Brandon Miniman
09-26-2007, 12:53 AM
Every few months I come across something in Windows Mobile that feels rather not thought out. Here are two:
1. I use the Folder button a lot in Pocket Outlook so that I can access various folders on my Exchange account. On my device (and it may be different on your phone depending on how your email is configured), I can access folders by pressing Menu + 6. The inconsistent part comes when you enter the SMS application. To switch to folder view in that, the command is Menu + 8. Wouldn't it make more sense to assign a commonly used function to the same number?
2. Windows Mobile Standard, as seen below, uses different soft key commands for similar kinds of lists. In the Start menu, all 7 items are assigned to a menu choice, and More is a soft key. That's fine.
In the Settings menu, the final option of the list is wasted on the More option, when it could hold another setting. This makes no sense! Instead of a Done command on the left soft key, it should say More. A Done button is not necessary because you exit the Settings menu the same way you do the Start menu - by pressing the Home or End call button.
While we're being picky, the word More should actually be Next. Think about it...what's the opposite of More? It's Less. So, if I go forward in the programs list by pressing More, then I want to go back to an earlier screen, do I want to see "Less"? No, I want to go "Back," which is closer to the opposite of More.
1. I use the Folder button a lot in Pocket Outlook so that I can access various folders on my Exchange account. On my device (and it may be different on your phone depending on how your email is configured), I can access folders by pressing Menu + 6. The inconsistent part comes when you enter the SMS application. To switch to folder view in that, the command is Menu + 8. Wouldn't it make more sense to assign a commonly used function to the same number?
2. Windows Mobile Standard, as seen below, uses different soft key commands for similar kinds of lists. In the Start menu, all 7 items are assigned to a menu choice, and More is a soft key. That's fine.
In the Settings menu, the final option of the list is wasted on the More option, when it could hold another setting. This makes no sense! Instead of a Done command on the left soft key, it should say More. A Done button is not necessary because you exit the Settings menu the same way you do the Start menu - by pressing the Home or End call button.
While we're being picky, the word More should actually be Next. Think about it...what's the opposite of More? It's Less. So, if I go forward in the programs list by pressing More, then I want to go back to an earlier screen, do I want to see "Less"? No, I want to go "Back," which is closer to the opposite of More.