webOS design mastermind Matias Duarte leaves Palm... and could be headed to Google

According to a report filed over at All Things D, Matias Duarte -- the man considered to be the driving force behind the user interface of webOS -- has left Palm, and may very well be headed to Google. Duarte held the title of Senior Director of Human Interface and User Experience, and before working his magic at Palm, was one of the hands that touched the Sidekick and Helio UIs. Although Palm has confirmed his departure from the company, they aren't giving up the goods on where he's headed next, though John Paczkowski over at D says "multiple sources" indicate he's on his way to Google, presumably to work on Android.

While Matias was unquestionably a prime mover at Palm, we had heard rumblings that his rigid attitude toward design and control-freak nature sometimes caused conflict amongst the team. Of course, you don't crank out something as groundbreaking as webOS without some hard boundaries. The news that he's headed to Google could signal a major shift for Android towards dealing with the myriad UI issues the mobile OS has, particularly a lack of cohesion in the stock builds -- something HTC has gone to great lengths to shore up with Sense.

Update: And it's confirmed. Matias will be joining Sidekick pal Andy Rubin over at Google as Android's User Experience Director. Watch out HTC... and everyone else for that matter.

[JXCGunrunna Posted May 27th 2010 9:11AM]

Google, You better pick the brilliant mind up right now.

[Hmm Posted May 27th 2010 9:16AM]

@JXCGunrunna
Android's support along with a WebOS like UI makes me want to consider Android after-all. Let's hope it happens!

[michaelwub Posted May 27th 2010 9:21AM]

@JXCGunrunna

Just make Android more polished and user friendly and you have the whole package - something to appeal to non techies and techies. Google, put another acquisition on the list and buy this man!

[HoldenMccrotch Posted May 27th 2010 9:30AM]

@JXCGunrunna
just imagine it, all the awesomness of 2.2...
with the beauty of palm...

i dont think i can contain my excitement!!!
*squeals*

[Sax25 Posted May 27th 2010 9:49AM]

Firstly, with HP buying Palm and obviously getting WebOS in the deal, I'm shocked they would allow someone who is one of the core members of the UI implementation to be allowed to leave. I really thought they have clauses like this to prevent something happening, so I'm shocked that he's leaving after the recent purchase by HP. Anyways we don't know what goes on behind the scenes and maybe HP were already aware.

Secondly if he is headed for Google, then I hope they put him to good use and take advantage of what he did for WebOS. Android may be a great OS, but in terms of GUI it is sorely lacking when compared to iPhone OS and WebOS. If he can do to Android what he did for WebOS, then Google are going to have a fantastic OS - great functionality AND looks. I feel that Android looks so dated when you compare it to the competition now, so hopefully he is going to Google and will do wonders with Android.

[zeroinfinity2 Posted May 27th 2010 9:51AM]

@Sax25

These type of guys don't stick around very long. His job at Palm is complete,he did the UI, and now it's time for the next job,the next UI.

[Gilad Posted May 27th 2010 9:54AM]

@Sax25 Yup. It's called a non-compete clause. The idea is that you can't work for a competitor for a certain time after you resign (usually one year).

[ACEACEACE Posted May 27th 2010 9:56AM]

@JXCGunrunna as a Palm Pre owner getting and Evo 4G in less than two weeks (yes I had tothrow that in there), I'm a bit bummed by this news. WebOS, while good, isn't great despite all the press otherwise. The Pre is a laggy, often downright slow piece of hardware that takes forever to boot-up. Now that I'm going to Android, I hope I don't see these things fall into it.

As a person fleeing webOS for Android, this is NOT good news...

[ANDZT Posted May 27th 2010 9:57AM]

@zeroinfinity2 Hopefully he goes to Goog or HTC and fixes both of their UIs. Sense is great, but the 2.1 release for my Hero has had a few crashing problems...

[ANDZT Posted May 27th 2010 9:58AM]

@ACEACEACE Blame that on the Pre's hardware, which was out of date when it was released.

[JoeyHoey Posted May 27th 2010 10:08AM]

@JXCGunrunna People seem to forget that there's no way Android could just clone the webOS Ui without a nasty lawsuit.The card interface will not land on Android. The other people forget is that Duarte is not the actual designer of the UI. It's a girl that was interviewed last year if I remember. Duarte is more like the project manager of the UI team. Not the guy who crunches the numbers. He'll need talented people working with him to pull off a good UI change for Android. he can't do it on his own. Now, are the Android stock design team any good?

[Mr iPhone Posted May 27th 2010 10:21AM]

@JXCGunrunna Even if they did what is he gonna do? He can't integrate the deck of cards into android can he?

[iqbalj Posted May 27th 2010 10:40AM]

@JXCGunrunna True, true, but Google hasn't yet offered me a job

[JohnnyRocketpants Posted May 27th 2010 10:43AM]

@Gilad

California doesn't enforce non-compete agreements.

[scorpeo Posted May 27th 2010 10:48AM]

@Hmm, Palm still holds the patents, HP buying Palm still has to be approved. When it is approved, HP will be the holder of Palms patents.

[One Love Posted May 27th 2010 11:20AM]

@HoldenMccrotch : "just imagine it, all the awesomness of 2.2...
with the beauty of palm..." ....and a HP lawsuit. :)

[sfox8 Posted May 27th 2010 11:34AM]

@JoeyHoey
I don't think anyone's really expecting (or even wanting) a clone of WebOS. I know I wouldn't want just another clone. At least Android as it is now is unique (I definitely wouldn't say dated. If we're talking about dated, I'd say the iphone UI is looking a bit dated, though still extremely user friendly mind you). I'm sure between Duarte and the Android design team, they can come up with something beautiful AND original.
There are plenty of ways to handle a UI and the card system is not the only way to handle mobile multitasking. With Duarte at Google, I have high hopes for stock Android's future UI. I'm sure they won't disappoint.

[Hmm Posted May 27th 2010 12:07PM]

@JoeyHoey et al.

I don't think the point is for Google to have a WebOS interface (even though that would be a major improvement). Nor, as pointed out, is he going to be the one implementing a cool new UI.

They just need someone in their office telling them that what they're doing looks bad. Being a good developer doesn't mean you'll make nice looking UIs, there needs to be someone who knows a bit about art and colours to guide them ;)

[peisaportia Posted May 27th 2010 1:24PM]

@zeroinfinity2 Yep, perhaps, that hurricane tablet is already finished, so outsourcing is no longer needed. http://j.mp/hp-palm-tablet-impressions

[vkelman Posted May 27th 2010 5:13PM]

@Sax25,
Could you and everybody else explain me what in particular is so great about WebOS UI and how it is better / what is so unpolished in Android 2.1 UI?
Everybody says so, but nobody goes into any details :-(
I'd appreciate such conversation on Google Buzz too. Look at goo *dot* gl *slash* wrcJ (crazy Engadget comments algorithm doesn't allow links.)

[KAL326 Posted May 27th 2010 9:12AM]

You got your Palm in my Android.....and I think I might like it.

[ThatDudeSolo Posted May 27th 2010 9:58AM]

@KAL326 lol +1

[BigJayDogg3 Posted May 27th 2010 9:14AM]

Google, you could really use a lesson in UI for stock Android. While I won't say its /bad/ there is A LOT of room for improvement.

[cell128 Posted May 27th 2010 9:14AM]

Webodroid???

[NaeemTHM Posted May 27th 2010 9:51AM]

@cell128 Next Update: Palmkin Pie

...what?! YOU DO BETTER!

[cell128 Posted May 27th 2010 10:14AM]

@NaeemTHM
the google drio?

[ECH Posted May 27th 2010 9:14AM]

Google:

All your programmers are belong to us.

[Marko Posted May 27th 2010 9:14AM]

Is it just me, or are these news a bit on the boring side? I don't really care who is the head designer for the ui of the gadget that I am using, as long as the UI looks good and works well?

[BigJayDogg3 Posted May 27th 2010 9:24AM]

@Marko

Who develops the UI?

If the guy who is (according to Engadget anyway) "the driving force behind the user interface of webOS" which is arguably the most beautiful smartphone UI on the market right now, and then jumps ship to Google's Android, a platform many ream because it is at its core great, but just doesn't deliver with the UX, you have a recipe for success.

IMO, THIS is what breaking news should be. Things that have the ability to greatly impact the landscape of the tech world.

[kirill Posted May 27th 2010 9:42AM]

@Marko
I think you actually on the wrong website...
Try something like http://www.fusionflowers.com/

[lookseehear Posted May 27th 2010 9:47AM]

@Marko If you don't like the stories you know where the door is. The rest of us actually do enjoy reading it.

[Marko Posted May 27th 2010 10:55AM]

@lookseehear oh great, thanks! kind of you!

[Sisyphus Posted May 27th 2010 9:15AM]

I feel like I'm going to be holding on to my Pre for a few more years because I'm so attached to the experience (as someone with two full-time jobs, five email accounts, and three calendars, it really does make my life easier).

That said, Palm just doesn't inspire that primal gadget lust anymore. Either that, or we're at the point where the "ooh, shiny" factor recycles every 4-6 months.

Palm may be my workhorse of a wife, but the Evo 4G is my lusty mistress.

[gasshole Posted May 27th 2010 9:22AM]

@Sisyphus so your wife is a horse?? nyuck nyuck nyuck knee slapper

[JordanClay Posted May 27th 2010 9:23AM]

Android Open OS, With the looks of Web OS? Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

[nohcho Posted May 27th 2010 9:24AM]

wow, pal has been bleeding for some time now. This news makes me want to return my palm pre as my trial window closes. What does this mean for the future of WebOS?

[mikmik111 Posted May 27th 2010 9:28AM]

this is messed up... for palm at least, and for webOS

[Freakin Ijit Posted May 27th 2010 10:31AM]

@mikmik111 This is messed up for HPQ - they're spending a billion dollars (or two!) for what is turning out to be an empty shell.

Good luck to them! They'll need it.

[immortal clone Posted May 27th 2010 9:30AM]

I hope he will be employed by Nokia!

[mnhthebest Posted May 27th 2010 11:08AM]

@immortal clone

Nokia should start switching over to Android instead. The last thing we need is this guy to create a proprietary OS for Nokia than a open one which anyone can use.

[element4life3 Posted May 27th 2010 9:32AM]

As an Android fan, and user YEEESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

[Dugan Edwards Posted May 27th 2010 9:32AM]

PLEASE, PLEASE BE TRUE. Android's clunky OS needs some major overhaulin' and it could finally get the street cred it deserves outside of the geek world. It's ugly, outdated UI main reason I went back to iPhone.

[Kiron Posted May 27th 2010 10:29AM]

@Dugan Edwards

I'm confused about how iPhone OS is beautiful, its just a grid of icons on different pages. The settings menu for example is already outclassed by Android. You can't even choose a background right now. The only thing iPhone OS has over Android OS in terms of looks is the music player. iPod beats stock android player on all levels(looks and functionality) but thats it. Now I don't say this because I'm biased or anything, I'm a first month $600 adopter of the iphone and 3G. But I would really like to know what is great about the look of iPhone OS, because it doesn't look like anything...

[KimH Posted May 27th 2010 10:38AM]

@Kiron

+1

[Neomastermind Posted May 27th 2010 10:51AM]

@Kiron iPhone OS is boring. I have an iPod Touch and even I must admit that the OS is uninspired and partly played a role in my getting the Droid Incredible over the next iPhone.

[Hex Posted May 27th 2010 4:26PM]

@Kiron

Completely agree. There really isn't much to it besides the grid of icons. I wish I could slap a background on my 3GS, or even change the black background to a different color or... SOMETHING. It's definitely usable and everything, just... boring.

[omr6535 Posted May 27th 2010 9:35AM]

wow... Epic fail palm, although I highly doubt he was the only factor in developing such a beautiful ui. I love webos and the ui...

[Freakin Ijit Posted May 27th 2010 10:32AM]

@omr6535 Nah, not "epic fail palm". Instead, "epic fail HPQ".

[Rick James Posted May 27th 2010 9:37AM]

personally prior to getting my droid I did consider the pre plus because of all the great things I heard about webOS. That being said, the functionality of android exceeds webOS for my needs--I guess what I'm saying is that if I had to pick for over function, I would choose function everytime. However, I do concur that android needs quite a bit of polish on the UI and this would be great for android.

[SCXFAN Posted May 27th 2010 9:37AM]

A guy with a love for tight control might not fit in with Google and its love of openness.