GUiPod - January 08, 2004
Author: Swizcore Studio
Version: 1.0.1
Reviewed by: Steven Canfield
User Rating: 
64%
GUiPod attempts to copy the look and feel of Apple's iPod OS, as well as the look of the actual iPod hardware. Where it succeeds, it does so fabulously, but it has some minor hiccups. Overall, I'd suggest playing around with GUiPod, sending feedback to Swizcore Studios, and letting it mature to version 2.
Aesthetics
GUiPod is a creative and well realized theme. If you have an iPod sitting on your desk, you can almost imagine that they are running the same operating system. All of the menus and windows look like they are straight from the iPod. The orange color used in so the theme's buttons perfectly captures the new button backlights added to the 3rd generation iPod. I should actually note that the color isn't exactly that used in the iPod, but that isn't noticeable until you get larger areas of the orange. The buttons in the Finder toolbar, particularly the action & path toolbar items really stand out as having an attention to detail. Scrollbars look fantastic, and the flat looking progress indicator is simply amazing. The only problem in terms of looks has to do with the menus. When you select a menu, the menu’s name appears inset in a small LCD, which is a very cool idea. Unfortunately, the text is white and (somewhat) hard to read, as well as fairly squished into the tiny box. This seems to be exaggerated on smaller menus like the Go menu, while the Bookmarks menu in Safari feels like it has plenty of space. Lastly, the look chosen for (formerly) brushed metal style windows looks nice and smooth, as do normal windows (though not quite as smooth, though I suspect that is by design).
Usability
GUiPod is generally quite usable. It has two sore points in an otherwise very clear presentation. The first is the aforementioned menu problem, which causes menu names to be hard to read and to be bunched against their outline. The second problem is that many of the differences between active and inactive states for controls are subtle enough that the state of the control can be hard to figure out at a glance (an example is the table view column highlight). Once you’re used to the theme for a while, you’ll be able to easily tell the difference, but it could be a problem for a new user. There is also a slight issue with one of the backgrounds, which I will discuss later.
Extras
This theme comes with only two desktop pictures (in a variety of sizes) and a Safari skin. Furthermore, for many people the white desktop (which looks fantastic otherwise) may prove to be too light. In fact, it is so light that the Finder selection box becomes invisible. The black desktop is also not perfect, since it seems to use a different orange from the rest of the theme. The Safari skin is well done though, and makes Safari feel right at home on GUiPod. Overall, these extras are good enough, but not fantastic. As Swiz does not provide a system icon set, the Block OS Iconset, originally created by Linestudio and ported to the Mac by DigitalJames is recommended.
GUiPod is a theme that almost realizes a beautiful vision. A lack of substantive extras and some usability problems mar an otherwise solid presentation. If you've fallen in love with both the external and software looks of the iPod though, this theme might be beautiful enough for you to ignore the problems.
Comments
Posted by Benjamin at January 10, 2004 03:01 PM | Edit | Delete
I'm a big fan and user of GUIPod - it's what made me buy ShapeShifter without reservation.
I think this review is great -- my only comment is that the menu highlight thing, although more difficult to read due to lack of contrast, doesn't really seem like a usability issue to me, since 99% of the time the user will have already selected that menu by name (before clicking on it), and won't be reading it then.
The initial release had major usability problems with the scrollbars not being visible enough (not enough contrast), and the update fixed that. However, I really am not a fan of the orange tipped scroll bar -- although it's much easier to see, it seems out of place. The orange backlight concept is beautiful when it's used in a back-light like way (finder window buttons, etc), but this orange plastic look doesn't reflect the iPod, and breaks the concept.
I would much rather see (or perhaps as an alternate), that the scroll bars remain solid white, and use the slightly brownish grey background behind it to set it off. I thought about trying to hack the theme to look like this, but I haven't delved into this world yet.
Great theme - great review. Thanks!
Posted by NetworkShadow at January 10, 2004 03:49 PM | Edit | Delete
I'd give it an 8.5, I'm using it now.
Posted by angelrendon at January 10, 2004 05:02 PM | Edit | Delete
I don't really like this theme, I'd rather just use milk. It's similar enough...
Posted by Steven Canfield at January 13, 2004 07:57 PM | Edit | Delete
Benjamin -- I disagree. Maybe you always look at the menu before selecting something, but a great deal of users simply throw their mouse up there and drag the selection around.
Posted by Dudebroguy at January 27, 2004 06:07 AM | Edit | Delete
Hey Angel :) My sentiments exactly. Milk and GUiPod are so similar that the only thing I miss while using Milk are the cool orange highlights.
The biggest problem with GUiPod are the menubar-columns' gray highlight colors. They clash heavily with the rest of the theme, as you can see in the screenshots above. I prefer semi-translucent black highlights with white text.
At this point, I look at GUiPod as a great theme that just doesn't quite offer the refined UI that Milk does. That said, I still use it approximately 20% of the time, and would call it one of the better themes I've used.
Posted by gautch at February 23, 2004 04:44 PM | Edit | Delete
i love GUIpod! I use it over any of the other kits iv seen. I only wish they would make some other color options... like everywhere GUIpod is orange, make me a soft blue/green/red...ect. Other wise its my fav!
Posted by merlin at February 27, 2004 02:52 PM | Edit | Delete
This theme rocks, I do like the orange touch (don't care if it don't stick with ipod concept or not). Like alot the blue for deselected windows even if it surpised me at first.
There's just one thing: the scroll bar, looks like a capsule, I would just put a little bit of orange making it more subtle.
Posted by iNeusch at April 24, 2004 09:01 AM | Edit | Delete
This one needs updating !!
Posted by Ernest Liu at April 24, 2004 10:19 PM | Edit | Delete
Wow... resembles an iPod very well! And yes, it needs updating.
Posted by click here at July 16, 2004 07:59 PM | Edit | Delete
http://www.e-tutor.com/etboard/messages/2203.html
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