Support Our Site
Get Better Gear!
- Kensington Windshield/Vent Car Mount with Sound Amplified Cradle for iPhone from Kensington, $39.99
- SigFx Energy iPhone Case Contains Smart Battery from SigFx Energy, US$69.95
- NAVIGON AG - True GPS Software for the iPhone from NAVIGON Inc., 89.99
- Tweetie 2 from atebits, $2.99
- Snood: Flawed Casual Play from Electronic Arts, US$3.99
Premier Sponsors
Top 5 Free Apps
iTunes New Music Releases
Top 5 Paid Apps
Discover New Music
- Phish
- This quasi-concept album (the only of its kind) from these Vermonters finally showcased their ability to convey a message with a studio album, whereas previously they only succeeded in doing so live.
- Death Cab for Cutie
With the introduction of Plans, Death Cab for Cutie became a new addition to many user's Artist list after the single "Soul Meets Body" became a hit on iTunes. Offering a fresh alternativ
- Massive Attack
"Black Milk" knocks me off my feet in this collection of moody and eclectic songs. Massive Attack uses samples and keyboards in a very unique way, but not all the songs pack the same punch.
- Jeff Wayne
- With the new movie adaptation of H.G Wells' classic Sci Fi invasion tale, War of the Worlds, currently on theater screens everywhere, there's new interest in Jeff Wayne's rock opera version, and it is
- Cake
Pressure Chief, Cake's latest album, didn't immediately grab me. In fact, it took perhaps half a dozen listens before I started truly enjoying it. Any
Reader Specials
Visit Deals On The Web for the best deals on all consumer electronics, iPods, and more!
News
Tech/UK: The iPhone Critics are Missing The Point
Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 at 3:00 PM - by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Apple iPhone, like any device, can be improved. However, those who focus on the iPhone weaknesses are missing the point, according to Nick Merritt at Tech/UK on Thursday. It’s the iPhone UI that will create problems for the competition.
"What really matters technology-wise, is Apple’s interface. Apple at its best has always understood this: that in these days of ubiquitous information, processing power and networking, and the infinite ways those things can be brought together to the user, with all the attendant difficulties in doing so, it is always the interface that matters most," Mr. Merritt wrote.
We all think we understand that, but what’s important is that those who are in a position to copy the iPhone don’t because they’re in the phone business, not the UI business. One of the telltale signs that Apple understands something the competition doesn’t is the underlying philosophy of the iPhone integrated design, according to Mr. Merritt: "As Jobs himself put it, in a little-noticed comment, there are no ’verbs’ in the iPhone interface: that sense, familiar from Windows or OS X of selecting a file then doing something to it."
"Instead, you press an icon or select an object, then stuff happens immediately," the author continued." It sounds basic, but it’s actually cutting through a lot of the assumptions that have informed computer interface design since the GUI."
As a result, Apple has a solution that sells, although the competition may not know exactly why it sells. "The response of the handset makers has been pretty unadventurous," the author concluded. "...they’ve been aping the eye candy rather than rethinking their designs. And who can blame them, when they have so much money tied up in the status quo?"
So while Apple improves the Apple UI based on sound principles, they’re likely to stay ahead of the competition -- just as the iPod has stayed ahead of the Zune. The author concluded with this sharp insight. "Apple can and will make better featured phones - but can the handset makers make better interfaces?"
Recent Headlines
- Apple TV 3.0.1 Update Fixes Missing Content Bug
- Taiwan Leak Shows Verizon UTMS/CDMA iPhone for Q3 2010
- iPhone Moves Into RadioShack
- Dictionary, Dictionary, Dictionary, And More
- The Latest App Store Games: Gravity Sling, RocketBird, Ground Effect, Checkers!
- iPhone Game Developer Sued for Collecting User’s Cell Numbers
- Apple May Be Bringing RFID to the iPhone
Post Your Comments