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On April 8th Apple announced the upcoming operating system iPhone OS 4 to the world, boasting over 100 new features for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad as well as a new software development kit that offers over 1500 new APIs for developers. iPhone OS 4 includes features that increase the usability and user experience of using Apple's mobile devices. Among the major new features are support for multitasking, improvements in Mail, wider Enterprise features, a new Game Center, a mobile advertising platform called iAd, and improved user interface management in Folders. How does multitasking affect usability? The iPhone's limited multitasking has long been a usability gripe with users. Although native Apple apps (such as Safari and iTunes) could run in the background, third party apps (such as Skype, navigation software or the music streaming service Last.fm) would have to be shut down in order to do anything else, even if for only 3 seconds! Not the most pleasing user experience! With the new operating system, this usability issue seems solved. How do improvements in Mail affect usability? Another usability gripe with the iPhone is the lack of a unified mail system. This is exemplified by the usability expert and former Apple Human Interface Group designer's, Bruce “Tog” Tognazzini, long and insightful article during the release of the original iPhone (took a while!) (www.asktog.com/columns/070iPhoneFirstLook.html). In the current and previous versions of the OS, Email, SMS and voicemail are separate apps that serve a similar function. In the words of Tog “I should not have to visit three different places on my phone every few minutes to see what is happening”. The new OS also allows the setting up of multiple e-mail accounts, that can be read all at once without having to switch accounts, as well as a threaded message view that keeps related replies together. How do the new enterprise features improve usability? One of the ways the new OS uses enhanced enterprise functionality to increase usability is by allowing users to distribute apps “wirelessly” without having to rely on iTunes for synching. This is good news for enterprises (especially large ones) as iTunes is designed and optimized for use by a singular Joe Public in mind. Businesses that apply iPhones can now cut out the middle man and directly supply their workforce with the necessary in-house apps. How will the new Game Center improve user experience? The iPhone has been heralded as a milestone in mobile gaming. The new OS will now offer a platform for gamers to connect in order to play with and against each other by using the Game Center “social gaming network” as an interface. Unlike the PS3 and Xbox 360, the iPhone has never had a centralized social gaming network with a number of 3rd party networks springing up all with their own sign-up and login processes and their own user interface designs. By introducing Game Center, a consistency will be achieved, improving on user experience. How do Folders improve usability? One of the iPhone's major usability flaws has been the home-screen user interface's lack of management features. Downloaded apps randomly fall into place and remain forever that way until they are purged! Furthermore once you have reached the limit of apps (currently 180) that can be displayed on the Springboard any further apps are simply invisible and require search entry to locate it. What happens when you don't remember its name? Tough luck, computer says no! OS 4 takes several steps to rectify these usability issues. For starters, up to 2,160 apps can be accommodated on the Springboard. Apps can also now be organized into folders of your choosing with drag and drop simplicity resulting in a much better user experience! For developers the new OS offers many usability boosting tools such as automated testing through the new UIAutomation Instrument among others. Several of the new APIs include the ability to compose SMS messages from within apps thus streamlining usability. New Quick Look APIs now enable apps to present previews of documents without having to launch another app just to know what that photo looks like etc... Improvements like these serve to prop up the iPhone OS' successful user interface design and improve its overall usability and user experience allowing you to develop great apps that users love to use! The only question that remains for me: Is the new OS also advantageous for using wireframe software applications like Pidoco? ==================== About the Author: ==================== Pidoco.com – Interface Design, Wireframe Software, Wireframe Tools, Interface Design Software, Clickable Wireframes and GUI Prototyping Tool. A GUI Design Interface Software for Clickable Wireframes! Wireframe creating and GUI prototyping tool. Fast wireframe creation and remote website usability testing lead to an improved conversion!
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