I appreciate that you don't quite see what you want - but just saying 'Google are doing a better job' doesn't really help.

Thanks,

--Bdonegan 11:12, 17 July 2010 (BST)

To Bdonegan

You did what I was afraid that Symbian team members would do and what I wanted so much not to happen a.) disregard b.) respond in a manner: "you came to offend us” or, “we now better what is going on" or (what in fact happened) “you are stupid, you do not know what you want” anyway “WE WILL NOT LISTEN”

since you wrote “I appreciate that you don't quite see what you want - but just saying 'Google are doing a better job'” I guess (and I hope it was the reason for your reply) I did not make myself clear, so let me explain what I meant:

As I mentioned I do care about Symbian future so I came to you in order to draw your attention to the facts that: - Intuitive UIs, imitating real life situation seems to be happening now and are desired by consumers (old style menus are just not enough were used by me as an example) - aesthetic, visual aspect of UI is extremely important - there are UIs that are more advance in those both areas

It is more intuitive/easier and more pleasant to use when your UI resembles things that surrounds you on everyday basis (like iphone “library”, or CDs “catalogue”)

But what is most of all important: It seems that you took best of existing UIs but remember that what we had when you started the project and even what we have now is just not enough. In order to be successful you need to not only anticipate but DRIVE THE FUTURE. !!! Since competition is so severe you need to do it FASTER THAN COPMPETITORS !!! I am afraid that there is no silver medal for second place. now Google (but also Meamo / Meego team in many areas) seems to be able to drive the change, but I hope and still believe that you can do it as well

… and after all what I can see as a response: “(not that much) dear customer – please shut up, we will not listen”

--Xp135 22:08, 18 July 2010 (BST)

About the UI, if only talk about homescreen and menu, I think you should make it as a big widget.

System only output data of current information to display, and let build-in web browser to render it into homescreen and menu (so at first we need a good web browser to support all mainstream web technology and run smooth).

So a theme will be a web-page (widget) that define the characteristic of UI elements such as size, position, graphic, effects and behavior. And can define a middle layer for external widgets, between layers for top display elements (like signal strength, signal type and battery remains) or bottom display elements (like wallpaper that may continue in multiple homescreens or display a map that using GPS data to show your position. not in another widget but in wallpaper).

If you make this full customizable then every user can have the UI they want, developers can make various UI that look very different, Nokia or other companies using symbian can give their different series of phones very different UI looks which optimize for fun or for work or for simple life.

You need to make several template themes, for users who don't want to spend time on themes can directly use them, and for users who want to play it deep can study from them.

And if this full custom theme system can work, I think it will be more fun than making little applications or small games. For more, if you use this system to create some "symbian-tan" theme, half of the Japanese geeks may crazy for it and through that i-thing away :-)

At the end, all I want to do is just make an ancient Japanese style clock (called "watokei") in a mobile device that have GPS, and make a little girl drawing in the homescreen that can talk to me (with text) about the informations of phone or today's schedule......

--Gawein 04:55, 20 July 2010 (BST)

Would it be possible to build the S^4 homescreen for S^1? If yes, what is needed to run it on the device?

--Fonix232 09:20, 22 July 2010 (BST)