[IxDA Discuss] Motorola navigation scheme all over the place?

[Ted Booth]

Hi Hjerde,

What you are seeing is probably the result of a couple things.

My guess is the soft key labeling variation comes from the carriers. 
The graphic variation does for sure. Depending on where you got those 
screen shots, it could also come from regional-specific design 
decisions. Motorola does a fair bit of regional specialization in their 
phones and UI, both for carriers as well as end users.

Motorola is also moving to a new OS, which will bring a new UI with it 
as well. The Z8 has the new OS to the best of my understanding. I'm not 
sure what image of the Z8 you saw, so it's hard to tell what's going on 
with the camera label.

There is only one design group for the consumer handsets. It's big but 
well coordinated, so that's probably not causing it.

Cheers,

Ted

On May 16, 2007, at 5:41 AM, Morten Hjerde wrote:

> Hi list
>
> Does anyone know where the Motorola mobile phone navigation style is 
> going?
> They sell phones with 2 and 3 softkeys and both left and right negative
> option placement.
>
> Image here. <http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=500591594&size=o>
>
> I got somewhat excited about the Z8 phone. From looking at review 
> images and
> videos, it seems like they have a consistent "negative options to the 
> right"
> scheme. It seem to have the superior 3 softkey scheme down, but the 
> "Camera"
> label breaks it. Is the Camera label on the actual phone or is it
> photoshop'ed there by the marketing department?
>
> The L7 and L7e phones has swapped left and right keys. It could look 
> like a
> sign of progress...? On the other hand, they has dropped the 3 softkey
> scheme for 2 softkeys.
>
> What is the reason for having interaction styles all over the place? 
> (Motor
> memory anyone?) Is is coming from the Operators? Are there multiple 
> design
> departments? Conway's Law 
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway%27s_Law>?
>
>
>
> -- 
> Morten Hjerde
> http://sender11.typepad.com
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