Microsoft is Consolidating its OneDrive Mobile UIs

Microsoft is Consolidating its OneDrive Mobile UIs
Images courtesy of MSPowerUser

I’m not seeing this yet, but Microsoft is apparently consolidating its OneDrive mobile UIs between Android and iOS. And the iOS version won.

Update: Microsoft has confirmed the news. The new OneDrive for Android is now in preview. –Paul

News of this change comes via MSPowerUser, which is reporting that Microsoft is now testing a new look for OneDrive on Android. But that new look will be old hat to those using OneDrive on iOS, since it’s the same UI. That is, Microsoft is bringing the tab-based navigation scheme found in OneDrive for iOS to OneDrive for Android.

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Today, OneDrive for Android uses a hamburger-style menu that provides you with access to your different accounts and to the files, photos, recent files, shared files, offline files, notification, and recycle bin that’s associated with each.

On iOS—and, soon, on Android—OneDrive dispenses with the hamburger and uses a UI that is common to iOS apps: A row of choices on the bottom, each of which opens a new view. Available choices in OneDrive for iOS—and, soon, on Android—include Files, Photos, Recent, Shared, and Me. That last one provides access to your other accounts and to the offline files and recycle bin for each, plus settings.

While I know that the hamburger menu is loathed by some, I have no issues with it. And I generally prefer for apps to be true to the OS on which they run. But the iOS version of OneDrive is certainly easy enough to use. So this change should be well-received by most whenever it happens.

And that is, in many ways, the question: MSPowerUser theorizes that Microsoft is just testing the new UI with some Android users to see who well its received. So it’s possible that you will never see this new UI, or that it will be rolled out in the coming weeks or months.

 

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Conversation 8 comments

  • maethorechannen

    Premium Member
    18 September, 2017 - 10:03 am

    <p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;So this change should be well-received by most whenever it happens.</em></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I doubt it. iOS UIs tend to go down like a lead balloon on Android. I would expect a ton of 1 star reviews if this change goes ahead.</span></p>

    • lezmaka

      Premium Member
      18 September, 2017 - 12:09 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#177403"><em>In reply to maethorechannen:</em></a></blockquote><p>Is that because they just don't work well or because it's from iOS and Android fanatics can't stand anything related to iOS regardless of how well it works?</p>

      • maethorechannen

        Premium Member
        18 September, 2017 - 12:27 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#177445"><em>In reply to lezmaka:</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p> iOS UIs are different enough to be annoying (especially when things like the back button don't work as expected) and not being bothered to tailor the UI to the platform is often seen as a slap in the face. So a bit of both really.</p>

  • Oasis

    Premium Member
    18 September, 2017 - 10:35 am

    <p>Quote: from last paragraph,</p><p><br></p><p>And that is, in many ways, the question: MSPowerUser theorizes that Microsoft is just testing the new UI with some Android users to see <em>who</em> well its received. The word WHO should be HOW.</p>

  • jhoff80

    18 September, 2017 - 10:36 am

    <p>Can they just store offline files in a way that other Android apps can access them directly already? I shouldn't need to install a third-party app to do this.</p>

    • Daekar

      19 September, 2017 - 10:21 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#177413"><em>In reply to jhoff80:</em></a></blockquote><p>You shouldn't, I agree. But damn, One Sync is so powerful, I gave up using the official OneDrive app for sync ages ago. </p>

  • Darekmeridian

    18 September, 2017 - 11:26 am

    <p>This actually makes sense from a development point of view. It sounds like they are actually embracing their own idea of code once deploy to many philosophy. Same experience across all platforms.. with a single code base and all that jazz. </p>

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