Windows 8 App Store Quality

It looks like someone else took a stab at Windows 8 App Store critique, but like the blog I posted previously, there hasn't been much activity as of late. 

Conspiracy? Took Josh's advice? Or maybe they just don't care anymore.

The cool thing is this new guy put together a Windows 8 app store browsing site so we can see the glory that is the app store from non Win8 devices.

@DCMonkey:

isn't there already web pages for Metro store? I bookmarked the drawing app and I remember is it a Microsoft URL. Will post once I get home.

18 minutes ago, magicalclick wrote

@DCMonkey:

isn't there already web pages for Metro store? I bookmarked the drawing app and I remember is it a Microsoft URL. Will post once I get home.

There are, but you had to know the URL as there was no way to browse or search the store outside of Windows 8. Although incomplete, this site allows that to some extent.

@DCMonkey:

what is just soooo odd. I hope MS hire 5 intern get make the browsing page. Because everything id already setup.

Apps like this, where the developers don't know how to build a proper app bar. This is why we need conferences like MIX....because too many developers are building cr@pware without any thought to design.

@Harlequin: Why does MS even let those things in the store if they so blatantly violate the design guidelines?

@Sven Groot: Frankly I think a lot of us developers are going to have a hard time always sticking to the guidelines in building store apps. I know they want everyone to design with a "do more with less" mentality, but there are a lot of apps that cannot be simplified that much. For example, look at what Microsoft had to do with the Messenger app or Mail app. They are so simplistic and crippled, they're almost useless.

@Visible = False: Guidelines are just that, guidelines, and there's plenty of legitimate reasons to dance around them on occasion.

But there's a difference between being creative with the guidelines and making a horrible ugly mess of the app bar as in that application.

I just got invited to a 'free' 2 day design course that Microsoft are running in London (hmmm, I wonder why they invited me?) so there is no doubting that the desire for their developers/designers to utilise good design is there.  And there is clearly a demand judging by how quickly these events sell out.

But as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water ...

BTW I think my design skills are actually improving, Still lots of work to do but actually quite chuffed with the latest revision to LTN.  (Go on, I dare you ... do your worst ...)

@Ian2: Remove the gradients from the group titles, they don't sit well with the general flat look.

I like the shot of the semantic zoom, looks really good.

Herbie

The quality of their graphics looks great! Yet, some apps looks improper.

How does limiting access to the app store make it any better? It's a search and indexing problem, not a gatekeeper problem.

2 hours ago, Dr Herbie wrote

@Ian2: Remove the gradients from the group titles, they don't sit well with the general flat look.

Herbie

Thanks and damn ... I thought the gradient just added a little something that seemed like it was missing before.  (Kind of expecting to be hammered for that at the workshop next week though)