Too Many Buttons

[Kris Kumar]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.russellbeattie.com/notebook/1008360.html' target='_blank'>http://www.russellbeattie.com/notebook/1008360.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Okay, another diagram. this time not as clean, but it'll get the job done. I didn't feel like drawing out all those different buttons to present. What I did was grab some keypads from the most advanced or latest models of biggest manufacturers. That would the Nokia 6680, Motorola SLVR, Sony Ericsson Walkman phone, Audiovox SMT5600, a Samsung SCH-A890, and a couple Japanese phones - one from KDDI and one from DoCoMo. What I'm trying to point out is the multitude of buttons on the front face of most of them. ... There's quite a few options and no two models are the same, even though they've more or less standardized on the two soft buttons and five way joystick thing. These are just the basic designs of the buttons on the front and doesn't count all the stuff on the top and sides. There are also phones coming that add four audio control buttons adding even *more* buttons. And none of these are standard."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Mar2005-TooManybuttons.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />Russell Beattie has posted an interesting article on the non-existence of a standard for the cell phone keypad. Recently at the CTIA 2005, the wireless operators agreed the cell phones need to be <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&amp;u=/nm/20050316/tc_nm/telecoms_wireless_simplicity_dc">far less confusing</a> to the consumers. Do you think Microsoft has got the right set of special function keys on its Smartphone? Apart from the texting problem, what do you feel is the most annoying thing about the Smartphone keypad? Do you think Microsoft could have done better? What are your thoughts?

[encece]

It's all relative and subjective.

I hated the buttons on every phone I have ever gotten UNTIL I finally got used to them. My last smartphone was the Audiovox and I could dial in the dark with it. Layout of the Smartphone buttons has been consistent for the most part up until now. Tactile feel and shape have been the deeciding differences. The MPx200 had the worst buttons if you ask me. They were so flush with the body, you didnt know which you were touching, or if you were touching it at all.

But now having the iMate JAM (Yaaaaah!) I can say that I may be missing the buttons as dialing on a touch screen is a totally different experience entirely.

[xultar]

One thing we don't need is a standard on buttons. All it will do is curtail design.

I get a phone because of functionality and kewl factor 1st and foremost. Buttons are way down on the list. I'll learn to use the buttons if the rest of the device does what I need it to do.

[Mark Larson]

Windows took a while for me to get used to, since I was used to pressing the left softkey to enter into what I had selected on the screen, but I had to press in the joystick or press a number on the keypad. I like the Windows way better because I don't have to scroll as much, and I can quickly learn sequences of numbers to get to where I want to go.

Windows has more keys than others, but once you get used to it, they become second nature.

[Jason Dunn]

I quite like the fact that any Smartphone I pick up will have the two softkey buttons, home, and back - and all in the same configutation. To me, that makes the learning curve much less. The other buttons don't matter much and each OEM should have the ability to innovate how they wish...

[Jerry Raia]

I enjoy learning how to use a new phone. I don't really mind that they are different. In fact I kind of like it. :)

[rzanology]

i'd say my mpx setup is perfect. big buttons...big blue button lol....the only phone that has a better set up was my t68i...and thats because it has the joystick! other than that....the mpx takes the cake.

[David C]

I've always found it odd that the End button does not take you home, but every other cell phone in the world does it. I see it as a compromise in design so Microsoft can promote the Windowness of the device by having a seperate home and back function like a Windows PC does. It doesn't really work for phones.

[Mike Temporale]

I've always found it odd that the End button does not take you home,

It does on my phone. It didn't use to on my last one, but on the C500 it does. What phone do you have?

[Neil]

I've always found it odd that the End button does not take you home, but every other cell phone in the world does it.

Yeah, we sortof goofed on that one. We we really wary about overloading keys to do different things the first time around, but that was changed in one of the later releases (2003SE I think).

The whole key thing was a fascinating part of the Smartphone design process. We had several hardware partners pushing us HARD to reduce the number of keys. "More keys = more complex = more confusing for users. Oh, and more keys = more $$$ to manufacture". I remember building presentations with painfully big tables in them to show all the different key mappings, and how pulling one or two keys (say, combining home and back) would result in more confusion for users rather than less. I'm rather pleased that the model we came up with has worked pretty well!

Ah, those were the days...

Neil

[Mike Temporale]

The whole key thing was a fascinating part of the Smartphone design process. We had several hardware partners pushing us HARD to reduce the number of keys. "More keys = more complex = more confusing for users. Oh, and more keys = more $$$ to manufacture". I remember building presentations with painfully big tables in them to show all the different key mappings, and how pulling one or two keys (say, combining home and back) would result in more confusion for users rather than less. I'm rather pleased that the model we came up with has worked pretty well!

Interesting... I think you guys did a great job with the buttons. I think there is just the right amount. Take any away, or add any more and it's just not as functional.

[Kris Kumar]

I couldn't agree more. :D The Smartphone special function keys work out really well. One less key would have been a bad move. I am surprised that manufacturers bring in the cost angle, but do not pay attention to the complexity factor.

[Kris Kumar]

In case any one has any problem with the Microsoft Smartphone's keypad. May I recommend the Firefly mobile phone. (http://www.fireflymobile.com/) :wink: :lol:

http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-Mar2005-FireFly.jpg

Well jokes apart, I think it is a neat idea.

[revolution.cx]

And don't forget the buttons on the sides.

I actually think that Microsoft did an excellent job with the buttons on the Smartphone and you would be hard pressed to reduce the number of dedicated keys without making it MORE complex. These are "smart" phones after all and we are trying to do more than just make calls.

Recently I've been deep into Smartphone development and hadn't touched a Pocket PC for a while. Sure enough when I fired up one of those bricks I was immediately wondering how people can stand to use them. An array of useless buttons on the front and no back button !?!?! How can this be? I have to use both hands to operate it !?!? And the dpad is barely useful in most apps, including the built in ones.

I have given up on the stylus and am embracing the one handed model of device usage. Granted when you go beyond just browsing data and start to do more complicated tasks a stylus is helpful but then again a laptop is even more helpful.

I really think the Pocket PC needs to give up the dedicated app buttons and go with a Smartphone like design: 2 softs (maybe 3), back button (hold for home), dpad with action, and 2 call keys for phone devices.

The smartphone needs better hardware layout of the buttons (size, location) but the design itself works great for me. On the software side it would be nice if there were some hard coded start menu options, e.g. start, 4, 2 would always go to bluetooth config, or start 3, 8 always went to the default mapping program.

[Kris Kumar]

Okay I have a suggestion. :-) revolution.cx reminded me about one handed operation. And I have always liked the Blackberry scroll wheel on the side.

I would like to see that on my next Smartphone or Pocket PC. A scroll wheel on the side with a push to click OK action. It will make searching for contacts, surfing easy.

The reason why I feel it is a good idea is because (especially on the candy bar phones) the keypads are getting smaller and screen is getting bigger. The position of the joystick/keypad is not ergonomic. The scroll wheel on the side will make it easy.

And of course it opens up the whole left handed, right handed operation debate, that Pocket PC and Smartphone has managed to dodge till now. ;-)

[Jerry Raia]

And I have always liked the Blackberry scroll wheel on the side.

If Motorola is the first thing on my list that makes my neck veins bulge, Blackberry would be the second!
:microwave:

[surur]

More buttons, more buttons!!

It vastly improves ergonomics for newbies to have dedicated keys. I think the SDA music epitomised this very well.

I love the look of the Jam, but the lack of buttons are frightening. I found the 2 less buttons on the xda 2 very uncomfortable. The xda2s with 4 extra buttons AND a keyboard was much better.

BTW the FSC Loox 720 and 600 has a scroll wheel with click action. Unfortunately the OS is just not designed to take advantage of this functionality. It does however help when reading e-books and using netfront, and in PIE you can go from link to link using it and select that link with a click.

Buttons are fine, but the OS needs to be designed to utilise it.

Surur