The iPhone and User Interfaces
What Apple acheived with the iPod's UI was brilliant; a UI that had never been seen before. The iPod didn't do anything it didn't need to and it did it with just 4 physical controls. These controls were multi-purpose and intuative. Lists were managed via the scroll wheel, selection by the central click button, getting back to the menu through the menu button and going backwards a step through the back button. Simple, elegant, thoughtful design giving the feeling that the software was designed before the UI of the physical device - the best way. The iPhone takes these same principles along with Apple's wonderful OS design skills and the result is one of almost perfect flow.
Keep it Simple!
The idea is the same as the guys over at 37Signals preach (and I'm a massive fan of as well) - the idea that less is more and instead of thinking about what more you can add to an interface, you should be thinking what more can I take out. Where this line blurs is with the iPhone. You could argue that the iPhone doesn't need to play MP3s, take pictures or browse the net but as with most things the youth of the world are showing us the way the world should (and is) going. The 13-18 bracket is an Internet generation that requires more than just a mobile phone with silly ringtones, they want video, social networking, texting, music and a good camera!
So people are more and more wanting all their media in one place. Gone are the days of people having numerous remote controls for their electrical products, they want one remote that does everything. The idea with media is the same. In a world where time is ever more money consumers are demanding things faster and all in one place and with pretty much everyone accessing the Internet everyday now taking the capabilities of your PC/MAC away with you when you leave your desk is becoming a massive requirement.
Use The Flow Luke...
So where does this leave the state of the UI of the iPhone? The flow between the different tasks a user can perform on the device is as flow should be smooth and seemless. How does it acheive this? Navigation? Animation? Easy access to key areas? Well, all of those things really; the navigation altough traditional in appearance means that all mobile phone users will understand how to use it straight away and new users (of which you're not going to get many buying this product) will be able to pick it up with a couple of minutes playing time.
Apple have designed the interface to give a feeling that you're not performing different tasks - you're just communicating. This is the key to the flow. When you pick up the iPhone you're presented with the usual navigation options SMS, Calendar, photos etc with the device types at the bottom of the huge screen. From there you can launch off to take a picture, play a song, check your calendar or call a friend and when you're done, the only physical button, the "home" button brings you back to the root navigational page.
Apple, the brand
I can't say it's genius because it's like all great design, it's just common sense. I say common sense because it's designed like something should be; simple and elegant. If I was to sum up the Apple brand I'd use the same two words but that's a whole new post that I'll save for next time.
Labels: apple, application, design, iphone, mobile, user interfaces
Posted by Mark at 9:00 AM | Permalink | 0 comments | links to this post
Addactive.net
Addactive.net is a brand new community based website for people with an active lifestyle.
As people that enjoy getting out there and getting fit and being people that love the Internet and it's communities and knowing that there was nothing out there that fitted our needs Cold In England and Clear January teamed up with another partner to create a community that enabled people to interact with each other on all sports and activity based subjects.
Addactive.net will allow users to join for free, find clubs and groups to befriend and become members of both online and offline. For example, if John wants to get involved in martial arts but has no idea where to start or what type he wants to do he can search Addactive.net for martial arts clubs in his local area that he might want to try out. From there he came talk to the clubs and find out more about them before making a fool out of himself on his first day. Or if Jenny is finding it hard to train on her own or wants to add the social aspect to going to the gym then she can search Addactive.net for people that go to her gym and start chatting online with them before meeting up and helping each other train offline.
Currently, Addactive.net is still being built but if you're interested in learning more then drop your email address (do tick the "a friend told me about Addactive" checkbox and add mark@clearjanuary.com so we know where you came from) in the form over at the Addactive.net pre-register page and check out the Official Addactive.net Blog to learn more about how we're getting along building it.
Labels: application, community, design, portfolio, sport
Posted by Mark at 11:45 AM | Permalink | 0 comments | links to this post
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