Andriod UI - what are they thinking?

[UIexpert]

EarlyMon , I understand that while signed-in Skype needs to communicate with their servers and it makes sense that it would be energy consuming. It doesn't make sense for it to consume a lot of power while it is not signed in. I disabled "auto sign in" and yet the app still starts up with my phone. My only options are uninstalling it, or killing it every time I start up my phone.

A dialer, I would assume, would not be an energy consuming function, and yet it takes up 4%. So many of the statement and assumptions on this thread needs to be re examined.

 

[UIexpert]

If, even after I installed a dialer, the OS dialer is still loaded to the memory / running (and I have a feeling it is) and it takes up energy as part of the OS, then not only that that new dialer is very energy consuming but the battery is being used up by two dialers at the same time..... two alarm clocks, two keyboards....

 

[meek_reese]

I don't have much to add, but earlier in the thread UIexpert asked about changing between different "profiles." Sorry to say, but as EarlyMon has been saying all along, that sort of thing is going to be device specific as well. The new Motorola Droid Pro has 3 different profiles that you can set up.
See them in action here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLENfQKEPNs

I just signed up for a beta invitation for SPB Mobile Shell for Android. SPB makes great launchers/home replacements for Windows Mobile phones. On my old WinMo device, SPB gave the ability to switch profiles. I'm hoping that their Android version will have this as well. The biggest downside to this is that if I remember correctly, SPB costs around 15$(!).

oh, just found the video for the newest SPB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROca7ao-Tqw&feature=player_embedded

UIexpert, you should maybe check these things out. I have the original moto droid, and while i love the completely stock 'vanilla' android experience, I do like to add UI tweaks using the market. I really think that's what Google intended.

 

[txrxio]

A dialer, I would assume, would not be an energy consuming function, and yet it takes up 4%. So many of the statement and assumptions on this thread needs to be re examined.

1. I don't think you understand what that 4% means or how to interpret it. Unless you know how much the regular dialing would have taken (does android even separate it out?) then it is meaningless to compare.
2. I'm not sure how accurate it is. Mine says 90% was taken up by Maps (with 0s of CPU time!), and I haven't used any maps for days, and it isn't in my running services.

 

[EarlyMon]

I don't trust Skype's client, that's me - you noted it was buggy yourself.

Your best strategy on getting the right app is to do what others do on these forums, something like this:

Hey, I've got a Nexus S and I need a dialer app with these features: x, y, z. Has anyone found a good dialer for that that is either known good with my phone, or with some flavor of Android 2.3?

As you've found - people are very vocal and very willing and able to share how things work.

That can take a lot of guesswork out of Russian Roulette downloading.

Once you've gotten a selection or two, ask for your secondary list among them -

hey, does that have ads embedded? or - can i also set it up to do.....? or - do you have any stability or battery issues with what you're recommending to me?

You can ask those questions here, you can look in our Applications subforum, and also in our Nexus S forum.

Please don't ask in all three at once - the most regular and helpful users will be surfing multiple forums and tend to not answer if they can't figure out where you'd like to anchor for a while for the discusssion.

But - if you don't get an answer after trying in one forum, then post the question elsewhere, and in the initial post, say, I'm trying to solve this - and give a link to the original post.

In my opinion, you'll find what you need more quickly - and more safely.

Some Market apps will wow you - others, let's just say, not so much.

Android Forums is the top-rated knowledge base of user experiences and this approach is why - we work with each other, and we discuss phones, apps and everything by their specific names.

 

[EarlyMon]

1. I don't think you understand what that 4% means or how to interpret it. Unless you know how much the regular dialing would have taken (does android even separate it out?) then it is meaningless to compare.
2. I'm not sure how accurate it is. Mine says 90% was taken up by Maps (with 0s of CPU time!), and I haven't used any maps for days, and it isn't in my running services.

THAT is an excellent point.

Sometimes, you're seeing that something ate X% of your battery.

Other times, you're seeing that of all the things that ate N% of your battery, this thing only ate X%.

Big difference.

 

[lunatic59]

THAT is an excellent point.

Sometimes, you're seeing that something ate X% of your battery.

Other times, you're seeing that of all the things that ate N% of your battery, this thing only ate X%.

Big difference.

One other thought on the power issue is that while installed apps are reported independently of bundled services, they still may use more power because of optimization, or lack thereof. However, I am perfectly fine with more functionality for the power cost. Swype is a perfect example ... the efficiencies it provides ME may actually save me power usage over the optimized stock keyboard.

The percentage figures reported by Android are the ratio of power used, not of power available. In other words if 4% of power was consumed by a certain app while the power went from 100% to 90%, then it consumed 4% of 10% of total power, or .4% of the total charge.

Just remember what Samuel Clemens said ... "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics."

 

[ami2510]

Regarding the power issue and coming back to the UI discussion - I basically figured out why most of my battery was draining so quick. it was due to the 4G, I now installed a widget that lets me disable 4G and 3G, and since my fully charged mytouch in the morning at 8am, now at 2pm there has been no change to the battery - which wows me. I guess I can just enable it when I need the 4G... with a widget that takes 4 clicks to change it back not ideal but it works.

 

[UIexpert]

... with a widget that takes 4 clicks to change it back not ideal but it works.

4 clicks! So what??? so WHAT if its 4 clicks? Its just CLICKS!

(just kidding, that's terrible)

 

[ami2510]

4 clicks! So what??? so WHAT if its 4 clicks? Its just CLICKS!

(just kidding, that's terrible)

UI you gotta calm down, CAPS is a NONO.

Coming back to the thread - I agree, especially if its a home screen widget (and somehow disabling 4G tells me that I dont have 4G... weired, but idk)

 

[lifeonmtv]

Do you want to see Android popular and easy to use, or a "geek only" platform that makes people turn to other systems?

Don't really care how many other people are using it to be honest.

I find it very easy to use and customize. I will admit I'm a bit geeky, but there's other products out there for people who want 'easier' experiences.

As long as Android have enough market share to keep developing (which they've already carved, even if we are in fact all geeks lol) I don't care people going to other platforms they find easier to use.

I truly believe if you spend enough time you can make your android look and do whatever you want (within reason), if you don't want to spend the time then there's other products out there for you

edit: I have toggle apps to switch on/off all of the previously mentioned features, so it takes me 1 click. Also, if you use tasker you can just automate the phone to do heaps of stuff, so no clicks at all (eg. silent profile at a meeting: your phone knows your at a meeting because of your calendar and automatically turns on 'silent' mode while your there, then reverts when the meeting is over... the list could go on and on).

I'll say it once more, Android can be VERY user friendly and intuitive but you DO have to spend time setting it up and making it your own. Every user's phone will be different from the next.

 

[lordofthereef]

The percentage figures reported by Android are the ratio of power used, not of power available. In other words if 4% of power was consumed by a certain app while the power went from 100% to 90%, then it consumed 4% of 10% of total power, or .4% of the total charge.

This is what I tried to get across a couple dozen posts ago. The 4% he is seeing is the 4% of the total battery drain. If the total battery drain for the day was 10% (theoretical), that 4% is actually only .4% of a full charged battery.

EDIT: I like how I just repeated exactly what you said -_-

 

[Guamguy]

The amount of clicks adding a new contact on iOS is about the same, so I don't know what this "expert" is saying.

The amount of clicks to address an email on iOS is actually more than that compared to Android. So I don't really know what this "expert" is trying to say.

To access phone search on iOS, you have to swipe successively to the left side of the phone until it appears.

That [b[takes a lot more[/b] finger action than hitting the Google Search bar on the Android screen. If yiour screen didn't have the bar, just hit the Magnifying Glass button and it pops up.

Unlike Google Search bar, which will search even in your Facebook and Twitter contacts, the iOS search is only limited to the phone.

That said, I can find and search contacts much faster on Android than on iOS, thanks to having a much better positioned Search.

You can't put your most used contacts and phone numbers on your default screen on iOS. You can on Android. Guess who is going to make a lot more clicks to make phone calls then?

Its so much faster and easier to call someone on Facebook or any other service (MySpace, Yahoo, and so on) using Android than on iOS, which can't list someone's telephone number listed on Facebook.

 

[Guamguy]

Adding a new contact or adding a new number to an existing contact.

1. Someone calls you. You talk. You hangup.

2. Immediately a menu would appear that asks, "Create New Contact" or "Add Number to Existing Contact". Press and you're immediately on the Contacts app with the appropriate menu.

How hard is that?

 

[tonymaro]

As an Android user for right at 6 weeks here's my observations, coming from a Blackberry:

Week1: Total frustration. Couldn't figure out the simplest things. Keep in mind I'm fluent in PHP, Python, Pascal and now Java (yeah, where's the P in that one?) I'm also an executive in IT.

Week2: Starting to get more comfortable with it. Did some customizing. Got irritated when I couldn't figure out how to change my keyboard from the default to Swipe (which was installed by default by my carrier.) I googled for tips and none of the tips worked - the menu options I found just weren't there. I finally stumbled on it while trying to select text in a box - long press. I should mention I had back surgery the day before my phone was delivered, so I had nothing better to do once the drugs wore off than lay in bed and play with the phone and laptop.

Week3: Got my wife the same phone so she'd quit playing Angry Birds on mine. More customizing. Already released my first app on the marketplace.

Week5: My wife accidentally replaced the contacts link on her phone. Took me 15 minutes to figure out how to put it back.

The phone came essentially "pre-customized" from a stock Android, making it so that any grandma could make calls, browse the web and get to the Market. It's the detail customizations like the main 4 launcher icons, keyboards, etc that are a chore to the uninitiated. And that is even true if you have a strong tech background but zero experience with Android.

The fact that it is so customizable is great in one respect - Carriers can make them unique out the door so they don't look like the neighbor's phone. Have you found a phone with the flip clock like an HTC that wasn't an HTC yet? Nope.

The downside is that users and developers can't assume that everything is the same - and for tech support it gets even worse.

That said, it's a frickin' computer people, not a phone. If it were just a phone it wouldn't do all the cool things. Being a computer makes it orders of magnitude more complicated, regardless of OS installed. And that makes for UI's that work better for one person than they do another.

Week 6: I still have trouble making calls compared to my BlackBerry where I just held down a key... but I'm not missing the BlackBerry at all.

 

[EarlyMon]

Welcome to the forums!

 

[UIexpert]

This is what I tried to get across a couple dozen posts ago. The 4% he is seeing is the 4% of the total battery drain. If the total battery drain for the day was 10% (theoretical), that 4% is actually only .4% of a full charged battery.

EDIT: I like how I just repeated exactly what you said -_-

No... I get the same results when I check the battery stats at the end of the day... so its 4% of 98% of battery... it shows the % of use up until that point, not out of the total battery power.

 

[Guamguy]

As an Android user for right at 6 weeks here's my observations, coming from a Blackberry:

Week1: Total frustration. Couldn't figure out the simplest things. Keep in mind I'm fluent in PHP, Python, Pascal and now Java (yeah, where's the P in that one?) I'm also an executive in IT.

Week2: Starting to get more comfortable with it. Did some customizing. Got irritated when I couldn't figure out how to change my keyboard from the default to Swipe (which was installed by default by my carrier.) I googled for tips and none of the tips worked - the menu options I found just weren't there. I finally stumbled on it while trying to select text in a box - long press. I should mention I had back surgery the day before my phone was delivered, so I had nothing better to do once the drugs wore off than lay in bed and play with the phone and laptop.

Week3: Got my wife the same phone so she'd quit playing Angry Birds on mine. More customizing. Already released my first app on the marketplace.

Week5: My wife accidentally replaced the contacts link on her phone. Took me 15 minutes to figure out how to put it back.

The phone came essentially "pre-customized" from a stock Android, making it so that any grandma could make calls, browse the web and get to the Market. It's the detail customizations like the main 4 launcher icons, keyboards, etc that are a chore to the uninitiated. And that is even true if you have a strong tech background but zero experience with Android.

The fact that it is so customizable is great in one respect - Carriers can make them unique out the door so they don't look like the neighbor's phone. Have you found a phone with the flip clock like an HTC that wasn't an HTC yet? Nope.

The downside is that users and developers can't assume that everything is the same - and for tech support it gets even worse.

That said, it's a frickin' computer people, not a phone. If it were just a phone it wouldn't do all the cool things. Being a computer makes it orders of magnitude more complicated, regardless of OS installed. And that makes for UI's that work better for one person than they do another.

Week 6: I still have trouble making calls compared to my BlackBerry where I just held down a key... but I'm not missing the BlackBerry at all.

Actually all the first generation Androids have dedicated phone call buttons.

You want to call, press on the button with red symbol of handset.

The last Android phone that ever had this was the Droid Eris.

Since then Android sets evolved to more mobile computer with a phone function added.

You do know that on the standard Android Froyo interface, themes versions of such like in LG, and in HTC Sense, there is a semi permanent phone button on the bottom of the display. You click that and you are calling.

 

[ami2510]

This is Amerika, its about convinience.

We are discussing issues with the UI and this is one of them. This seems to be the hottest thread in the Android Lounge

Guamguy, you seem to (and everyone seems to do that too) compare the Android to the stock iOS. If you want to compare something than compare the same thing, so for example the Android with a Jailbroken IPhone. For example before I had the MyTouch i used gestures to start an app, or the search function (Activator) and coming back to the default home screen, you can put anything on there, such as contacts and so on. While to me the UI is important I have to also say that stability is important. Yeah, ok youtube loads 0.025 seconds faster but do I get a "force close" everytime I install a new app or theme like in Fancy Widgets where it force closes or the clock doesnt continue to run? But lets continue our UI conversation.

 

[lunameow]

I'm kinda surprised at folks who say Android isn't intuitive. It might not be for more advanced functions, no, but for basic use, it's incredibly intuitive.

I got my phone unlocked and used from ebay. No manual, no instructions, and the HTC site was down that day. I figured out how to set up internet, surf the web, buy apps, change settings, text, make phone calls, and sync my contacts all inside of about 20 minutes. And this was coming from an ordinary "texting" phone (as in, the primary function of the design and layout was to be able to text), no touchscreen. Anything more advanced I needed to know was easily found with a quick google search.

I chose Android over Windows and Apple because of the ability to customize and make the phone completely and totally mine. I love the fact that no one else anywhere in the world has a phone that's exactly like mine, or even looks like mine (unless one of you out there has a wallpaper from WoW with a fox sneaking up on a barrel of apples, combined with the Rusty Metal theme, of course). I chose it because I love that anyone can make an app for it if they're willing to put in the time to learn how. I love that I can say to a dev friend "hey, wouldn't it be neat if my phone could do this..." and there's a pretty good chance that it can happen.

Is the UI perfect? Nope. But is there a good chance there's a way to make it do exactly what you want? Yep. That's what makes Android so awesome.

 

[Guamguy]

This is Amerika, its about convinience.

We are discussing issues with the UI and this is one of them. This seems to be the hottest thread in the Android Lounge

Guamguy, you seem to (and everyone seems to do that too) compare the Android to the stock iOS. If you want to compare something than compare the same thing, so for example the Android with a Jailbroken IPhone. For example before I had the MyTouch i used gestures to start an app, or the search function (Activator) and coming back to the default home screen, you can put anything on there, such as contacts and so on. While to me the UI is important I have to also say that stability is important. Yeah, ok youtube loads 0.025 seconds faster but do I get a "force close" everytime I install a new app or theme like in Fancy Widgets where it force closes or the clock doesnt continue to run? But lets continue our UI conversation.

Because its natural to compare -STOCK- Android to -STOCK- iOS.

If you have to jailbreak iOS to do what STOCK Android can do, then imagine what ROOTED Android can do.

If iOS has to be jailbreak in order to get the same efficiencies as stock Android can do, then the vast majority of users who are not jailbroken do not enjoy the same efficiencies as such.

For example, to use gestures to launch an app or do any other action, there is a stock Google app for that. Its free from the Market, its from Google officially and no root or jailbreak is needed.

When I put a Contact shortcut in the home screen its not just Phone number, but direct links to launching Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, GTalk, GMail, Hotmail, AIM and so on. Thus immediately after I click on a contact shortcut, I already have the options to send for example, a Facebook message or mail him using Yahoo.

I always find YouTube on iOS that gives more problems. If the play goes ahead of the stream and it stops playing, sometimes the app simply doesn't resume even if the stream continued.

 

[tommy_ed]

No no.... please... wanting to click the minimum amount of times is universal. It's not my preference.

How about this - you click on dialer - you are in calls log + there is a search bar so you can start looking for a contact straight away.

that^ was two posts after this post:

Now if you are on the dialer because that's the way you want to think about phone calls and the dial pad is in front of you, simply press the search button that all Android devices have and you can search right from your contact list.

are you even paying attention to the people trying to resolve your issues?



it sounds like you would be better off going with one of the Galaxy S phones... the UI experience on Touchwiz is beautiful and super-convenient, and in my opinion trumps any other (iOS included)

 

[tommy_ed]

as for the "android is for geeks" comments that seem to drift their way over here from apple forums on occasion, I have this to say:
I work at verizon and sell A LOT of android phones. MAYBE 5% of all the android phones I sell are to a customer who appears to be "geeky"
I think that statement is empty, maybe android was for nerds at first, but with it controlling as much of the phone market as it does, it obviously appeals to everyone these days.



and UIexpert one of your biggest problems that I see is your obsession with watching these apps to see if they are using memory/running/using battery constantly. Just use your phone and let android do what it is designed to do!

if you keep your bluetooth and wifi off when you're not using it and stay away from task killers, your battery should last at least a day with moderate use. if not, you either have a rogue APP (notice I said app not a problem with android itself) or you have a defective battery

 

[lordofthereef]

I chose it because I love that anyone can make an app for it if they're willing to put in the time to learn how. I love that I can say to a dev friend "hey, wouldn't it be neat if my phone could do this..." and there's a pretty good chance that it can happen.

For the sake of argument here, it is the same with iOS. There is, of course, a one time fee involved. Not sure if that's the case with android.

 

[EarlyMon]

and UIexpert one of your biggest problems that I see is your obsession with watching these apps to see if they are using memory/running/using battery constantly. Just use your phone and let android do what it is designed to do!

if you keep your bluetooth and wifi off when you're not using it and stay away from task killers, your battery should last at least a day with moderate use. if not, you either have a rogue APP (notice I said app not a problem with android itself) or you have a defective battery

Lots of new users have battery concerns, especially after visiting smartphone forums or listening to advertising.

Nothing wrong with your opinion, but neither is there anything wrong with wanting to understand one's phone and to be sure of things.