Comments on: How am I supposed to know I can tilt the iPhone?! http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/ Usability shouldn't be a drag Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:50:25 +0000 hourly 1 By: Computing Posts From Across The Web Part II : KillerCodingNinjaBunny http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Computing Posts From Across The Web Part II : KillerCodingNinjaBunny Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:35:47 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-135 [...] How am I supposed to know I can tilt the iPhone?! - A usability post looking at the iPhones tilt function, something which is completely unnatural to those who do not know about it. [...] [...] How am I supposed to know I can tilt the iPhone?! – A usability post looking at the iPhones tilt function, something which is completely unnatural to those who do not know about it. [...]

]]> By: Results from the Killer Titles Group Writing Project } Group Writing Projects http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Results from the Killer Titles Group Writing Project } Group Writing Projects Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:09:09 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-20 [...] How am I supposed to know I can tilt the iPhone?! by Ashley Towers [...] [...] How am I supposed to know I can tilt the iPhone?! by Ashley Towers [...]

]]> By: Laurie/Halo Secretar http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Laurie/Halo Secretar Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:38:49 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-17 Great entry for the problogger contest and a good suggestion for Apple re: the iPhone. Take care and check out my submission if you get a chance! Great entry for the problogger contest and a good suggestion for Apple re: the iPhone. Take care and check out my submission if you get a chance!

]]> By: Ashley Towers http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Ashley Towers Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:44:51 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-16 Hi thanks for the comments everyone! @Faiqa and Nick - It's funny, the videos on Apple's web site are really good tutorials - if they were on the device you'd have all the information you need without putting it down. It makes sense to make sure your existing users know about all the best features so they can show them off to their friends! @Sarah - I think it's easy to fall into the trap when living a project every day to just assume that everyone knows what you know! Giving a little mini tutorial of the most exciting features seems a really simple fix - I guess it's just like a "post sale advert"! Hi thanks for the comments everyone!

@Faiqa and Nick – It’s funny, the videos on Apple’s web site are really good tutorials – if they were on the device you’d have all the information you need without putting it down. It makes sense to make sure your existing users know about all the best features so they can show them off to their friends!

@Sarah – I think it’s easy to fall into the trap when living a project every day to just assume that everyone knows what you know! Giving a little mini tutorial of the most exciting features seems a really simple fix – I guess it’s just like a “post sale advert”!

]]> By: Sarah Lewis http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Sarah Lewis Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:13:04 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-15 I agree that it's too easy to assume users will know about cool features. An intro video (in context!) seems like a good idea for all kinds of applications. Why make the user guess when you can easily give them the info they need? Even though I have nothing to do with hardware, I'm pretty sure this concept applies to just about everything I work with (blog development, web-based applications, even music performance) if I just give it little thought. Definitely something to ponder. I agree that it’s too easy to assume users will know about cool features. An intro video (in context!) seems like a good idea for all kinds of applications. Why make the user guess when you can easily give them the info they need?

Even though I have nothing to do with hardware, I’m pretty sure this concept applies to just about everything I work with (blog development, web-based applications, even music performance) if I just give it little thought. Definitely something to ponder.

]]> By: Faiqa http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Faiqa Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:47:24 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-14 Came over here from ProBlogger. I love your suggestion about the iPhone having a tutorial video. Promptly after I bought my iPhone, I bought David Pogue's Missing Manual on the iPhone. Haven't even cracked a page, yet (<--the yet indicates that there's hope). As you said, I would much rather *play* with my toy than read a book about. Came over here from ProBlogger. I love your suggestion about the iPhone having a tutorial video. Promptly after I bought my iPhone, I bought David Pogue’s Missing Manual on the iPhone. Haven’t even cracked a page, yet (<–the yet indicates that there’s hope). As you said, I would much rather *play* with my toy than read a book about.

]]> By: Nick http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Nick Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:37:15 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-13 Just seen the TV advert for the new iphone and even that doesn't show it tilt. If i hadn't had the comprehensive guide given I'd be stuck for half the cool things it does unless i read the manual. Just seen the TV advert for the new iphone and even that doesn’t show it tilt. If i hadn’t had the comprehensive guide given I’d be stuck for half the cool things it does unless i read the manual.

]]> By: Ashley Towers http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Ashley Towers Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:38:00 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-12 I guess some things are always going to be complicated, but that's no excuse for not helping you learn. I don't think I'd ever read a game manual - I want an in game tutorial to teach me how to play - having to read the instructions would just feel like work - it's supposed to be fun! I guess some things are always going to be complicated, but that’s no excuse for not helping you learn. I don’t think I’d ever read a game manual – I want an in game tutorial to teach me how to play – having to read the instructions would just feel like work – it’s supposed to be fun!

]]> By: Richard http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Richard Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:30:39 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-11 I suppose, as a manufacturer, the moment you start expecting your customers to look in a manual (or even a video presentation) to understand your product is the moment your company is going to start making a loss. The product should really speak for itself. Let the media and the fanboys write the how-to's and the manuals... I suppose, as a manufacturer, the moment you start expecting your customers to look in a manual (or even a video presentation) to understand your product is the moment your company is going to start making a loss. The product should really speak for itself. Let the media and the fanboys write the how-to’s and the manuals…

]]> By: Ashley Towers http://usabilityfriction.com/2008/08/27/how-am-i-supposed-to-know-i-can-tilt-the-iphone/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Ashley Towers Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:27:27 +0000 http://usabilityfriction.com/?p=43#comment-10 Maybe its just the people I know - they rarely read the manuals - they just get as far as they can before getting stuck and resorting to it. I'm not saying that manuals are a bad thing - they just aren't as exciting as the new toy.... help is better when its integrated rather than a separate entity... Maybe its just the people I know – they rarely read the manuals – they just get as far as they can before getting stuck and resorting to it. I’m not saying that manuals are a bad thing – they just aren’t as exciting as the new toy…. help is better when its integrated rather than a separate entity…

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