The Google Android user interfaces that didn't make the cut

Filed under: Google, Open Source, Mobile, Android

The Google Android user interfaces that didn't make the cut

by Brad Linder Oct 22nd 2008

In case you haven't heard, the T-Mobile G1, or the first mobile phone to run the Google Android operating system, is now available. As we've discussed before, Android has an interesting user interface, that's something of a cross between the iPhone UI and a Windows desktop. But have you ever wondered what design choices Google rejected?

Software design team TAT, which helped create the Google Android interface has posted a page showing a bunch of concept designs that didn't make the final cut. Some of the designs, like "Asia Cute" were obviously a bit too niche to be considered seriously. Others, like "Windows Mobile Homescreen" just seem too busy to me. But the "Browser Concept" view for the web browser is pretty attractive, if not particularly useful. And the "History Lane" interface for the music player could have given Apple's CoverFlow a run for the money.

The nice thing about Google Android is that it's not locked down like the iPhone operating system. And that means there's nothing preventing third party developers from taking some of these design ideas and running with them. Or coming up with something else entirely. We've already seen third party skins for Windows Mobile, and that's a closed source OS. With an open source OS like Android, the sky's the limit.

We'll have more Google Android updates for you throughout the day.

Tags: android, google, tat, user-interface

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

kingkool68 said 10:31AM on 10-22-2008

I'm in love with Business UI, though I hate the name.

Atanas Boev said 12:22PM on 10-22-2008

I am in love with Asia Cute (now, just take this of of context :) )

Quikboy said 10:52PM on 10-22-2008

Wonderful find! Those concept UIs are just amazing.

The neat graphical transitions, the colors, the fluidity, and all of that would be awesome. Some of them, I think are even better than the iPhone UI. It's also neat how some of those could be used on non-touchscreen phones as well.

Google made a good decision hiring this company. Microsoft has made some pretty interfaces before, but their mobile unit has always catered to business users for so long, who I guess don't care about nice interfaces. Microsoft ought to look to getting this company to help them out with WinMo 7, because I haven't seen much of an outstanding UI, not even 6.1.

Quikboy said 10:56PM on 10-22-2008

Oh, and Open GLES, Photoriver, and November Breeze are my absolute favorites.

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