Comments on: Designing an iPhone app: usable isn’t good enough

By: lilikindsli

lilikindsli — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:51:42 +0000

2vyLp9 I want to say – thank you for this!

By: jerols

jerols — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:24:43 +0000

Thanks for weighing in, Arne. In my experience with Classics, I actually found myself addicted to the book I was reading and I think this was at lease partly due to the aforementioned details. Personally, I wasn't bothered by those details as I read for longer periods of time but that could just be me.

Anyhow, I think the broader point is that Classics was successful. Perhaps those details do detract from the usability of the app, but I highly doubt that Classics would have been nearly as successful without them.

This isn't to say that all apps need to have these kind of details. For example, OmniFocus, a very serious productivity app that people use many times a day, has a minimal, no nonsense interface and has done quite well.

By: arne

arne — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:33:21 +0000

I agree that the visual appeal is important in iPhone apps, but your forementioned books application:
read more than 20 pages, and you are unnerved by the page flapping animation and the sound it makes.

I like the design of your new app, but I hope it doesn't get too fancy

By: jerols

jerols — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:47:49 +0000

Thanks, Brad!

By: Brad Dobbs

Brad Dobbs — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:41:46 +0000

I like the revision. Looks nice!

By: jerols

jerols — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:30:00 +0000

Thanks, Niraj. I agree that users are more likely going to tweet about something or show it to their friends if it doesn't just do the job but blows them away at every corner with attention to detail and delightful touches.

By: niraj

niraj — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:22:08 +0000

The new UI is looking great. Aiming to delight should help trigger the viral effect.