Windows Mobile = Unintuitive User Interface

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://mobilejenneth.blogs.com/archives/2005/08/one_thing_ive_c.html' target='_blank'>http://mobilejenneth.blogs.com/archives/2005/08/one_thing_ive_c.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"One thing I've consistently noticed about people that pick up a Pocket PC for the first time, is that they don't know what to do once faced with the Today screen. ... I tried to sell my Motorola MPx220 to a workmate the other day. I told him about all the cool stuff on there: Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, MSN Messenger, syncing with Outlook (the latter of which was of particular interest to him because he's a salesman and lives off his email and contacts). I told him he could download videos, games, even display porn pictures on the home screen (yes, sometimes I have to try and reach them on their level). I extolled how customisable and powerful the phone was. Thirty minutes later, he comes back to me and said that the phone was too complicated to use, and he went off and bought a Sony Ericsson K750i that very same day."</i><br /><br />First of all I must confess that I love the today screen or the home screen. Most of the times, I just pull out my Smartphone, take a look at the home screen and put the Smartphone back in my pocket. The thought of having a screen full of fancy icons staring at me, seems unintuitive to me. I think that Windows Mobile with its <i>customizable</i> home screen is the best option for mobile users of all kinds. The thing that Microsoft or manufacturers can do is provide a PC based setup wizard for the first use. This wizard should try to identify the needs of the user, like I use E-Mail and calendar, I like to listen to music, I do not care about Tasks or I don't care about the Personal Information Management piece, just show me the shortcuts for the applications. Based on the supplied information, it should either create a customized home screen or load one of the many canned ones. ;-) Another point that I would like to make in Windows Mobile's defense is that it is a very powerful software. With power comes confusion and chaos. :-) What are your thoughts?

[Mike Temporale]

I wouldn't say WM is confusing at all. It's really quick to learn the layout, and how to work the phone. I've had some Nokia's and SE's where I could never seem to find the same setting twice!

As a matter of fact, my wife has a CDMA Audiovox something or other with a camera. It's just plain confusing to find anything on it. It was well over 2 weeks before we found that it did have a calculator!

I like your idea about the homescreen. Maybe it be some sort of tool that would run the first time you sync'ed your phone. Just to show the user the different homescreens on that phone, and allow them to select the best one.

[ctmagnus]

First of all I must confess that I love the today screen or the home screen. Most of the times, I just pull out my Smartphone, take a look at the home screen and put the Smartphone back in my pocket. The thought of having a screen full of fancy icons staring at me, seems unintuitive to me. I think that Windows Mobile with its customizable home screen is the best option for mobile users of all kinds. The thing that Microsoft or manufacturers can do is provide a PC based setup wizard for the first use. This wizard should try to identify the needs of the user, like I use E-Mail and calendar, I like to listen to music, I do not care about Tasks or I don't care about the Personal Information Management piece, just show me the shortcuts for the applications. Based on the supplied information, it should either create a customized home screen or load one of the many canned ones. ;-) Another point that I would like to make in Windows Mobile's defense is that it is a very powerful software. With power comes confusion and chaos. :-) What are your thoughts?

I absolutely love the concept of the home screen. 90% of everything I need to know is on there 90% of the time. The rare occasion when something I need isn't on there, it's no more than three or four keypresses away.

And unintuitive? I really do not understand that bit. If you can grasp Windows on the desktop, why is it such a stretch for some people to use Windows on Pocket PCs or Smartphones? They all have one main screen, the Desktop, Today screen or Home screen, with a Start menu that has programs, etc listed on it. Something's not on the desktop/Today screen/Home screen? Chances are it's on the Start menu.

I really think that the problem with technology is not that it's too difficult for most people to grasp; the problem is that most people are too lazy to wrap their head around something that could potentially make their lives much easier (another instance of pebkac). :?

And this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mortenjust/32677294/) is a very practical home screen, imo. I just need to remember to see if 1-Home Edit can do the clock like that.

[leslietroyer]

It may be confusing if you just toss a phone at someone and say here you go. My wife - who is very-anti-technical (she hasn't figured out TIVO yet) loves the 5600 I got for her, She uses contacts, calander, and the basic phone no problem. This is the first phone she's had where I don't have to enter all her contacts!!. At first she was very aprehensive, and was sure it was way too complicated. I did sit down and walk her through every thing several time till she got it. Still haven't got her to the point where she will beam me appointments, but she will email them to me -- almost as good.

I think a really good tutorial on how to do the most basic things. Then some marketing, I've never ever seen an add for a smartphone.

Les

[possmann]

Great idea Kris - as long as they don;t call it "Bob" - shudder at that memory...

Majority of cell phone users in the US do not have the desire or do not think of a cell phone like they would a pocketpc or tabletpc or for that matter a computer. They think of a cell phone as a cell phone that maybe takes pictures and does some basic messaging services. They do not embrace the capabilties that the OS can provide for them and the majority of them don't want to go through the "hassle" of setting things up and customizing them to their individual needs/desires - which is what the smartphone os allows you to do.

I just think that the majority of cell phone cultre here in the US is not ready for what the tecnology offers - The majority of users (in the US) don't use half of what are phones are capabile of doing. What a shame too - because that drives the need for faster networks, larger coverage areas, better phones here - and I think that the phone companies recognize that usage of US users as you look at what kind of technologies are being deployed elsewhere in the world. sigh...

Because of this, I think it would be a marketing bullseye if a cell phone company offered an application that allows a basic user to configure their phone via connecting it to their home computer and using their computer to configure the layout and applications on the phone itself. Way cool...

[Kris Kumar]

It may be confusing if you just toss a phone at someone and say here you go.

That is bound to happen with a true smart phone. A true smart phone is supposed to bend backwards to adapt to the user's life style. And hence the home screen, menu customizations and applications in someone else's hands will be confusing. And calling Windows Mobile Unintuitive for that reason is bad. And hence my disagreement with the author of the original post. :-)

[Kris Kumar]

I just think that the majority of cell phone cultre here in the US is not ready for what the tecnology offers - The majority of users (in the US) don't use half of what are phones are capabile of doing.

I think that is true. They get freaked out the moment you tell them that this small gadget can do so many things. They like to see buttons for each and every thing. Every thing properly labelled. Clearly visible. :lol:

[Jason Dunn]

I've heard this many times before at Microsoft Mobius events, and I never quite agree with it - though I do think there is a market for a dumped-down Smartphone (there's a paradox for ya!). There is a bit of a learning curve, but there is with any device - if you move from a Nokia phone to a Motorola phone, you have to re-learn how it works. I think all Windows Mobile devices would GREATLY benefit from a simple start-up wizard that shows beginner users some of the basics the first time they start up their phone.