So, yesterday I compared new UIs in Leopard to the Italian Renaissance. Well, I have been thinking about it more, and have decided to write second and third articles, following in the same vein.
The second OS integrating more flashy visual effects is, of course, Windows Vista. The most notable new feature is the transparency and Flip 3D. I have not used Vista, so I cannot speak as to whether there are any more subtle, mac-like animations, or whether there is just fancy fading and 3D-ness. Vista backs all of its new effects (Flip 3D and Aero) with a new compositor, similar to how Mac OS X introduced Quartz five years ago. Then Mac OS X had overused transparency for inactive windows, but some things, such as the anti-aliasing, made it look a lot better than Windows.
Windows Vista uses a couple of renaissance techniques; because it has a 3D rendering engine backing every window it can do some interesting things with the windows. Vista can flip the windows at an angle to enable quick browsing through them. Vista also incorporates some non-3D effects, such as the fake glare on the glass windows. Bright, candy colors also adorn the new iCal clone, and perspective, though not as emphasized as in Leopard, has a tiny role.
I think that Vista could have sold (sold, not gotten better reviews) a lot better if it had some flashy visual effects that aren't transparency. For example, although this may be going out on a limb, it could actually use its 3D interface to make the windows move into an open space whenever they have a modal dialogue box, or changed their appearance somehow. However, another part of me thinks it would have done just as bad for lack of a killer app.
Technorati Tags: Italian Renaissance, Leopard, Mac, Mac OS X, Microsoft, Quartz, Vista, Windows
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