Is this the UI that could breathe life into Windows 7 tablets?

• 
• 

 1 of 2

Gallery

By Barry Collins

Posted on 3 Aug 2010 at 08:35

A start-up firm could give Windows 7 tablets a much needed boost with a new UI that looks... somewhat familiar.

UI Centric's Macallan interface does what many have argued Microsoft should do itself, by bringing the look and feel of Windows Phone 7 to tablet devices.

Clearly following Apple's example of bringing phone, rather than PC-style, interfaces to the tablet format, Macallan is very similar to the large text menus found on Microsoft's Zune devices and its forthcoming mobile OS.

However, it differs from Windows Phone 7 by offering an eBook style page-flicking system, which allows users to peel between different menu screens. A demonstration video (embedded below) shows the user peeling back an email message to check the calendar underneath, before continuing to type the rest of the message.

UI Centric claims Macallan will be available under licence to manufacturers producing Windows 7 or Windows Embedded tablets, and that it will debut on a device from a "major manufacturer" this autumn.