14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has recently rolled out a new major interface update for its OneDrive app for Windows Phone, providing users with easier ways to access files and manage their accounts.
But contrary to Microsoft’s expectations, most users were actually outraged at the new design, claiming that Redmond was actually tweaking its apps to look more like those on Android, thus affecting their experience on Windows Phone.
There’s no doubt that this is a very subjective comment, but it quickly gained thousands of votes on Microsoft’s very own Windows Phone UserVoice thread, so the company had no other choice than to find a way to bring the OneDrive design in line with the other apps on its mobile platform.
Fast forward to today and here we have a new version of OneDrive that comes with a design truly inspired by Windows Phone in an attempt clearly supposed to address recent complaints.
Several UI changes
As one could easily notice after deploying the new OneDrive version, the app now comes without the top bar but adds Windows Phone-like shortcuts to the main sections, including photos, recent, and files. New buttons are also available at the bottom of the app too.
As Microsoft notes in the official changelog for this new version, the updated app comes with UX updates and improvements, but also with an “All Photos” view that displays basically all pictures in your account in just a single place.
This feature clearly comes in handy especially to those who have configured their mobile phones to automatically upload camera photos to their OneDrive accounts.
At the same time, the new OneDrive app also includes search updates for personal and work accounts, as well as access to the recycle bin just in case you accidentally deleted files.
Why so much criticism?
Some users claim that Microsoft’s previous OneDrive redesign actually copies Android’s approach in terms of apps’ looks, so in their opinion, Redmond should try to capitalize on the fact that Windows Phone “is different.”
“Return to your design language of Pivots and Hubs; let Android copy Windows Phone instead, like they're already doing with their new flatter UI graphics,” some users said in the feedback submitted to Microsoft on the UserVoice threads.
It remains to be seen if the new OneDrive design is more pleasing for Windows Phone fans, but there’s no doubt that Microsoft indeed needs to stick to its own design identity, especially if it wants to improve the user base of its modern mobile platform.
