Modern Nomads: What Is a Good Mobile Application Anyway?

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.modernnomads.info/articles/read.php?article_id=5' target='_blank'>http://www.modernnomads.info/articl...hp?article_id=5</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Good mobile applications are designed for people who are on the move. But when is a mobile application a good application for daily use? Are there any common pitfalls that developers and users step into? If you have to buy a mobile application, what are the important features and criteria to look for in such an application? In this article we show some of the common misconceptions developers have, the problems they cause for end-users and what to look for if you are buying an application."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ekkie_what_makes_a_good_mobile_app.jpg" /><br /><br />We spend a lot of time sharing our opinions on various Windows Mobile applications, but Jaap van Ekris decides to the developers point-of-view in analyzing what considerations need to be made in developing an application that will win the hearts and minds of the Windows Mobile community. Is Jaap complete in his vision? Give it a read and share your thoughts!

[davea0511]

Good article, but I think it misses one of the potentially most powerful capabilities of a mobile device. That is location dependent data.

I'm not talking about GIS or GeoCacheing. I'm talking about integrating GPS power into every day applications like a things to do list. How about a shopping list application. As you drive next to Lowes your PDA vibrates to remind you that you need to buy something there. Better yet... you drive by Target and it vibrates to notify you that they are having a sale on an item in your shopping list. Better yet, you drive by a customer's address and it vibrates to remind you that you need to follow up with him.

Have a destination in mind? It suggests the most productive route - and then vibrates when you drive next to any places when you need to do something.

How about this: every application can be tied to a location by clicking a button that says "record location", where you can either select your current location or click on a previously saved location. Then, every time you go to mtg room 3, all the associated files (word docs, spreadsheets, PPT files, Task and calendar items) that are attached to that room will automatically show up on a "quick open" menu.

In short, the most powerful capability of a mobile device is the one that is almost completely unutilized because 1) most manufacturers are resistant to the idea of making GPS standard on PDAs, and 2) Developers aren't leveraging these abilities.