S60 Open to new features

Related to my previous entry, I'm thinking of ways of improving the everyday use of the S60 device, making it more efficient. We, as users, tend to do things the way we are used to, repeating the same patterns and routines again and again. This is quite natural and part in learning and memorizing how to use a complex environment designed to perform a huge number of different tasks (and S60 qualifies here!). These patterns may occur in the navigation ("Open menu, scroll down, enter folder, scroll, open application") or inside various applications.

Sometimes these patterns may feel natural, sometimes we don't even notice their existence - and sometimes they repeatedly annoy us ("Why haven't they come up with a better way to add a simple smiley to an SMS!").

In a perfect world, good design and extensive research makes the UI easy, intuitive and efficient to use from the very first release. Then there's the real world with all the time and resource constraints. However, application developers should have an open eye toward user feedback, always eager doing it a bit better next time.

Can you identify patterns in your everyday use, things you repeat that may not be the most efficient way of getting the task done? Why do you repeat them - because you don't know a better way? Or are you limited by the UI and the environment?

And, do you know how to work around the problem?

As Riitta and Maija already mentioned, there's a few fresh faces contributing to this blog - nice to meet you! My focus is on efficient use of the S60 device; cutting corners, finding alternative ways of performing tasks and generally taking the most out of the device. This focus may be due to my inherit laziness and desire to do things simply - or perhaps the slow and sunny Finnish summer is getting to me!

In my opinion, shortcuts and alternative paths are not for PowerUsers (TM) only. This is why they should not be secrets hidden under the OS hood. Regular users getting to know S60 should be encouraged to try out alternative ways of performing their everyday tasks; this makes them more at home with their device. And this has everything to do with User Experience.

Onto my topic today: do we need the S60 menu in our everyday use, or could we do completely without it?

Looking at my N70, I have a wealth of options I can do right from the main display. With a little customization, I can launch all the applications I need without opening the menu. Let's see the options I have:

- 2 softkeys
- 5 application shortcuts in the active standby (aka active idle) mode
- access to the calender from the active standby
- the multimedia key (long press to change the settings!)
- access to the call log with the green dial key
- ability to launch the browser with long press of 0

That's access up to 11 applications right there! Did I miss something? And, do you still have a reason to browse the menu in your everyday use?

Oh yeah - something I really like with the N70: the best (and simplest!) shortcut is behind the camera; simply slide the cover to launch the camera. That's so great!