Jester
08-01-2003, 09:54 PM
Just been playing with the Contacts plugin and make the following observation...
If the whole point of the plugin (and Dashboard), is to provide a quick method of finding phone numbers (and more), why does it take twice as long to get at the information than using the built in contacts application?
Example:-
Default Contacts Application:-
1. Switch on device
2. Remove stylus
3. Select contacts (1 tap)
4. Tap search bar (1 tap)
5. Type 2 search characters (2 taps)
6. Read Number
That's 6 stages and 4 taps to find a phone number.
Dashboard:-
1. Switch on device
2. Remove stylus
3. Select contacts (1 tap)
4. Tap and Hold Contacts Tab (1.5 taps)
5. Tap Search (1 tap)
6. Tap "Starting with" box (1 tap)
7. Type 2 letters (2 taps)
8. Double tap required name to show number (2 taps)
9. Read Number
Requiring 9 stages and 8.5 taps to find a phone number (counting T&H as 1.5 taps due to time taken).
Seems like the Dashboard's UI is designed to make the task harder rather than quicker?
Compare this to the same task on my Treo:-
1. Open flap
2. Type two search characters on keyboard
3. Read number.
The whole thing could be made a lot easier if:-
1. The search/filter input box was on the main Contacts screen,
2. The main contact numbers were visible in the search list without having to double tap to view the record?
If the whole point of the plugin (and Dashboard), is to provide a quick method of finding phone numbers (and more), why does it take twice as long to get at the information than using the built in contacts application?
Example:-
Default Contacts Application:-
1. Switch on device
2. Remove stylus
3. Select contacts (1 tap)
4. Tap search bar (1 tap)
5. Type 2 search characters (2 taps)
6. Read Number
That's 6 stages and 4 taps to find a phone number.
Dashboard:-
1. Switch on device
2. Remove stylus
3. Select contacts (1 tap)
4. Tap and Hold Contacts Tab (1.5 taps)
5. Tap Search (1 tap)
6. Tap "Starting with" box (1 tap)
7. Type 2 letters (2 taps)
8. Double tap required name to show number (2 taps)
9. Read Number
Requiring 9 stages and 8.5 taps to find a phone number (counting T&H as 1.5 taps due to time taken).
Seems like the Dashboard's UI is designed to make the task harder rather than quicker?
Compare this to the same task on my Treo:-
1. Open flap
2. Type two search characters on keyboard
3. Read number.
The whole thing could be made a lot easier if:-
1. The search/filter input box was on the main Contacts screen,
2. The main contact numbers were visible in the search list without having to double tap to view the record?