design-disorder's posterous

Anything, anywhere, anytime, for no reason at all ...

Nexus One - Likes and Dislikes

via google.com

Likes:

  • Not SIM locked like the iPhone 
  • hugh screen (800x480) 
  • next generation Google Maps 
  • sleek hardware (camera, speed) 
  • removeable battery 
  • expandable memory

Dislikes:

  • inconsistent UI 
  • ugly notification bar 
  • just-another-iPhone-clone

It doesn't sound like big issues, but the Google phone needs to be different in order to gain some marketshare.

The inconsistent UI is my main concern here. What really separates the iPhone from the rest of the competition is the UI consistence and the ease of use. The Google phone or any of the other Android-based phone is a misch masch of different design philosophies which lookls almost like some parts of the phone have been developed by different parties - which can actually be the case.

One of the things that make the Nexus One look like one of those old school smartphone is the crowded notification bar. In 2010 I expect a phone to solve this problem a little more innovative and good looking.

Yes, the Nexus One has its pros especially when it comes to the hardware, but don't be surprised if Apple is countering that latest in Spring this year when they release the 3rd or 4th generation (depending on how you count them) of their iPhone.

Don't get me wrong, the Nexus One is great phone and most probably the best choice if you want a phone other than the iPhone, but it is not the game changer some people expected it to be. It's rather the other iPhone from the otehr big player. Decide yourself whom you like more - Apple or Google ...

Even the best OS these days has its usability issues

Yes, I am talking about OSX. But what bugs me almost every day is one tiny, little issue which I can get around using my common sense.

Ok, here is the challenge: you are using the Finder in tree-view mode and you want to create a new folder in one of the displayed tree branches. Nothing easier than that, you might think. Just select the respective folder which should host the new folder and select the "New folder" menu. And boom, the new folder shows up on top-level and not where you want it.

C'mon Apple, even Windows can do that. What's the deal of not supporting this obvious mimic? And even if there is a secret super duper command to achieve that, why not supporting the obvious?