WhatsApp for iOS 7 - Redesign Concepts

WhatsApp is an app with huge user base, and it is one of the most used networking and chatting app. Facebook and Twitter already rolled out app updates, but some popular apps including WhatsApp needs to be updated to match iOS 7 flat design.

We don’t see updates for WhatsApp more often but they should consider an update since their current version doesn’t look good on iOS 7. And since the app is popular among users all over the world, the developers of WhatsApp should make the update visually good and appealing and not like what it use to look now.

Even apps like WeChat and Line look better than the WhatsApp for Android. I don’t know if it is right or not but I personally don’t like the way the app is designed for both Android and iOS, the design could be much better. The design team behind WhatsApp should really focus on the current design trends.

Well, as soon as Apple announced iOS 7, designers over at Behance are posting their own redesign concepts for WhatsApp matching iOS 7′s flat interface. Here are some of the designs I personally liked and would want WhatsApp to look like any of these concepts if it is possible.

               

The concept is very well designed. The passcode screen is inspired from the iOS 7 passcode screen, which is good for security purpose. The home screen lists the favorite people for instant messaging. The profile page could be better, the font is too small. I like the themes part, the feature to allow theming WhatsApp is nice idea.

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This is my favorite concept designed by Italy based designer, Francesco Bonomi. The interface is clean, flat and retina ready. The conversations page is beautiful with great detail in typography. This concept is inspired from the current layout of WhatsApp for iOS but it looks much better and cleaner.

Windows 9 - Amazing Desktop Concept

Microsoft is going to release Windows 8.1 next, so it will take a long time for Windows 9 update, but the concepts for the OS interface are already coming. The switch from Windows 7 to Windows 8 was huge in terms of design. The Metro Interface have got mixed opinions from users, while some of them like it, most of the users are happy with Windows 7. Microsoft also confirmed that Windows 8.1 will have the same design but with some small graphics improvements and tweaks.

I personally didn’t like Windows 8, the combined Metro and Windows Apps isn’t something I was expecting, there should be either only Metro Apps, or just the Windows apps. I just hope for design consistency and improvements in the future updates, and it would be great if they can consider this concept.

Start Screen

Local & Bing search. Transparent live tiles. Access to settings. Always accessible and visible in the window reel.

The main, Start screen is refreshing and very well crafted. The desktop features common information and shortcuts to the apps just as Mac’s dock with transparent background, looks Uber cool.

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Windows previews

Full window previews instead of icons or tiles. Context and window order stay consistent. Natural interaction with touch, keyboard, mouse and even voice control.

The opened apps shortcut Alt + Tab shows the icons of the Apps and not the live preview, the concept suggests that there should be live previews.

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All Apps

Easy access to an exhaustive list of installed, available applications. While pinned apps are customizable, all apps are shown in alphabetical order in a consistent manner.

No tiles, no big square, just simple and clean list of apps installed. Looks much better than original All Apps interface of Windows 8.

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Smart Settings

Windows 9 adapts to various input methods, but users can also adjust the behavior themselves. Regardless of whether you prefer traditional desktop usage or full-screen metro-style workflow, you’ll feel at home.

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Fully Functional Apps

All traditional and metro Windows apps work seamlessly on Windows 9. Familiar window controls and rearrangement are available for users to give just the right amount of control.

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Personalization

Users are given control over the desktop background that gives personality to the user experience.

The concept is really nice and practical. Most of the functionalities are inspired from the original interface of Windows 8, but design is much more consistent and clean in the concept. I really liked the way the idea of transparent app designs, like in Skype and Windows Settings and the taskbar in the concept is way better than Windows 8 taskbar, multitasking would be much better with such a taskbar with pinned apps and a link to All Apps section.

Windows 9 Concept Shows That “Windows are not Dead”

The debut of Microsoft’s Modern UI in the Windows 8 operating system made many believe that Redmond might at some point turn its flagship product into a touch-optimized platform, but that’s very unlikely to happen in the coming years.

What’s more, Microsoft is slowly making some significant changes to its operating system in order to better work on desktop computers, adding options to run Metro apps on the desktop and even a Start Menu to bring back the user-friendly look of the platform.


A concept created by designer Jerry Jappinen shows that Windows aren’t dead yet, bringing options to launch Metro apps in their own windows and making the desktop a lot more useful.

“Windows 9 unifies previous contrasting paradigms, taking design cues from all platforms and recent innovations,” the designer states.

“The new design stays true to the Windows design principles but also shows maturity and focus. Windows 9 simplifies consumer computing experience without sacrificing capabilities or introducing radically new paradigms with no clear return of investment.”

His concept comes with window previews, so you get full window previews instead of icons or tiles, but also so-called smart settings that allow Windows 9 to adapt to various input methods. More personalization options are also included, and so is a greatly improved All Apps view on the Start screen.

“Windows 9 lays its elements firmly on a space that is natural to use in an environment of 2D display and input. While this space is proudly digital, it feels authentic and does not conflict with the way humans expect natural objects to act,” the designer stated.

“Touch, mouse + keyboard and other input methods do not require a fundamentally different UI structure. While touch input requires large hit targets, for example, cursor-based interaction benefits from them as well. On Windows 9, apps can easily optimize their interface for the user based on detected input device.”

Windows 9 is expected to see daylight in April 2015, but Microsoft is finally expected to share more information on this new project this year at the BUILD 2014 developer conference.