Digital Device - May 11, 2004
Author: Joe Kohlmann
Version: 3-10
Reviewed by: Steve Streza
User Rating: 
74%
Digital Device, the winner of the Unsanity/OWC ShapeShifter Theme Contest, is, at first glance, quite a nice looking theme. It's got tans and olive-greens that are definitely similar to the Palm Pilots and such that they no doubt emulate. So why is it that I simply cannot get used to this?
Aesthetics
Digital Device aims to be simple. As a result, everything is similar. Buttons, menus, checkboxes, everything. This level of consistency can sometimes help keep a sense of unity in the UI. However, Digital Device takes it a little too far. All clickable objects are rounded off and look almost exactly the same, with a few minor independent quirks among each of them. The similarity between elements eventually becomes excessive and hard to understand.
Refreshingly, sliders and progress bars are a bit unique, however. Using different shades of grey, Joe manages to separate sub-widgets and make it much easier on the eyes. Progress bars are also very, very cool. The bar is skinny along its length, and for any filled regions, it extends over the bar to create the effect. Very nice, and you have to see it in action.
Usability
While Digital Device is aesthetically boring, at least that should make it highly useful, right? After all, the elements are very basic and as a result should get out of your way, shouldn't they? Well, this theme unfortunately seems to disprove that formula. I was utterly bored with the widgets, after a long session of testing. I believe that this is because while the theme attempts to get out of your way, the unique color combination makes this aim difficult to achieve. There isn't any difference in shading, or texture, or anything. I thought I'd get used to it, but alas, it's just too boring. Of course, your mileage may vary.
Perhaps the main problem with a PDA-based theme is that the way a user interacts with a digital device and the way a user interacts with a computer are totally different. When dealing with a PDA, you're usually on a very narrow screen, for a few minutes at a time. When dealing with your trusty Mac, you could be on it for a few minutes, or you could be like me, and stay on all day. As a result, your computer's UI must be much more interesting. While it's not especially painful to use Digital Device for long periods of time, the experience can get monotonous, and constricting.
But I digress. The theme does look OK. I mean, it's not a total wreck - it's nevertheless, plenty usable. However, I simply wouldn't want to work with something like this for an extended period of time, because it's just too boring.
Extras
Digital Device didn't seem to have any app skins (at least not that I could find), icons, desktops, or anything - just a straight theme. It exists fine as it is with most apps, but icons and desktops are definitely a necessity. Basically, Digital Device is a fine first effort by a themer, (who is currently working on the contest winner, Sweet Slumber). However, I expected more out of him for the package. Perhaps the experience can be improved with the addition of great extras.
Comments
Posted by DigitalEl at May 12, 2004 06:29 AM | Edit | Delete
A bit harsh, but not entirely inaccurate. The lack of extras (namely appskins) was the deal-breaker for me. In addition, apps that usually go unaffected by themes (MS Office suite, Palm Desktop and the like) stand out even more against such a bland background. I love the concept of this theme, but the execution just didn't do it for me. In contrast, ProLCD took the concept several steps further and is an oustanding piece of work.
Posted by gitoweaver at May 12, 2004 07:12 AM | Edit | Delete
It's too cruel. The theme isn't that boring at all. Personally I used it for quite a long time and I was happy with it, very happy with it. The tones of greens blend beautifully in my opinion but then PRO LCD came out and everything was over...
Posted by danielgrenell at May 12, 2004 07:18 AM | Edit | Delete
i like how this came out. it's a fun theme. i agree with the reviewer, it does get a little boring. i would also like to see the menus reworked. they match the theme in color, but their style should be considered.
Posted by Phillip Ryu at May 12, 2004 07:22 AM | Edit | Delete
Personally, my opinion is that it was a fine concept, but crippled by OS X's limitations. It's very difficult to make an emulation of old school LCD interface when you have hardcoded Aqua elements popping up all over the place, and drop shadows under windows.
Posted by at May 12, 2004 07:37 AM | Edit | Delete
I find it interesting that this theme won the Unsanity contest, and ProLCD came second in the MacThemes contest. Clearly there is demand for a theme that emulates the interface of an LCD. I really like Digital Device for the concept, but I must say I prefer ProLCD for the execution. That being said, I'm grateful to the Mac theme community for working so hard on so many innovative themes. Maybe Apple will wake up someday and start shipping best of them with OS X (with appropriate compensation to the theme authors of course).
Posted by Tilman at May 12, 2004 08:29 AM | Edit | Delete
I can understand that the reviewer is a bit put down by the simplicity of DD, but in my opinion thats its biggest advantage. If you sit in front of it for 8 hours a day it cannot get simple enough. especially if you work graphically and dont want your interface to interfere with the actual artwork. for me it could have even been totally grey, not the greenish touch.
DD is still my favourite theme of all time (until today), and also the one i used the longest time.
ps. and did you see the four-dots-implementation of the "progress wheel"? great detail! and i also love the progress bars as well. thanks joe!
Posted by iNeusch at May 12, 2004 08:32 AM | Edit | Delete
Nice review, but I prefer Changeling ;)
Posted by Dave at May 12, 2004 10:51 AM | Edit | Delete
I agree with the review 100% - DD is a good theme, but it could use some work. While I like themes that don't distract me from my work, this one takes it too far. It's just a bit too boring for my taste.
Posted by serg. at May 12, 2004 12:45 PM | Edit | Delete
after trying ProLCD, DD feels so old. I probably won't use it again, unless something radical happens to it.
Posted by sb at May 12, 2004 01:56 PM | Edit | Delete
I feel pretty much the same - there was a load of praise early-on, and I didn't get it, really. It's not BAD, it's just not all that WOW. I still think that themes ignoring the beauty of Quartz are bizarre...why go back to OS 9 days when the power is there?
SB
Posted by Jason Williams at May 12, 2004 02:35 PM | Edit | Delete
This theme isn't too bad. It's not a wow theme I don't think, and it is bound to bore you eventually. Don't get me wrong; it IS a good theme, and I did use it for 2-3 days (which is pretty good for me). I could stick with it, and it's usable.
Posted by Steve Streza at May 12, 2004 03:16 PM | Edit | Delete
For the record, I tried to keep this review as unbiased as possible since the advent of ProLCD.
Posted by Alexandr at May 12, 2004 05:26 PM | Edit | Delete
For once a fittingly harsh review. Thank you.
This theme is just tremendously boring and rather ugly. Why not go back to OS9 for this effect.
Posted by HoTin Tong at May 12, 2004 05:49 PM | Edit | Delete
I agree with the reviewer. When this theme first came out, it probably was the only LCD theme to come to Mac OS X. However, with the addition of ProLCD and Changeling to that category, this theme started to get 'old'.
Its great, I'm sure, but its not as good as the new wave of themes arriving.
I believe this theme has a lot of potential. For instance, I would like to see a two tone (black/green) dithered version, just like those old PDAs from 2000 and older.
Posted by Frisbee at May 12, 2004 08:30 PM | Edit | Delete
I agree with everyone else as well. When this theme was initially announced, I couldn't wait for the release. Then, when it was released, I just didn't feel the excitement. Perhaps I was distracted by something else at the time, I don't know. I like ProLCD a lot, but as I have said at MacNN, I have to stay focused on my first theme...
Posted by Pep at May 12, 2004 09:32 PM | Edit | Delete
Initially, I liked this theme quite a bit. However, as I used it more and more with a laptop, the more I got frustrated — especially using photoshop and illustrator. The grey shading of the toolbox items was simply too similar to the colors of the non-active buttons to be useful. I had to use undo a lot to compensate for a mis-clicked box. While I like simplicity, a little more contrast would have helped. I much prefer Milk (chocolate) or Cappucino as a way to seperate my work from the GUI.
Posted by Gramage at May 12, 2004 11:32 PM | Edit | Delete
Well, I like it...
Posted by d0le at May 13, 2004 12:12 AM | Edit | Delete
I actually like DD quite a lot. It stays out fo my face and lets me get work done. I prefer DD over ProLCD which I think is a terrible theme.
Posted by iNeusch at May 13, 2004 11:03 AM | Edit | Delete
it's true it was a precursor theme
Posted by Sun King at May 13, 2004 07:43 PM | Edit | Delete
The theme is actually one of my favorite, simple, nice and clean, which goes really well with the minimal Mac designs. The only thing I'm not sure is the colour, would be better if there are different colors, I personally would prefer grey.
Posted by Jaey at May 14, 2004 07:33 PM | Edit | Delete
ProLCD is better.
Posted by Heiesuke at May 31, 2004 08:57 PM | Edit | Delete
Yes this is a kool theme, and i do think Pro LCD is better, but this was out well before Pro LCD and this theme is the one that got me liking LCD themes.
Posted by Robert Beverly at September 11, 2004 01:16 PM | Edit | Delete
thanks this really agree with it