http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/ Engadget Comments for iPhone trumps HTC Touch, N95 in usability study http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 10:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 4:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 12:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
I'll wait for the second gen of the iPhone because I wanted it to be versatile (it is not) I'll take WinMo or Symbian over the first gen iPhone.]]>Sep 24th 2007 10:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 10:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 4:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
When it comes to the iPhone, they're few and far between around here.]]>Sep 25th 2007 6:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 10:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 10:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
*Reception is pretty spotty, to say the least.

It's not Motorola-bad, but still... compared to my Nokia E50, it is quite bad.

Other gripes:
* No tasks or notes syncing!! Who in the world at Apple overlooked THAT?!

That's pretty much it, though :)]]>Sep 24th 2007 10:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 10:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
Still, no reason for the iPhone to not be 3G!]]>Sep 25th 2007 5:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 9:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Someone who is going to get a WM6 pro phone needs PIM functionalities, and he isn't going to get that from the iPhone.
A lot of students and professionals rely on third-party programs, such as medical dictionaries, drug database and so on- none of these things are available on the iPhone.
Clearly for most laypersons, iPhone is by far the best in so many aspects, but until it can at least manage calendar properly like a PDA, there will always be a market for Windows Mobile phones.
]]>Sep 24th 2007 10:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 10:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
I own a blackberry 7250 and love it. It's not super flashy or idiot-easy to use, but its well-thought-out design, consistency and smart use of shortcuts make it useful in the long run, and very capable of handling complex email and organizational tasks without most of the normal gripes that normally accompany smartphone use.]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
there will always be some idiots out there who missed the whole point of a product and scream "sux!"]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 12:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
it isn't about just plain usability either. It's about how easy it is to figure out, so to speak (or simplicity, or whatever you like to call it). Since they took people who have never used any of the devices, the learning curve aspect of each device is totally eliminated.]]>Sep 25th 2007 2:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
Until there are comparable 'studies' (though that seems to be giving this a little more credit than it deserves) regarding features, both the number of them on each device and how well implemented they are, along with aspects such as reliability and so on, then what precisely is the point of this at all?
It's quite clearly a loaded/biased 'study', playing to the one strength of the iPhone and the fact that the it 'wins' in the only area it has going for it isn't exactly a surprise, is it? Hell, if it lost, that really would be pathetic.

It's just one more piece of iPhone-related non-news.]]>Sep 25th 2007 6:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
Except that one of their sections in the study was "Functionality," which the N95 won.

The bigger problem is that Functionality != Usability, yet they decided to include it in their study. (As well as "how pleasing various graphical design elements are and its color and style.")]]>Sep 25th 2007 2:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
The more features = more complex to use.

And what about making a call? On the N95 it's a matter of typing in the number and pressing call. How many steps does that take on the iPhone?]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/- Wake the iPphone
- Slide the 'Unlock' button
- Summon the 'Home Screen'
- Open the Phone program
- View the Recent Calls/Contacts/Speed Dial
- Select the number/name
- Then press call

Whereas on the N95 it's as simple as:
- Slide open the phone
- Type the number
- Press call]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
You've compared using a stored contact, and just typing in the number.

I've never used an iPhone or N95, but I'd guess that it'd take more than 3 actions to find a contact and call them.]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/I can't speak for the N95, but making a call for Nokias in general:
-move the center button up (or press up on the center button, depending on the phone)
-type the first letter or two
-Select contact
-press call
]]>Sep 25th 2007 12:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sorry my bad. It forgot to add keypad to the fourth point. Should've read like this:
- Wake the iPhone
- Slide the 'Unlock' button
- Summon the 'Home Screen'
- Open the Phone program
- View the Recent Calls/Contacts/Speed Dial or Keypad
- Select the number/name or type in number
- Then press call

It's still significantly more than the N95.]]>Sep 25th 2007 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
- Wake the iPhone
--- Unlock the Nokia
- Slide the 'Unlock' button
--- Finish unlocking the Nokia with the second button press
- Open the Phone program
- Tap Keypad (though this step is not necessarily present. The Phone application remembers the last component you were in, so if you were in the keypad and you hit phone, you return to the keypad).
- Dial
--- Dial
- Then press call
--- Press call

4 steps to 5/6. It's really not rocket science. Stop blowing it out of proportion.]]>Sep 25th 2007 1:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
You don't need to unlock the N95 with two buttons, only one slide (-1 step).
(You are right about Nokia phones in general, just not the slider ones, like the N95.)

Stop replying without reading the comment.

To sum up: there are a couple of functions in Nokia phones which are easier to use, period. If you happen to use those heavily, you are better off with a Nokia. But a Nokia is not a solution for everyone and if someone uses multimedia/internet equally with phone functionality - you would have a lot more choices then Nokia phones. (iPhone being one of the best as alternative.)]]>Sep 25th 2007 5:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
In all cases you start with:

- wake the phone (power button on the top of the phone)

then either

- press the 'call' button
- dial your number using softbuttons on screen
- press 'call' again (or softbutton 'talk')

or

- slide out keyboard
- type in phone number (automatically brings up phone app)
- press 'call' (or softbutton 'talk')

or

- press 'Contact' button (right menu button right under 'Contacts' on screen - or press on the screen on the word 'Contacts')
- scroll to contact, or write in partial name
- press 'Ok' button once to select contact
- scroll to select which phone number to call
- press 'Ok' button to call

or

- press Voice Dial button (on side of phone)
- speak person's name (if you've attached a voice tag)

or

- press Call button
- press fastdial button for person you want to call

or

If you have SPB Phone installed (because, you know, you can)
- on the main screen, press 'Picture Contacts' button on the SPB Phone Today panel
- look for the picture of your friend
- tap it

And so on and so on.

Diversity is good.]]>Sep 25th 2007 8:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
So, in recap, in a random sample of 10 people who don't know how to use something, the well-designed interface with less feature-support responsibilities is easier. Shocking.

Of the 10 or so I know who use their iPhones heavily, they all viscerally love it, but constantly bitch about how hard it is to get anything done with it outside of phoning and surfing. Guess there's still a gap between just-for-talking phone and laptop that could use some work.]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Well thats why I say the Nokia E90 and the NOkia N95 Yes the the n95 does not have touxch creen and is a couple clicks to a period but if you need to type in hush a hurry the E90 has full Keyboard with a period key. The n95 is for user who need a phone that can do almost anything and the E90 is for user who need a mini laptop on the go.
]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 12:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 12:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
iLounge linked to the story via Computerworld, just like engadget linked to the iLounge article

]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 8:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
I also loved my two Sony Ericsson phones, in my opinion, they make the best, most solid and feature filled phones. I also love the N95, but it seems too slow for all its features.. I wish i had dvd quality recording on the iPhone though…

My question is this: how often do you guys change your cell phones ? I switch models/brands every year, i switch carriers every 2 years or so.. depending on what’s being offered… you ? just out of curiosity… I imagine the same, but I've never seen a study/stats on that...]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/



The KRZR (not unlike most motorolas) has a fair bit of interface lag (worse than sin) and sometimes flat out requires a hard reset (read: pull battery out) but overall, it works fine as a phone and looks pretty slick. I really enjoy the voice functionality i just discovered - saves me a lot of hassle in the car. However, i have been less than pleased with a feature set (yah - it sucks worse that the iPhones) and usability. I suppose it is no smart phone though.

In any case, my point is - as long as a phone has the features you want and isn't atrociously slow, it probably isn't that bad of a phone. ]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
Symbian by far is in the lead.]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
HTC; thats unfair; no one knows about the "slide" thing! but EVERYONE knows about the "multi-touch" and sliders on the iPhone....

I DEMAND A RECOUNT FLORIDA!!!
jk; i know im dry...]]>Sep 24th 2007 11:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 24th 2007 11:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/Sep 25th 2007 12:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/24/iphone-trumps-htc-touch-n95-in-usability-study/
How does Quake run on your iPhone? ;)]]>Sep 25th 2007 4:27AM