Today, as a small concern, I would be careful mimicking Apple's GUI. If you get too close, you'll be recognized by their lawyers, and will spend your time answering summons.

The issue is that knowledge is habit and Apple has set a standard that has been adapted by the mobile computing industry. People then approach touch screens as if they are trhe same and opperate identically to mobile computers. Swipes have become the de facto standard, though on my Droid swipes are combines with hard button presses for navegation.

I can well understand why a swipe on a iPod list would be desired. I'm less happy with using it in place of top/bottom navegation menus. I can see it being used with plan navegations as you can finally make the plan large enough to be understood. The problem becomes convincing the client that its absence is not a fault. I don't like them save in the instinces I listed above. Like every tool it has its place. But a touch panel should have buttons. Apple products do not or have to few. But the ubiquity of Apple products makes breaking clients of their habits of thought that much more difficult.

LOL how about you read the rest of the comments before posting next time? The one just above yours would have saved you from "stepping in it".

Unlike some of the "experts" around here i understand that its impossible to know everything and my penis doesn't shrink when new information shows up. Those who claim to be experts at anything make me laugh like a school girl.

I think the words "please choose" on the first image in this thread go against the purpose of having an "icon driven" control system.

Its useless clutter like that which kills me in a touchscreen design.

Mac, crestrontemplates.com, nice add... :)

I hate it also but... I'm just as guilty.

An old example.



A more recent example.



It SHOULD be obvious that if you select Audio you should then select an audio source. The problem? Some clients don't get it. Its especially tricky with systems GUI's that are not logic driven. So lets say the client turns the system off with one remote and the other remote is tracking state. Client picks up remote and only sees audio sources and cant figure out where the lighting button is. The text saying "select a source" reminds them they are on the AV page.

I am currently working on a GUI that uses drop down and popup sub pages for selecting different sources/devices or sub menu objects. The idea here is that if you are watching directv (for example) and want to adjust lights... you press the lights button on the fixed nav bar and a popup appears for lighting control. You adjust lights and close the popup having never left the DirecTV menu. The current system i have with Tactical is that you press lights, leave the directv menu and adjust lights then either use a BACK return button or you have to select AV/DirecTV to get back.

Its really the same number of button presses but psychologically it makes panel navigation much easier. The end user doesn't have to "leave" the DirecTV menu so they never have that sense of "im lost".


Thanks :)

What I find funny, is that all the way back in 1973 Xerox had already figured out the 3-button mouse. :-)

I think the text with icons is a good way to provide guidance to those clients who are afraid to press buttons. It's kind of obvious, but reassuring nonetheless. I think when the nervous guy has a touchscreeen with many buttons his instincts tend to tell him - DO NOT PRESS ANYTHING WRONG! I think the text provides a friendly way of saying "It's okay to press somethng.."

To answer Julie's question, I have had clients tell me to make it look like anything but an iphone.

I wouldn't say mimicking, necessarily. I do think it important to give the GUI an iPad "look and feel" so I use Apple Wallpaper in some of my backgrounds.

my iPhone designs (still a work in progress)

crestron iPhone interface - custom design from Mosey Levy on Vimeo.

Crestron iPhone app - custom - updated w quick activities. from Mosey Levy on Vimeo.

I did, and they mentioned several single XEROX systems, but PARC was responsible for the systems and the ideas behind them.

I didn't "step in it" but you sure did.

I find it funny how you are so ready to get up on a soapbox and proclaim that something is the best, or in this case the innovator, when you really don't know. It's not like every Apple fanboi hasn't been made aware of XEROX PARC. So, as an Apple fanboi it was time for you to get some schooling. Apple didn't even come close to inventing GUI's, icon's or most of the rest of what many people give them credit for. They are more like Microsoft than any fanboi wants to admit.

I also find the harsh tone of your reply funny. You seem to get your panties in a wad pretty quick their school girl.

You saying it doesn't make it so.


When i proclaim something is best... it is. It may take the rest of you a while to figure it out or admit it but in the end... you know i was right.

Please link to one instance where i claimed anything in your above paragraph about apple inventing "GUI's, icon's".

You are making a false misleading statement in an effort to make it look like you have caught me "stepping in something".

As a matter of fact my statements in this thread were exactly opposite. I stated that no one is copying iOS. I even showed examples of a GUI i created utilizing icons well before iOS was even on the drawing board. I also stated that icon based GUI's came from computer desktop GUI's.

I said "apple or microsoft as far as i know". When someone provided me with more information i accepted it. So please... show me where my soap box was.


LOL. You misquote me and make things up and call me the school girl? I think you are the one with the puddle in your shorts.

No use having a discussion here. A discussion requires the other party to actually listen. You are not interested in that. Nothing to be gained, so I'm done.

so happy you are done.

It also requires that you make true statements when accusing people of things.