S60 Open to new features

When was at CTIA Wireless a couple months ago, I went up to the Windows Mobile booth and said something like, "Is this easy to use?" and the reply was something like, "Do you know how to use Windows?" and said, "Yeah", then he said, "then you know how to use these phones."

And he's pretty much right. If you know how to use Windows, you'll get a huge jump start onto Windows Mobile devices. An excellent selling point for them.

Now if the question was "Is a Windows-style UI the best way to run a smartphone?" or "Do I really want Windows on my smartphone?" ...I might have a different answer.

S60 set out to design the best *SMARTPHONE* UI experience ever - but for new users to S60, it'll take a little time to learn. I'm supposed to be a S60 expert I still forget where things are. The other day I wanted to add a new WLAN profile, it took me a good couple minutes to remember where I do that. I often say that S60 options are too spread out and too hidden in menus. The Help app is quite helpful, although I'd rather see it guide you along than present you with a bunch of text.

It's not that S60 is hard to use - it's that people are familiar with the Windows interface, making them using the Windows Mobile a snap. However, when you look at S60 and Windows Mobile's UI, not that much is different for an experienced user. Maybe S60 could have some kind of easy-to-access settings where user would select the Windows like interface, if he/she wants. Microsoft used to do this in its earlier Word versions, where they provided Ami Pro and some other interfaces for the users which just got from another text processor. Corel Draw also have the similar option - you can make it look like Freehand or Illustrator. I see this as a very useful strategy - using the competitors strengths for your own goal. :)

One company made an interesting product for UIQ 3-based devices, called Swiss Manager. One of the feature this program does is that shows a little icon, which when clicked on shows you the Windows Start's look and feel. This could be a potential for some 3rd party program. Or S60 could do this in-house?

This could be a sort of easy introduction for the new users. Of course, the Windows-like Start menu requires more clicks, but for a novice users it means that he/she understands the phone.

Similarly, S60 could make a phone look like a Apple's UI. Then again, Nokia should provide a PC Suite which works on a Mac, and that's another story...

Palm hired a person to count the number of screen taps it took to access functions in the OS.

Symbian should hire someone to count the number of clicks it takes to get to a menu.

The S60 UI is the best available, bar none. I detest with a passion the WM offering, although to be fair WM5 is a marked improvement on previous attempts.

However, it is true to say for people who have never used a S60 phone, it can be hard to use. Every person I give my phone to who has never used S60 phones ask how to access the menu, if they haven't found it by luck by pressing keys to see what happens. So maybe a new layer needs to be added to the UI to help beginners, but I would hate to see S60 take a backward step just to satisfy the newbs. From all the phones I've used, S60 UI is easily the best.

A couple of options I'd like to see added to S60 would be being able to create folders inside folders. So I could keep all my apps sorted by type within the applications folder, all games by type in the games folder, etc. And please, allow me to have an active standby screen without having my upcoming appointments displayed too!

Posted by: Jay3gsm | November 15, 2006 05:44 PM

The menu key is far from obvious, changing the default shortcuts so that the first one would show the menu seems like an easy solution since a nav-button-push is the usual way to access the main menu on a cellphone.

Also the stand-by-screen should be available when in a call. You get used to have easy access to your calendar etcetera there and when you're booking a meeting with someone over the phone it's nice to be able to use the shortcuts on the stand-by-screen instead of having to go to the menu and find the calendar app.

And one third and final thing; changing applications should really be easier, maybe change the menu-button behaviour so that it instantly displays the running-application list and put the menu in there along with the stand-by-screen?

Might be easy - but it is too rigid. You need to make it alive. Sony Ericsson seems to have fixed this, and I guess have you seen the MSFT Zune. Watch out if they get that kind of life in WM.

The nokia people are really sensitive actually.
Is it because of:
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/11/14/afx3175021.html

Mmm, maybe you need warmer clothes in Finland as usual in the near future. :)
Or going back to the roots. What about gumboots ? ;)

People aren't buying smartphones or sorry multimedia computers. They get for phones first of all. Almost for ten years Nokia promote own user interface as simple and intuitive solution. Today, S60 is trying to set new standard in this field.
But most people which I could call typical users (not the newbies but they too) dont like this menu. We made a big research about this matter on Russian market (around 8000 interview). Customers whic are used 2 or 3 phones from Nokia in the past and take the last one based on S60 mention that the interface, menu categories etc it isnt logical at all. 60 per cent of them are not going to take S60 device in future, they caled it too complicated. 20 per cent are ready to take phone not from Nokia.
I think that Nokia has the same research for some others markets andvery well know about appreciation of user interface on S60.

The problem that newbies face when they get an S60 device is that the menu/options is very "spread"!!(they will all find how to get into the menu after a while, it's not difficult and it's not where the problem lies!!)
You go in Messaging but you can't find IM or Voice Mail or Message Reader!!!(S40 phones)
The connectivity Apps (Bleutooth, Infrared, USB, Wi-Fi) should be in one place only... an option to get in and have it all. (like S40 phones in Settings->Connectivity)
Another solution is to put all VOICE FUNCTIONS into one App.(voice aid/dial/commands...)!!

If Nokia does that then the menu should be more easy and with less icons!!
All it has to do (NOKIA) is to get the philosophy of S40(organize apps) into S60 and to keep the strong elements of S60 as it is now and not change it for the newbies(it would be a step backwards)!!

It must be given an attention to the details of the menu also!! (FS Call/Message ID, show time/date in all the menu/apps, show bars with info when sending/receiving a file, show the time in alarm when is on at StandBy Screen next to the belt icon... etc)!!!

I've had S60 device for over a year, still it takes at least two tries to remember where I can find the ring tone settings (for example). And I've seen other power users look for basic functions on their devices, too.

Let's put it this way (ie. mildly): if it's that hard to use basic functionality, there must be a lot room for improvement.

Another thing is that having used computers almost every day for over 15 years, yet the menus contain stuff that I don't understand. And more importantly, stuff I could not care less about. Yes, there's always a technical excuse for things that are not easy for users, but you know what, I don't care.

I hear there's a startup assistant for new phones nowadays (I haven't seen it). How about hiding all but the basic features, and enabling them when needed, then running a dedicated setup assistant? When I start using packet data, I go through an assistant that explains all the (unnecessary) technical stuff I need to know?

As for now, it's highly unlikely I would choose an S60 phone for my next device as I can get all the same functionality, some even better, and everything faster on an S40 phone.

Well, this is funny... I use S60 since the 7650 came out ( i was one of the first buyers here in portugal) and never left S60 ever since. To me is very easy, and when i play with my dad's 6280, that's when i feel difficulties. The phone's UI too me os much more confusing than S60, so i guess it's all a matter of habit...

@Dusan -

It’s an interesting thought that S60 could have some Windows like UI to allow people familiar with Windows to get started faster with S60. Personally, however, I don’t think that it would be a useful step forward; it might be even a step backwards. The Windows experience has been created as office work environment for PCs and not for small mobile devices. I considered it a good step forward that Windows Mobile 5.0 copied the S60 grid and went away from the menu list types. But then again, there is the ease of finding programmes or applications over the Start button. That’s something I agree to and we need to have in S60 UI (but not as Start button as you will see later in this comment).

@Stefan -

We in S60 actually do conduct a wide range of studies to improve the UI continuously. We use for that the Smartphone360 study which allows us with an application running on a S60 device to track, with the knowledge and the permission of the volunteering user, every click s/he makes. We also do measure the number of steps of core use cases such as making a call or sending a message. Here we have to be aware that consumers use different paths to do the same thing. To make a call, people use rather equally the path of through logs or contacts in S60. Optimising only one path is not enough, but one needs to take account all commonly adopted ways of doing things.

@Svante -

I agree with all of your points. The good news is that S60 3rd edition feature pack 1 will allow to place a shortcut to the Application Menu on the left software key. Instead of using the dedicated application menu key, it can be much straighter forward to find into the Application Menu. Whether device vendors using S60 software will be configuring the user interface in such way that the left soft key is really showing link to the menu depends on thir decision. I personally would find it very useful in S60 devices from Nokia Mobile Phones, the Samsung SGH-i520 and the LGE JoY. In terms of accessing the calendar during a call that is possible today in S60 3rd edition devices (just tried it out). If you press long the application key for multitasking, you can switch from during the call to the stand-by screen and access the calendar from there. Finally, about changing applications: It has been identified that changing between applications should be more intuitive and easier. We will try to improve this in future S60 releases.

@Jay3GSM -

As mentioned before, Menu short cut on the left soft key will be possible with S60 3rd edition feature pack 1. So, check it out in Samsung SGH-i520, LGE JoY or Nokia N95. Folder in folder will also be possible in the same software, but we can offer no help yet for disabling the calendar plug-in in Active Idle screen. I guess it’s not much use to tell you that you can disable Active Idle?!

@Eldar -

These studies from Russian market are truly interesting and I would be happy if you can share them with me to discuss them with our UI team.

@PanosM -

I think we agree that there is a market for a simplified User Interface version of S60 with fewer applications and fewer folders. For example, I bought myself a Sony Camcorder recently and that one has a function to switch between the Easy UI and the extended UI.

@Niko -

Well, what can I say: It seems like that we would make you a more likely S60 buyer if the UI would be simplified.

Hi Peter

The frustrating thing is S40 has a much more customisable today screen than found on the S60 phones. There I can remove elements of the today screen. I would suggest bringing that functionality, from a mid range phone, to the level Nokia call smartphone.

Posted by: Jay3gsm | November 20, 2006 12:03 PM

Hi there Peter,

I think that all you need to do is:
-Embody some apps into others (e.g. IM/Voice Mail in Messages, Create a new icon and put in Bluetooth/Infrared/Data cbl./Wi-Fi, Another icon and put in everything that is relevant to Voice - Voice Commands/Dialing... in that way when we put a shortcut we will have them alltogether and the menu won't have too many icons)- From Wish List, Tommi.

You don't need to take out apps in order to be more easy!!You just need to put them in the right order as in S40 phones!!If you take out apps then the device won't have great functionality!!
All I' m saying is that S40 are there for this!!
S60 must be more advanced and to accomplish that you need to give people what S40 phones give and something more!!
I agree with Jay3gsm!! Not only StandBy Screen is better in S40 but Messaging,Contacts,Calendar and overall customization are also better in some things than S60!!!

Just give attention to details of S40 and SE(K800,W850) phones!! (FS Call/Message ID... and all the others written in Wish List)-http://blogs.s60.com/tommi/2006/09/early_adopters_wish_list_for_i.html

I agree with PanosM... The most important thing is that there are too many applications that do the same thing.

The worst culprit is by far the settings app(s). Although each individual settings app is well done the whole feels like a total mess. It would be nice if all configurations could be done from one app with a simple + extended mode. Often people do the same types of things over and over in settings but still takes MUCH to many clicks. Example: setting up WLAN... Don't create another WLAN wizard app in connectivity or another WLAN settings app in the settings folder. Instead add it to a consolidated setting app with both a simple and extended mode.

- Why does Symbian OS dedicate a softkey in most applications for "Exit" while the "End Call" key could do the same. Your wasting a softkey.
- Could the "Start Call" button not always bring up the call logs or the idle screen. In most apps in seems to have no use.
- Why don't softkey menu's have number shortcuts
- T9 everywhere: search contacts, calender, music etc and even in the idle screen to access contacts (switchable via the pen key)
- Search everywhere: Like Google desktop, mac and vista experience.
- Integration between calendar + contacts

@Tim -

We do agree with you: all settings must be consolidated into a single place. We are working towards this goal throughout the next releases of S60. In S60 3rd edition FP1, we are moving the profiles under the settings menu. The WLAN Wizard was created by Nokia Multimedia as enhancement to the generic S60 platform. I guess we need to merge this into the platform in a harmonised way. Personally, I like the email wizard introduced in WM 5.0 AKU 3.0 as Anton Kotov describes it in Mobile-Review. A tutorial or wizard helping the unsuspecting consumer to set up email clients and WLAN access points when powering up the device or certain applications are rather useful.

I've had several S60 phones over the years. At least N80, N90, 6630, N70, 7610, 6600 to name the ones I've had lately. Currently I use 6630 and 8800 (a S40 phone).

Whenever a new version of S60 has come out, it has always been slower and more complicated than the version before. Each step has added features and functions, but never enough to justify the more complicated interface.

From the beginning the interface has had way too many buttons and way too many assumptions that people learn all the shortcuts. Some of the E-series phones have let go of the extra buttons already and opted for a bit more simplified UI.

Simple in UI doesn't mean featurelack, it means ease of use.

S60 has a huge lead over competitors in amount of applications, features and devices. There's a huge risk of stumbling and loosing that lead if there isn't a huge unified effort to make it all simple. It starts from the OS/API-level. Quicker responses, more robust handling of data and moves all the way up to the features of the default applications. And it all needs to be done _now_ simultaneously.

Tim: I agree. That's a very good example of overly complicated interface in S60. "End Call" and switch-button do the same thing with a slight difference in behavior.

Another example is the Settings-application. When you start it you need to select the section/tab you want to go. Why? Why not just open the phone-tab by default and let the user navigate to the other tabs that are visible at the top? The unnecessary selection makes you think that you need to go back one step in order to get to the other sections and that the other sections are different from the tabs.

now:
two different behaviors == one feature
when it should be:
two different behaviors == two different features.

This is not unique to Setting-application, at least Messaging and Log function the same confusing way.

Yet, the biggest annoyance has always been the way S60 phones notify the user about full battery: lights on and a beep. WHYYYY? When I go to sleep at night and put my phone on the charger on the nightstand next to by bed it starts charging. After 10 minutes or so, just when I'm about to fall asleep it beeps and turns on the screen lights and I'm wide awake again! How annoying is that! Why do I keep the phone next to my bed at night? 'cos I use the alarm clock in it! Why don't I turn of the beep then? 'cos you can't! Not without turning of a whole lot of other warnings and beeps.

Joel has a good insight on complex UIs. The example is from Windows Vista, but similar problems are evident in S60.

I love the nokia 6280. But the other day I changed my menu style. Now, when you click home its got little icons at the top then writing at the bottom. I don't know how to change it back to where theres only the icons. Help me pleasee!