Comments on post “Microsoft To-Do”
Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
Wow...
Name: To-Do
Logo: Checkmark...
I guess corporate b.s. definitely kicked in...
WL: "Let's do something bold!" -> MS: "Let's play it safe",
WL: "Let's design something that people remember" -> MS: "Let's do something that other people are doing",
WL:"Let's create an icon that stands out in the App/Play Store" -> MS: "Let's do something people already understand"
It's a shame how such a remarkable design as Wunderlist just got thrown in the dump for a design that I have seen 100x on Dribbble. Come on Wunderlist team, where are the balls to fight for something you believe in?
Sorry for the rant - but let's be serious here. For a German startup, you even got in the minds of so many US users, your icon is even used in the PH onboarding when it comes to "productivity". I loved Wunderlist for sticking to its guns. Sure you have to become more fluid with the "design language" of Microsoft. 'Make it personal' and 'create delight' are the "principles"... Guess those flew out the window at meeting 27.
p.s. I do love the WL team for creating something so beautiful simple years ago. So kudos to that team.
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Lyondhur
@lyondhur · SM UX/IxD Designer ProdDev & Scrum Coach
@bjorn_bakker I had a ton of stuff in there (I used it as an actionable bookmarker) and it's done my head in to get it all out into.. Asana. FFSake!
Anyway, I'm not surprised. Virtually everything that Microsoft touches turns into shite. They buy the biggest bite, chew it raw and spit it out, bones only. BAU
WTF are they thinking? That millions of users will simply jump into an app that is dead certain not to achieve a fraction of what Wunderlist has all these years? Borderline bonkers, not to say arrogant AF.
This is how a once great product, carefully crafted, dies on the hands of those who have money and no thing else.
The new app.. sucks.. hairy.. bollux.
German precision and style, replaced by Uncle Larry basement shite.
Apologies for the tone; ain't no nice a way to say it.
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james huang
@weiluenhuang · Product @ Microsoft
@bjorn_bakker Do you think the textures and skeuomorphisms + drop shadows were getting a bit long in the tooth, though?
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Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
@lyondhur haha no there is no nice way to say it... :P
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Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
Where are the downvotes when you need them @nivo0o0?
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Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
@weiluenhuang you know what I find so funny. Most designers don't design for their users, they design for other designers (I actually think I just stole that quote from Ogilvy). Do I think it should have been untouched for years to come — absolutely not! However, to become oblivious with an almost stock-like experience... Nobody wants to be that, right? I still find most peace of mind with 400+ books around me - not in some hipsterish trendy café, where people are more concerned with their latest sneaker trend instead of the actual best coffee.
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james huang
@weiluenhuang · Product @ Microsoft
@bjorn_bakker agreed, hopefully the Wunderlist team will add some of the character back into the application as it evolves.
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Q
@qthebrand · Creator, QtheBrand
@bjorn_bakker I have been a HUGE fan of Wunderlist and have made it mandatory for all of my staff, interns, partners, even significant other join Wunderlist. That is my life-line. While I'm not a fan of being so reliant on any one thing (especially if it's attached to Microsoft), Wunderlist has been a lifesaver. Please excuse me while I go sob in the corner...
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Q
@qthebrand · Creator, QtheBrand
@lyondhur @bjorn_bakker I have ALWAYS been a BIG fan of German engineering. My BF is even German (ha). I was a HUGE advocate for Wunderlist and even converted over 200++ people to use Wunderlist. As an Apple user...I'm not sure I could get on-board with this new app. Lyondhur...you were spot-on about Uncle Larry.
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Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
@qthebrand Ouch... Well, I believe they won't delete your data (unless you don't move over to TO-DO (Are you kidding me... that name).
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Eon
@eonpilot · iOS dev @ github.com/eonist
@bjorn_bakker Funniest PH rant of the month 🏆😻🚀
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Stuart Morris
@stuartmorrisau · Building automation & energy efficiency
@lyondhur Microsoft is not alone here – all the big boys do it, and I'd say MS has been fairly generous with allowing Wunderlist to continue as is for so long. Startups/apps are generally shut down the day they're acquired by Google. Workflow immediately entered maintenance mode when Apple recently bought them. At least Wunderlist has a changeover period where both apps will be operational.
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Shlomo Klahr
@_sklahr_
@bjorn_bakker @weiluenhuang I like that quote about designers, can you find a link to the original context?
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Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
@eonpilot laughter and sadness are very close together on the scale of madness 😖
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Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
@_sklahr_ I can't find the link, however it's in the book 'Ogilvy on Advertising' . Not sure if he said copy writers and I said designers. Will go through my kindle for you ;)
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Melissa Monte
@melissamonteee · Director of Media & Startup Growth
@weiluenhuang @bjorn_bakker I agree... I liked wunderlist a lot but I couldn't get over the outdated design... and thus I deleted it. :-/
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Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
@melissamonteee @weiluenhuang What did you get instead?
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Kori Handy
@koridhandy · Design Founder @designfirstapps
@lyondhur @bjorn_bakker if you want to try Ellroi.com let me know (kori@ellroi.com), we're rethinking and plan to disrupt the bloated products in the workplace productivity space. (Asana, flow..etc)
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Björn Bakker
@bjorn_bakker · Co-founder & CEO @Blindfeed
@lyondhur hahaha I know it's already six days ago but your rant still makes me laugh. I just went back old school in a Moleskin (aka #(@#! paper bundled in a binder).
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Pietz Prove
@gopietz · Media Computer Science Student
@bjorn_bakker i'm probably just stating the obvious here, but in case you REALLY don't understand why they chose this logo and name:
it will show up as "ToDo" on your homescreen using the logo you expect from a todo app. they want to replace your native todo app, if you have one. if they named it "snarky elephant mcmuffin face" it would be just another hipster app instead of something native like your calculator.
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