Windows Media Player 11's page looks too Apple

Posted on: November 2, 2006

I was taking a gander at the new Windows Media Player 11 site. For a second, not by overall layout but by elements of style, I thought I'd stumbled onto a bizarro version of the iTunes page. Web 2.0 druthers are in effect: some rounded corners, gradient fades, and reflections. Yeah, those reflections that've have popularly gotten around, but which continue to be a prominent part of Apple's Front Row:


There's even something suspiciously resembling the iTunes logo but detached. Take a look at these eighth notes and the CD just behind it:

All Your Entertainment in One Place

Now look at this:

http://i.afterdawn.com/v3/news/itunes_logo.jpg

I know Apple recently switched from green to blue notes — you be the executioner.

3 Responses to “Windows Media Player 11's page looks too Apple”

  1. Elix Says:
    November 2nd, 2006 at 2:15 AM PST

    I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft decided well ahead of time to use blue notes, and then three designers crapped themselves when iTunes switched from green to blue (conspiracy?!?).

  2. Erbo Evans Says:
    November 2nd, 2006 at 9:21 AM PST

    It goes farther than that, Torley…I've seen the WMP11 application, thanks to my former coworker Ed ("Edward Tal" in-world), and it bears a strong resemblance to iTunes.

    So Microsoft's going after Apple. But when was that ever not the case? (See also: Zune.)

  3. Torley Says:
    November 2nd, 2006 at 9:37 AM PST

    Elix: the possibility of that did arise in my mind, but through that linked article, it shows Apple's used the blue notes before. I wonder if whoever responsible for that switch was aware of history, or… maybe there are only so many colors. ;) (Understandably, dirt brown might not be so attractive.)

    Erbo: goodness gracious, I haven't used WMP11 yet for myself. Seems like some of this is just part of general design trends — since Apple didn't invent all of this themselves, but they certainly popularized it. At the same time, it seems kind of homogeneous.

    Would anyone cry foul if Google started doing the same thing too?

    I wonder if someone's already started a website with art about the surreally hybrid babies of current tech companies.

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