Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Yes, that is no better.
But I'd have to say that most people who've used the iPhone for more than a few days would already be able to use it one handed, even for typing. Yes, for typing of course it's slower than using 2 hands, but for most other uses (browsing, rss/ebook reading, music player control, viewing calendar, contacts, sms and emails) using it 1 handed is just as fast.

From all the iPhone users I know around me (more than a dozen), I've never seen them use the 'grip and point' method past the first week of use. And many of them are female (non techno geeks), with small asian hands.

The 'grip and point' method that you mentioned is the posture used in most Apple demos and marketing materials and I guess most people may copy that method to try it for the first time. The advantage of that method is that it's easier and more accurate to point with your index finger, so this would be a good method to use for most people new to capacitive screens.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

We went through this with S60 5th Edition. Its important to users. Accept it. Why not just add it in instead of trying to act like it won't matter? If it matters to some, it will become an issue that will get trumpeted, and create fodder for the iPhans and Android heads that already have ASR.

http://www.symbian-freak.com/forum/v...ic.php?t=21546

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

What does Nokia's marketing research say?

You're right about the first part, but you're wrong about the second part. The general rule is real simple:

Regardless of the application, portrait mode is for one-hand use, landscape mode is for two-hand use.

But you have to break it down per application, and sometimes for location. For example:

95% of the time I browse in landscape mode
100% of the time I talk on the phone in portrait mode
100% of the time I watch videos in landscape mode
80% of the time I take pictures in portrait mode
100% of the time I text/email in portrait mode while standing up on the subway
95% of the time I text/email in landscape mode while on the toilet
100% of the time I remote control in portrait mode
95% of the time I play games in landscape mode
etc

A good portrait mode UI has an applications frequently used controls at the bottom whether they're on or off the screen.

Yeah, a viewpoint from a Nokia employee that has known the hardware and software capabilities for a long time. Are you telling us that the designers and developers didn't know there was a 3D accelerometer?

The bottom line is this: There is no doubt that the layout is beautiful, but the question is how useful is it. Some of us think it can be much better and we're a little confused why Nokia needs convincing.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Listen or obey ?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I've done that, every night for months with my third child. She lay on the Boppy in my lap, my right hand held the bottle, and my left held and used my N800. I browsed the web, checked email, and read RSS feeds. So, that's one-handed use of a landscape device that is "friggin' huuuuge" compared to the N900.

I imagine I'm an outlier.

Nokia hasn't killed Symbian. It's still there, being developed. If Maemo 5 doesn't suit you, you don't have to buy a device that uses it.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

I'm guessing that you have the bottle in your right hand because you use your left hand to manipulate the dpad and the buttons around it?

Unfortunately this is no longer possible on N900. And I'm not sure if Maemo 5 will be as keyboard-friendly as the previous versions (will it have keyboard control in the app selection screen, for example?).

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

That's a pretty lame response. You underestimate the Symbian users, and you and some of the others in this forum need to decide if you want to remain a nich market of a few hundred thousand or tens of millions. You came off like a jerk, though I doubt you intended to. I've merely stated that one handed operation and ASR in the UI will be something most users will expect. We've already been without it, and now that we've had it, we don't want to go backwards.

I get the impression Maemo users and developers are aloof and don't really want the Symbian guys here, but without us, you won't remain a relevant OS. Maemo and Symbian have more in common than many expect, and it could possibly continue to be the mobile standard for hand computing.

You should think of what's best for Maemo and hand computing as a whole. ASR is one feature, and it will help millions enjoy and maximize the OS. Its a good thing, and no one is making you add it. I just thought this thread was about explaining how it can be helpful. Plenty of evidence has been submitted. Should we ignore that evidence? You certainly can, but I bet RIM, Android, Microsoft, WebOS, LiMo, and Apple won't for too long. They've already poached enough features to be attractive. Will Maemo follow or lead?

Would you say it was as easy as using it with two hands? For S60, the experience for most touch apps is no different in portrait or landscape. With the size of the N8xx, I doubt it was easy or enjoyable. Also, does the UI of the N8xx have ASR? I don't have any experience with that device. But I expect it wasn't an enjoyable experience, and without that baby, you'd relieve yourself using another hand. And I doubt you'd compare the one handed usage of the N97 to the N800 regardless of size. As long as the data on the screen is not rotated, its just a workaround, and the fact you try to use it one handed is proof there is a need for ASR in the UI. I hope you agree.

You have alot of nerve, audacity, even! That's the second time I've had to listen to an a..hole today. :rolleyes: I see the M in Maemo isn't for "manners", but I guess the web has spawned the age of disrespectful cowardly men, brave enough to speak to real men in a manner they'd never choose in a face to face conversation. I'll keep my gloves off, but I gotta put you in check a little.

I've made my device choices on my own for years now. I'm well aware of the Symbian OS development, and intend to continue its usage from a personal standpoint. I'm here as an advocate of mobilism, and thought our input here would help in an open source ecosystem, where ideas are supposed to be implemented if they help make the platform easier to use.

I'll continue to use what I please, no matter how much you like it, and if I see areas I can contribute to its improvement, I'll do just that. No one said I HAD to buy anything, just like I don't HAVE to listen to you, either. You're free to reply to any comments I make, but you will respect me, and I'll choose to ignore idiots like you that only have their own interests at heart.

I'm here as a promoter, and want Maemo to appeal to as many people as possible. If one of those people is you, great! If you're already happy with Maemo, great as well! I'm not, just as I wasn't in Symbian's case all of the time. I speak for users that want more out of their device. If you don't, just shut up, play wallflower, and let the innovators do our thing.

I pay full price for 90% of my devices, and get $0 for my participation in the Symbian and Maemo communities. I'm here because I love mobiles and mobilism. Why are you here? To stifle innovation and progression? I won't invite you to an Apple forum, but you might fit well. Pick your own device, and worry about you. I got this, bro.

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

@christ: Take it outside or get a room, please.
None of this self righteous, I'm holier than thou, and name calling crap..

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

You won't see me shed a tear at the loss of the D-pad. I've been the president (a sole member) of the Hardware Button Elimination and Device Size Reduction Society since I bought my N800. I don't speak of my ideas on those matters often though, because I don't see why anyone else should care.

I used (and use) my left hand to manipulate my tablets one-handed for the same reason I use my left hand for dialing phones, typing one-handed, turning keys in locks, entering the passcode in the lock on my office door, using a calculator, using my cellphone, and most anything else requiring small, precise movements: my right hand is useless for such tasks--even though I'm "right handed". It's terribly inconvenient that numeric keypads are on the right sides of most computer keyboards, I tell you.

FUD?

Re: Portrait mode use cases
 

Sounds good to me :)

Ok, my point was that the N800 is highly usable with a single hand for non-typing tasks due to: the D-Pad, hardware buttons and OS2008's controls\menu that are concentrated on one side. In this case the left side.

Not an intentional one. It's just a question in my mind, since I've seen 10 or so N900 videos so far and none of them have shown the use of the keyboard to navigate.