Flip3D is a “productivity addition” in Microsoft’s forever forthcoming Windows Vista. “The biggest influence is clearly that of Exposé on the Mac – a utility attempting to help the user stay organized by seeing every open window at once – but Microsoft has gone in an entirely different direction in how they are presenting everything,” Ryan Smith reports for AnandTech.
Smith writes, “Activated via Win+Tab, Flip3D works like a rolodex of windows, with a mouse wheel (or repeated pressing of the TAB key) allowing the user to flip through the windows until they find the one they’re looking for. However, this is one major case where we wish Microsoft would have just completely copied Apple, rather than trying to create their own implementation.”
“Flip3D in its current incarnation is not at all a useful productivity tool because the rolodex design means that it can’t really show everything at once like Exposé can. Having to wheel through things further hinders its effectiveness, as it’s not as smooth an operation as simply using the mouse to select the desired window. For all you true nerds and geeks out there, Flip3D is an O(n) operation where Exposé is O(1),” Smith writes.
“Lastly, for such a great emphasis on eye-candy in Aero, the rotated view of the windows is poorly thought out; by rotating the windows it creates aliasing which in spite of the power of modern video cards is not being removed. The artifacting around the window borders and the illegibility of the text simply make Flip3D ugly to look at and ugly to use. In this case, Microsoft simply would have been better off not implementing Flip3D than using this. We like Exposé, and a version of it in Windows would be very nice, but Flip3D is a second-rate copy at best, and ultimately does not function nearly enough like Exposé to be useful,” Smith writes.
“Even with the massive improvements Microsoft has shown with Vista, we still feel they aren’t quite ready to beat Tiger in a fight. Tiger still offers a more refined experience that doesn’t come with nearly as many quirks as Vista does (beta quirks or otherwise), and there’s a great deal of functionality that Tiger has that isn’t replicated by Vista at all, such as drag and drop application installation or a Unix shell. Ultimately switchers are going to find that Vista is similar to Tiger, but it’s not enough to surpass Tiger and cause them to switch back,” Smith writes. “And then there’s Leopard…”
Full article here.
Watch a QuickTime video from Apple of Exposé in action: http://www.apple.com/macosx/theater/expose.html
MacDailyNews Take: We’d be surprised if Microsoft didn’t botch a copy job of yet another Mac OS X feature. See, when Microsoft copies, they can’t steal it outright or they’ll run into legal issues. This is why Windows is an upside-down and backwards Mac UI instead of a direct copy (Microsoft’s users pay for the lack of innovation every time). Since Apple did it first and they focus so intently on the user experience, they spent a lot of time thinking about the best way to implement it, so the copy, in order not to be a direct copy, has to be bastardized and diminished in some way by definition. Because this is Microsoft’s modus operandi, they are predictably consistent at bastardizing and diminishing Apple’s innovations in Windows. F9
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Bad spelling on previous post. BTW I totally
agree w/ face. Ya’ do what ya’ gotta do, just do
it with class. Expose’ appears to be much faster
and more useful to me. Seeing all of the windows
at once is the whole point.
A Hider: try Desktop Manager. One thing I love about Linux (about the only thing!) is the virtual desktops, and desktop manager does that on the Mac. I put email on a page, safari on one, iTunes on one, Word on one, Maya on one, and have an extra couple for whatever else I’m working on.
No more need to hide, and each desktop is nice and clean.
Why this isn’t in the OS already, I have no idea. It’s a great tool!
Hi A Hider,
Try Witch http://www.petermaurer.de/nasi.php?section=witch
It will let you go to any window you want, whether it’s hidden, minimized, whatever. It’s Command-Tab alternative, but way better.
Apple NEVER copsies Microsoft huh? FAST USER SWITCHING
Actually Apple had this first with a little known utility they put out as a test back in the early days of the Mac interface. The problem was RAM was limited and expensive at those times to hold two user accounts in memory at the same time.
In fact Apple Mac II’s had the ability to place 6-7 other “Macs” inside the first using daughtercards. Each Mac was represented on the first on with it’s own window, and switching between any of them, and each user account on them, was as easily as clicking a window.
Of course this was long before Windows even appeared, so there is no way Microsoft can claim they had Fast User Swtiching first.
Apple had Desk Accessories (aka widgets, gadgets) first as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desk_Accessory
Microsoft copied fast user switching from main frames. Apple had something similar a long time ago.
Good to see it on vid.
Windows version is nothing more than a more complicated version of alt-tab. they’re trying to make it funky but its just adding complexity. I would end up just turning it off in favour of alt-tab.
On the other hand expose is lateral and innovative.
Typical microsplat.
Can’t wait to see how they patch the new security vulnerabilities it will undoubtedly bring.
And I’m just trying to be balanced in my assessment: it’s exactly as shite as some people here would like to make out, in fact, worse.
“…Microsoft’s is certainly the kind of thing you would expect Apple to come out with.” is an utterly laughable statement.
1. The 3D tilt adds nothing for usability but distorts the picture needlessly. Apple’s eye candy doesn’t interfere with the usability. Genie effect distorts between the user recognizing the window and minimizing it. Microsoft hamfistedly pulls you into this arbitrarily slanted pseudo 3D effect while the user is searching for windows and you gain nothing.
2. Exposé lets you see the entire contents of the window as well as their relative sizes. Flip3D just shows you the top left or sometimes just the left of the back windows Since most websites are “hockey stick” designs, only the non-changing portion of a website will be visible; the unique parts will always be totally obscured! DONKEYS! Try opening up 10 CNN or MDN articles and see if Flip 3D doesn’t show 9 identical windows behind the frontmost one! They show top and left: EXACTLY the part that never changes and is the least uniquely identifiable part of a website.
Oh, here, I’ll hand you beleaguered Microsoft apologists an excuse for you: “But, if you are using multiple websites, you will just use tabs anyway.” BALLS. Even if you are in a Photoshop document you might have the majority of your changes or identifying differences be near the center of the window: In Exposé you see all the windows side by side with no arbitrarily applied 3D tilt. USABLE.
Microsoft couldn’t have done a worse job if they tried.
My mistake, one could put only 5 more “Mac” NuBus daughtercards in the Mac II via the 6 NuBus slots, one had to be a graphics card.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_II
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NuBus
Macromancer
For the record, I am not an MS apologist.
My situation is that I have been a Windows user for 14 years, and this year have come very close to switching to Apple. Last December I fell in love with OS X.
But Vista is making me think otherwise (coupled with the fact that I have invested plenty of money in my self-build PC)
Hence my interest in this website.
My posts on this site are that of a PC owner who is sitting on the fence regarding my next PC. (Probably in 6-12 months)
At the moment, Vista seems to be nice enough for me not to have to buy a new PC (i.e. Mac), and to just upgrade my PC and OS.
However, I am very interested to see if Leopard does something to change my mind.
Ultimately, I am open minded…but (like many potential switchers), switching to a Mac would cost me conversion-time / old-pc-money, so I am trying to balance the cost / benefit.
At the moment, Expose vs Flip 3D isn’t enough to make me switch.
A Hider, do a web search for “mac spirited away”… it’ll take you to an application that you’ll probably really love.
Billy Ash
Steve Jobs is back at the hlem of Apple and he knows how to drive creatives to come up with totally new products and interfaces.
Vista for most will be “just good enough” and nowhere as near as cutting edge as Apple OS will evolve into.
In fact if it wasn’t for Mac OS X making XP look so bad, most Windows users would still be using years from now with very little change.
I doubt there is much room left for innovation in the present interface with computers.
Billy, if you are getting a new PC in 6-12 months anyway, you aren’t losing any money from your investment. Just get a mac and if you need to, run windows on it. Let’s face it, VISTA won’t be out in 6-12 months, so you will be able to use your current copy of XP on your new mac without breaking any copyright laws, or spending extra money on a new OS.
when vista does come out, just bootleg it like the rest of us.
Billy Ash,
If your interest in this website is because you are seriously thinking about trying a Mac, I would suggest reading all the articles but skipping over the MDN Take and the other comments.
There are very few well thought out comments made in these threads, and they are not worth wading through the ignorant, whiny, arrogan, ad hominem-laced, fanboy posts that dominate the discussions.
@ Billy Ash:(coupled with the fact that I have invested plenty of money in my self-build PC)
Aye, there’s the rub…
SJ, I would GLADLY pay $500 for a shrinkwrapped OSX/iLife bundle. Make me use a dongle for security. Any way you want it. I DON’T CARE! I LIKE TO TINKER! IT’S NOT A CRIME!! ARE YOU LISTENING SJ?!?!
Please?
sorry. I get a little worked up.
And what’s with this “angled” look of MS Flip3D? A gimmick to live up to the 3D part of the name?
Please – we have flat windows. Display them flat. Like Expose does.
Sheesh!
do any of you have the tendency to place your windows in the upper left part of the screen? I do. It’s aesthetically pleasing, plus that way they are easy to expand.
Similar to project looking glass by SUN…
http://www.sun.com/software/looking_glass/details.xml
check out the video also
http://www.sun.com/software/looking_glass/demo.xml
Finally! Someone points out the obvious! Flip3D is USELESS because you can’t find the window you’re looking for if you have more than 3-4 windows open.
Whoever thought of this implementation was obvious not interested in actual productivity but to show off a useless tech demo.
And by the way, the same goes for Sun’s Looking Glass project. Similarly flash, but useless in the real world because it really is poorly implemented.
Hey Billy,
Wanna see what Expose is like with over 20 windows open (and 3 movies playing)?
http://idisk.mac.com/wingsy-Public/Expose.mov
It’s 2 megs and it isn’t streamed… so give it a min to d/l.
PC Apologist- face well and truly rubbed in the dirt. An ‘oft repeated point about fast user switching that turns out to be yet another Apple innovation… ho ho ho.
Billy Ash – someone a wee bit sad if he can be ‘convinced’ by what he sees with VISTA so far… Something very odd there, for sure, because VISTA so far is massive wreck with more dropped features than there are programmers looking for jobs in Redmond.
Microsoft Windows will one day be seen to have been a passing phenomena. The whole world will collectively say: “do you remember MS Windows? All the punishment we took? how awful it was?
Apple Mac is the long-term solution.
Wingsy
Fuck yeah!
That’s impressive. I’ve never seen it used like that. I have to admit that it makes Flip 3D look like a child’s toy in comparison.
Particularly as you had some real Honest-to-God applications open.
Flip 3D might be prettier (to my eyes) but Expose seems like it would actually improve my productivity.
What is the spec on your system?
I’m considering that when I do eventually buy, a 20″ IMac with 2GB memory would probably be a baseline target.
Can anyone supply a screenshot with expose on a dual monitor system?
“. . .ignorant, whiny, arrogan, ad hominem-laced, fanboy posts that dominate the discussions.”
Now you’re just trying to spoil the fun. “Ad-hominem laced” – Is that closer to Burato or Point de Gauze?
Macaday
Resorting to insults isn’t going to make your arguments any stronger.
The fact is that there are sensible and intelligent people like (I believe) me, who are actually tempted by Windows Vista.
Microsoft must be doing something right.
If that is true, then you have to ask yourself, how is this Utopian picture that you paint going to come true?
How naive are you Leopard People?
Vista will ship with a total Expose clone, only better because Windows can alt-tab too.
They show off “something else” (Flip 3D SUCKS and they KNOW IT) for now so Apple can’t sue them, but Gates has the REAL Expose waiting for when Vista ships. Then it’s too late, Apple can sue, MS can pay a penalty that they laugh at, but too late, Windows users win–again. We get the best of MS and Apple innovation all rolled into one.
Go ahead, poke fun at the 800 pound gorilla that will be what, 30 days later than Leopard? Big whoopie. Then the gorilla will lay the smack down!!
Microsoft PWNS YOU! I pity you Leopard People once Vista hits.
For Billy Ash –
Thanks for your comments. Nice to see someone NOT flaming around all the time, but trying to bring in some objectivity – now and again.
That said, are you using a Mac now or Windows? You mentioned you are “tempted” by Vista.
All I can say to that is this:
Of very article I have read to date on Vista or Vista vs OS X Tiger, I have not read a single article saying Vista, overall, is as good as Tiger. The GUI, Widgets, Spotlight, or fast user switching, it’s all a fairly obvious attempt to copy what Apple has had out on the streets in Tiger, narrowing in on two years now.
So again, it does a good job exceeding XP (shouldn’t be hard to do), but still falls short of what is on the market today in Tiger. Of course, Leopard will arrive around the time of Vista and then how much further will Vista be behind?…
Lastly, Vista has already initially had virus issues, and uh, why on earth go to that realm over a secure Mac OS X position – that is, if you are on a Mac at present.
If you can answer these questions point by point, directly, I think people will now you are not trolling but really putting out what you feel is an objective argument.
Regards