is the iPhone the answer?
Hot on the back of the iPhone release (and all the accompanying fuss), the first usability study of the iPhone interface has been undertaken by User Centric in Chicago.
Interestingly, while people were very happy with the phone and music-related functionality (especially CoverFlow; which gives some of the feel of 'traditional' media to your digital collection), they were frustrated and disappointed with SMS text entry, web browsing and Google Maps.
Web browsing on the iPhone I'm told is slow, mainly due to AT&T's network capabilities. But the other two downfalls really surprise me: Google Maps is a selling feature of the device, and for people to find the multi-touch screen hard to use for this app is very disappointing.
SMS entry being difficult is due to the vertical keyboard layout being enforced; the horizontal one seems much preferred. With SMS being much more used in Europe than the US, perhaps Apple will think of a software update before their imminent Europe release...?
Either way, there is already competition in terms of multi-touch keyboardless phones on their way; personally I am interested in the Open Source Neo - the next version coming out has similar specs to the iPhone with added GPS and removable media (but also a slower chip unfortunately).
Interestingly, while people were very happy with the phone and music-related functionality (especially CoverFlow; which gives some of the feel of 'traditional' media to your digital collection), they were frustrated and disappointed with SMS text entry, web browsing and Google Maps.
Web browsing on the iPhone I'm told is slow, mainly due to AT&T's network capabilities. But the other two downfalls really surprise me: Google Maps is a selling feature of the device, and for people to find the multi-touch screen hard to use for this app is very disappointing.
SMS entry being difficult is due to the vertical keyboard layout being enforced; the horizontal one seems much preferred. With SMS being much more used in Europe than the US, perhaps Apple will think of a software update before their imminent Europe release...?
Either way, there is already competition in terms of multi-touch keyboardless phones on their way; personally I am interested in the Open Source Neo - the next version coming out has similar specs to the iPhone with added GPS and removable media (but also a slower chip unfortunately).
2 Comments :
Here's a really in-depth review of the iphone, check it out:
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/iphone-review.ars
I like the bit where they kill it =)
Definitely glad not to be an early adopter on this one...
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