Why is the general UI in most android apps ugly?

[rapid99]

So I just got an HTC Desire after the contract on my iphone ran its course. I was offered a great deal so it was easy to say yes. I'd used android briefly on my girlfriends hero and in general was impressed, but never really spent any time with it.

After a day of digging around the marketplace and running a number of apps I have realised that the general UI (and UX for that matter) on most apps is, for the most part, poor.

My main gripe is that the standard android look n feel is, quite frankly, not very good. Its basic, kinda ugly, and lacks the 'wow' factor that I was used to from my iphone. Also, is it just harder for devs to make decent UI's on android or something? The typical iphone app looks good, whereas the typical android app looks unfinished and bare. I guess it comes down to the fact that presumably the android sdk doesn't offer the same mature set of controls, dialogs, view and transitions that mobile cocoa does (correct me if im wrong).
I may be being overly critical, after all the majority of apps that I run on my desire look like they were built for a lower resolution screen. Images etc have a nasty blurry look to them. How hard is it to build resolution independent interfaces on android for that matter? Does it use a vector based system for drawing onscreen elements?

Anyway, this is turning into a rant, and it wasn't supposed to be. I just hope that the Android interface 'building tools (sdk etc)' improve so that devs can build better looking interfaces - as it stands at the minute I cant help but feel that Im running a device that is using some clunky open source XWindow type extension - its got that amateurish feel to it.

[rje]

Well, this is truly subjective. I am an iPhone power user. I can repair iPhones. I have a long relationship with the device. I disagree with you about the Android UI. Obviously your eyes see it differently. My advice to you is go back to an iPhone. I find the Android OS refreshingly simple and elegant. I find the iPhone boring. If you can't jailbreak the iPhone, you're stuck with a UI that while not unpleasant, is not perfect, and it does get boring to look at day after day. You can do whatever you want with an Android UI. You can add numerous Home replacements, with endless themes and icon sets. Again, my advice to you is get another iPhone. You'll never be satisfied with what you obviously see as a step down. It isn't by the way. It's a step up fo real users.

[CharlieMiddleton]

Thing with android. Is Its relatively ''new'' so developers are still getting to grips with the os and making a ui for there apps look nice is second on their list of things to do. Making them work is the main thing for most of them! There are some really nice apps and there are some really poor apps out there!! (like the iphone id like to add)

The other thing is the iphone in its latest incarnation. isnt really that different to the 1st gen iphone. But because as you point out (with the sdk). There are countless android based phones so making a app that looks good on the g1 will look poor on the desire for e.g. Also developers will probably only have one handset and use that to test there apps before releasing (back to my point about the iphone. if looks good on one, it will look good on all of them) If you want nice apps. Search for all the google apps (ones developed by google themselves)

Stick with android. I have and would never go back to another mobile os. And the way that apple seem to be going. I dont think i will buy another apple product again!

[rje]

I'm a Mac user and an Apple lover. I have absolutely no interest in PC's. Naturally the iPhone has allure to me because I've been so deeply into the device, and it's seamless relationship with a Mac. Nevertheless I really like Android and I like the Nexus One I'm using. I feel that I have complete control over the phone, unlike the iPhone, which is completely controlled by Apple. I find it interesting that on forum after forum dedicated to Android, people still talk about iPhone as the gold standard, and even suggest that they'd be using an iPhone and not Android if only they could afford it. That astounds me given the price point of high end Androids. Others boast about making their Android phone look like an iPhone. It's time for Android to occupy a position at the forefront of smart phones. It isn't an excuse me my iPhone contract expired phone or a second rate attempt at copying the iPhone. Android is very different. The UI beef is not valid to me. The complaint about apps not looking as good as iPhone apps is not valid to me. They look the same. I will someday use an iPhone again. Right now I feel the phone I have gives me a lot more.

[shogun]

The user interface on Android phones is like looking at my local grocery stores weekly circular. This is my opinion.

[stEEL]

Originally Posted by shogun

The user interface on Android phones is like looking at my local grocery stores weekly circular. This is my opinion.

ROLF

[androidnewer]

Agree with rje, it is a subjective topic. I have an android tablet and played iphone 3GS and iPhone 4. They are just two different style. People who get used to apple UI may not like android UI. For me, i also like apple more, a sense of High-Tech.

[TheOrionThetas]

lolz at shogun

[UKROB]

I think with android the "GENERAL" UI is better and higher quality than iOS if you add themes and modify it, it's nicer and very customizable..

HOWEVER, i do have to AGREE that the apps are always very low quality icons and low quality UI inside of the apps, but this is up to the developers...

All the developers for iPhone apps revamped their apps and put them in a more HD look, why don't the android app developers do the same??

[Nilzor]

Maybe the acceptance criteria for the appStore with regards to UI quality is higher than on Android? Apple may have a higher bar?