Quote:
Originally Posted by
appl 
That's one of the things I hate most about iOS. Before Apple added folders, all the icons were strewn. And worst of all, they were strewn on different pages, and moved around by themselves.
Now they have folders, but all the Folders icons look pretty much exactly the same.
The entire manner of selecting an app is horrible on the iPhone. There's no good way to store things so they are easy to find. Your only choices are to have everything strewn all over, or put them into folders where the icons are all the same. It sucks big time.
On the iPhone you have 5 ways to to access apps:
1)
Dock: place high use apps in the bottom dock
-- they are always visible on the desktop
-- tap to select app
-- exit app returns to desktop
where you left it
2)
Desktop: place them on the desktop
-- scroll to desired desktop pane
-- tap to select app
-- exit app returns to desktop
where you left it
3)
Folders: place them in folders with similar apps
-- scroll to desired desktop pane
-- tap desired folder
-- tap to select app
-- exit app returns to open folder
where you left it
-- close folder returns to desktop
where you left it
4)
Search: Spotlight search by [partial] name or keywords
-- tap, then tap home button (or left swipe from desktop pane 1) to bring up search
-- enter partial name or keyword
-- scroll and tap selected app
-- exit app returns to desktop
where you left it
5)
Back and Forth: double-tap home button to open task tray of recent apps
-- scroll and tap selected app
-- exit app returns to desktop
where you left it
Go to the following URL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gngr3...yer_embedded#!
At about 4:34 in it shows app access on WP7. (Apparently the presenter is unaware of the search capability of iOS).
Here are the WP7 ways to access apps (3 ways):
A)
Active Tiles: Put high-use apps in Active tiles on the desktop
-- vertically scroll to the desired tile
-- tap selected tile
-- exit app returns to the
top of Active Tile list,
rather than where you left it
B)
Desktop List: Flick left from the start screen shows an alphabetic list of all apps
-- vertically scroll list
-- tap to select app
-- unclear what happens on exit app.. returns to the
top of Active Tile list,
rather that where you left it?
C)
Back History:
-- tap the back button to open prior app
-- repeat to go back through history
-- unclear what happens on exit app.. returns to the
top of Active Tile list,
rather that where you left it?
While WP7 navigation appears more elegant with a few apps in Active Tiles or the Alphabetic list -- it quickly will become tedious to use with a lot of apps or activity.
Basically, you have 3 Genisis-type options to locate an app:
1) Start at the
beginning of the active tiles list
2) Start at the
beginning of the alphabetical applications list
3) Start at the
end of the app history and go
backwards only, one app at a time (back button)
We have hundreds of apps on our iDevices, shared among 2 adults and 3 teenagers. While not perfect, iOS navigation is superior to this rather simplistic WP7
facade.
I do like the concept of Active Tiles, if done with taste and moderation. But with an alpha list and back button as the only underpinning--
WP7 really has only basic navigation (meets minimum requirements), at best.
... and Active Tiles are, sadly, nothing more than attractive and distracting
Potemkin village.
.
