Here's a list of a site's "primary navigation". Look at option #6.
Barbeque grill
Events
Greeting Cards
National Clothing
Natural Cosmetics
Potato Grater
Gift Cards
Medicine
Books
Music / CD's
DVD Movies
Magazines
Souvenirs
Lithuanian goods
Gourmet Foods
Tea
Phone Cards
And with that I leave you all until another class requires me to create a blog. Oh, and the potato grater costs $110.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
T-Mobile, SDA -- Piece of Shit pt. 5
When entering the calender, I automatically land at today's date. Why, at this point in time, does the "back" button not back me out of the day to the week? Why does a different button back me out to the week while the back button returns me to the main menu?
In every other mode on the phone the back button backs up a screen. In the Calendar the back button exits the mode completely. Why is consistency so difficult?
In every other mode on the phone the back button backs up a screen. In the Calendar the back button exits the mode completely. Why is consistency so difficult?
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
T-Mobile, SDA -- Piece of Shit pt. 4
The case/phone combo.
OK, this isn't simply a phone problem, but it is a problem with the entire package. The case that comes with the phone is really kind of nice. It's got a magnetic snap that guides the snap in place so closing it is easy. The magnet also keeps the case locked shut pretty well. You have to want to open it in order to open it, but you don't need a key.
The problem though, is that the button to hang up a call is located directly under the snap on the case. So, if you're wearing the phone in its holster and you get a call, applying enough pressure to open the case pushes down on the button to hang up a call. Even if your phone is in locked mode, the "hang up a call" button works when a call comes in.
I would estimate that I immediately hang up on about 75% of the calls that come in when I have the phone in its case. Just so you know, this is a bad thing most of the time.
The case is a stock case. And even though it's nice, it probably costs $0.07 to include with the phone. While a custom case could be made that actually works, they didn't include it with the phone.
If any of you lovely ladies would like to test this functionality, please feel free to ask for my phone number. We can schedule a time to get together at the Exchequer and practice using the phone and the case.
I guess my "get well soon Sarah Special" a week ago didn't sell the phone. How about $115?
OK, this isn't simply a phone problem, but it is a problem with the entire package. The case that comes with the phone is really kind of nice. It's got a magnetic snap that guides the snap in place so closing it is easy. The magnet also keeps the case locked shut pretty well. You have to want to open it in order to open it, but you don't need a key.
The problem though, is that the button to hang up a call is located directly under the snap on the case. So, if you're wearing the phone in its holster and you get a call, applying enough pressure to open the case pushes down on the button to hang up a call. Even if your phone is in locked mode, the "hang up a call" button works when a call comes in.
I would estimate that I immediately hang up on about 75% of the calls that come in when I have the phone in its case. Just so you know, this is a bad thing most of the time.
The case is a stock case. And even though it's nice, it probably costs $0.07 to include with the phone. While a custom case could be made that actually works, they didn't include it with the phone.
If any of you lovely ladies would like to test this functionality, please feel free to ask for my phone number. We can schedule a time to get together at the Exchequer and practice using the phone and the case.
I guess my "get well soon Sarah Special" a week ago didn't sell the phone. How about $115?
Friday, May 11, 2007
Chase ATM: The Final Chapter?
So, I found a Chase ATM two blocks from where I work and it has a card "eater" that wouldn't be as susceptible to fraud and doesn't leave the card in the machine. But, why does their interface have a "fast cash" option that still asks if you want a receipt? That takes the "fa" out of fast. Or maybe it takes the "as" out of fast, I'm not sure.
T-Mobile, SDA -- Piece of Shit pt. 3
Why, when I'm in my text messages "Deleted Items" folder, is there an option for "Empty Folder" but when I'm in my "Inbox" or "Sent Items" that option does not exist?
"Oh, but you wouldn't want to accidentally empty your inbox!"
Add an undo so the end user has less of a chance of screwing things up.
Fine, we don't have an undo and we don't want the end user to accidentally empty their inbox. But then why when I'm at a higher level folder view and I highlight any of those three folders there is a "Clear Text Messages" option?
"Oh, but if there's only one place to go to clear your inbox there's less of a chance to accidentally delete them all!"
Add an undo so the end user has less of a chance of screwing things up.
And why in one context is the option called "Empty Folder" and in another context it's called "Clear Text Messages"?
Current Mother's Day Deal from T-Mobile:
Suggested retail: $279.99
Instant discount: -$80.00
Mail-in rebate: -$50.00
Total price: $149
My "Get Well Soon Sarah" Spring Special: $125
"Oh, but you wouldn't want to accidentally empty your inbox!"
Add an undo so the end user has less of a chance of screwing things up.
Fine, we don't have an undo and we don't want the end user to accidentally empty their inbox. But then why when I'm at a higher level folder view and I highlight any of those three folders there is a "Clear Text Messages" option?
"Oh, but if there's only one place to go to clear your inbox there's less of a chance to accidentally delete them all!"
Add an undo so the end user has less of a chance of screwing things up.
And why in one context is the option called "Empty Folder" and in another context it's called "Clear Text Messages"?
Current Mother's Day Deal from T-Mobile:
Suggested retail: $279.99
Instant discount: -$80.00
Mail-in rebate: -$50.00
Total price: $149
My "Get Well Soon Sarah" Spring Special: $125
Sunday, May 6, 2007
T-Mobile, SDA -- Piece of Shit pt. 2
Navigation on the device has a serious flaw that I haven't seen in an interface in a long time. There's sometimes a lag when jumping from one screen to the next. So on the main menu, you click down twice to the "text messages" option, hit select to jump to the inbox, then start clicking down to select a message from last week you know exists in your inbox.
Only, the jump to your inbox doesn't happen right away.
So you hit select on "text messages" and start navigating to your inbox before the screen shows up. Since you know the message is old and several clicks down (or you've memorized option locations so you don't need to see the next screen to know you need to click down three times) you start clicking down before the screen appears. But rather than caching the down clicks and applying them to the screen you selected, the navagition happens on the original menu. Then when the phone does jump into your inbox those clicks are gone and have been wasted. You need to do them again.
It's frustrating. When I want to play "solitaire", I should be able to learn to click the "start" menu, go right twice, down once and then select and I should be able to do that without having to wait for the screens to catch up. I should be able to do that blindly, while my phone's in a coat pocket. Instead, this stupid phone forces me to wait for it rather than allowing me to use it as quickly and easily as possible.
I know I mentioned I'd sell it for $150, but I think with ever post I'll drop the asking price by $10. $140. Do I hear $140?
Only, the jump to your inbox doesn't happen right away.
So you hit select on "text messages" and start navigating to your inbox before the screen shows up. Since you know the message is old and several clicks down (or you've memorized option locations so you don't need to see the next screen to know you need to click down three times) you start clicking down before the screen appears. But rather than caching the down clicks and applying them to the screen you selected, the navagition happens on the original menu. Then when the phone does jump into your inbox those clicks are gone and have been wasted. You need to do them again.
It's frustrating. When I want to play "solitaire", I should be able to learn to click the "start" menu, go right twice, down once and then select and I should be able to do that without having to wait for the screens to catch up. I should be able to do that blindly, while my phone's in a coat pocket. Instead, this stupid phone forces me to wait for it rather than allowing me to use it as quickly and easily as possible.
I know I mentioned I'd sell it for $150, but I think with ever post I'll drop the asking price by $10. $140. Do I hear $140?
Friday, May 4, 2007
T-Mobile, SDA -- Piece of Shit
OK, I'll start by saying I'm a Mac user and this phone runs the Windows Mobile OS. That means some sync functions don't work and you might think I'm biased.
But, bias aside, I'd like to start talking about some of the reasons why I'm willing to throw out a $200 phone and buy an iPhone when it's released.
After several months of frustration with the phone, I think I've finally found the interface element that defines the Windows Mobile OS experience. So, this phone has Solitaire. I play it every now and again. If you don't know the game, it's a card game that involves pulling cards from a stack.
So, there's your hand and there's the stack. You play your hand and want to pull from the stack so you hit the "menu" button that has two options: "Draw" and "New Game". The problem is, "New Game" is the default option. So in order to draw a card via the options menu, you have to hit "Options", then click down, then click "Draw". If you forget to click down, your game is canceled without warning and without the ability to undo.
AWESOME.
So, as annoying as the menu is, the "New Game" option being the default wipes out your current game without any warning or ability to revert back to the original game.
Did I mention: AWESOME!
This is just one of many, um, "quirks", the SDA has. I hope to be able to sell you my phone for $150 so you can experience them all first hand.
But, bias aside, I'd like to start talking about some of the reasons why I'm willing to throw out a $200 phone and buy an iPhone when it's released.
After several months of frustration with the phone, I think I've finally found the interface element that defines the Windows Mobile OS experience. So, this phone has Solitaire. I play it every now and again. If you don't know the game, it's a card game that involves pulling cards from a stack.
So, there's your hand and there's the stack. You play your hand and want to pull from the stack so you hit the "menu" button that has two options: "Draw" and "New Game". The problem is, "New Game" is the default option. So in order to draw a card via the options menu, you have to hit "Options", then click down, then click "Draw". If you forget to click down, your game is canceled without warning and without the ability to undo.
AWESOME.
So, as annoying as the menu is, the "New Game" option being the default wipes out your current game without any warning or ability to revert back to the original game.
Did I mention: AWESOME!
This is just one of many, um, "quirks", the SDA has. I hope to be able to sell you my phone for $150 so you can experience them all first hand.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The continuing story of Chase ATMs
So, in a previous comment someone questioned how a person could forget the card in the ATM and walk away since the card is really the key to your cash. How can it be left behind so easily?
For me, I figured out why today. When I pull out cash, I immediately put it in my wallet for safe keeping. I don't flaunt it. And, like when I'm at any store, when I'm done putting my "change" back in my wallet I put my wallet in my pocket. For safe keeping.
With the ATM, it's a unique transaction. When I pay with cash, I'm using cash. When I pay with plastic, I'm using plastic. When I'm at an ATM I'm using both. So, my mind goes into cash mode when I take the cash and I forget the card.
Best solution: an ATM that eats the card, reads it, verifies the info and spits it out before you can even get cash. That resolves the security isses with "swipe" machines and reduces the chance of forgetting the card.
For me, I figured out why today. When I pull out cash, I immediately put it in my wallet for safe keeping. I don't flaunt it. And, like when I'm at any store, when I'm done putting my "change" back in my wallet I put my wallet in my pocket. For safe keeping.
With the ATM, it's a unique transaction. When I pay with cash, I'm using cash. When I pay with plastic, I'm using plastic. When I'm at an ATM I'm using both. So, my mind goes into cash mode when I take the cash and I forget the card.
Best solution: an ATM that eats the card, reads it, verifies the info and spits it out before you can even get cash. That resolves the security isses with "swipe" machines and reduces the chance of forgetting the card.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Beryl Project
REVIEW
It's a fairly poorly written review, but that's not the point. I don't know many people that are familiar with Beryl, but in my opinion it's the first truly capable GUI for a Linux system. I know plenty of "usable" interfaces already exist, but this is the first one I've come in contact with that really has the proper focus.
Beryl Project Home Page
Beryl Project Features Page
While they even admit they borrow a number of features from the Macintosh interface, they have a few new ideas as well. I haven't actually looked at any of these videos on YouTube (they're referenced in the review) but here's what a simple search finds:
Beryl Project Videos. Maybe.
I recommend reading the features page and skimming the videos (or installing it on a machine if you're really interested). It's good to know that the open source community is finally moving in this direction.
It's a fairly poorly written review, but that's not the point. I don't know many people that are familiar with Beryl, but in my opinion it's the first truly capable GUI for a Linux system. I know plenty of "usable" interfaces already exist, but this is the first one I've come in contact with that really has the proper focus.
Beryl Project Home Page
Beryl Project Features Page
While they even admit they borrow a number of features from the Macintosh interface, they have a few new ideas as well. I haven't actually looked at any of these videos on YouTube (they're referenced in the review) but here's what a simple search finds:
Beryl Project Videos. Maybe.
I recommend reading the features page and skimming the videos (or installing it on a machine if you're really interested). It's good to know that the open source community is finally moving in this direction.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Chase
Chase ATMs have what I consider a "fatal flaw". Their machines ingest your card during the transaction, which is OK in my opinion for a number of reasons. But when the transaction is finished, there's a serious lag between the ejection of the card and an audible noise informing the user that the card has been ejected. I've almost been locked out of a late night bank lobby after walking away from the machine only to hear the beep almost too late.
A simple fix would be to have the beeping start the moment you press the final button. It boggles my mind that this has never changed.
A simple fix would be to have the beeping start the moment you press the final button. It boggles my mind that this has never changed.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
So the other day I asked my friend Sarah where the best place to find an accurate definition of "Interaction Design" would be. She pointed me towards Wikipedia for a good start.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interaction_design
On that page I found this quote:
"Interaction Design is often associated with the design of system interfaces in a variety of media...with a focus on developing the system to respond to the user's experience and not the other way around."
How fitting. I can't help but view Wikipedia as a great example of a system that responds to the user's experience. Granted, it's a web page and navigating the web doesn't change while using Wikipedia. But USING Wikipedia is certainly a different experience than using the web at large.
It's also a great example of what I would call very good Interaction Design, whereas I typically notice when Interaction Design fails the user and becomes a hinderance. Wikipedia is the opposite. You don't necessarily notice its interactive qualities, which is how a system should react.
My guess is most of my thoughts on design revolve around the negative and I'm just as interested in exploring the positives as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interaction_design
On that page I found this quote:
"Interaction Design is often associated with the design of system interfaces in a variety of media...with a focus on developing the system to respond to the user's experience and not the other way around."
How fitting. I can't help but view Wikipedia as a great example of a system that responds to the user's experience. Granted, it's a web page and navigating the web doesn't change while using Wikipedia. But USING Wikipedia is certainly a different experience than using the web at large.
It's also a great example of what I would call very good Interaction Design, whereas I typically notice when Interaction Design fails the user and becomes a hinderance. Wikipedia is the opposite. You don't necessarily notice its interactive qualities, which is how a system should react.
My guess is most of my thoughts on design revolve around the negative and I'm just as interested in exploring the positives as well.
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