While Helio’s wireless experience left so much to be desired that the company has resorted to gussying itself up as Virgin Mobile’s main-course meal, the MVNO’s handsets featured custom-designed UIs (User Interfaces) that offered top-notch user experiences. That same designer, Matias Duarte, also had a huge hand in crafting Danger’s Sidekick UI, owing to the swivel-screened lineup’s success on T-Mobile.
Now, we’re hearing that Duarte has been working with Palm to revamp the aging PalmOS platform and usher Palm in to the age of Linux-based web-centric mobile OS architectures. As Palm’s Senior Director of Human Interface and User Experience design, Matias Duarte is reportedly working on “something new” – which is likely an indication that Palm’s next-generation PalmOS “Nova” will have at least some Duarte-influence.
Duarte’s work on PalmOS Nova could be the start of a turn-around for the mobile phone manufacturer that was once at the top of the industry. With PalmOS going on its sixth year without a major refresh, and Windows Mobile relegated to the tech-savvy, Palm has been left with a huge hole opportunity to bring a technically advanced, yet user-friendly mobile OS to the table. The Linux-based PalmOS Nova is expected to be a completely overhauled PalmOS with a focus on internet-based features. And, with the mobile industry following in the UI-wake left by the Apple iPhone, Palm’s user experience-oriented tack looks to be the perfect move.
[Via: MobilityToday]