Immediate uses for the smartphone, and an aggravation

[The Gorn]

I was delighted to figure out a REALLY good use for the smart phone: keeping me from starting my computer and getting sidetracked with email and browsing web sites. In other words, time management.

My email was already set up to come through a Google Apps email account (IE, mapped to one of my domains.) And Android has an integrated Gmail specific application. So one of the first things I did was set up my primary email account on the smartphone.

I can check my email very quickly with the phone. I can at least browse the subject headers and decide if any emails deserve immediate attention.

The web browser is also extremely handy for the same purpose. I have about four message boards that I monitor, including this one. I was able to take a quick look today at unread messages on this board and see what was posted overnight or this morning.

The phone is basically too inconvenient to sit and browse the web at length, so it rations my use of the internet when I simply need to get caught up.

Now, the aggravation: many applications that display items in a list - I include the news apps in this, but also the email application - make it virtually impossible to avoid clicking and opening list items when you simply want to scroll through the list to view it. The worst one is the ABC News app - it's virtually unusable on this phone. There appears to be no way to distinguish between a "sweep and scroll" motion and a "click on item" finger press.

Does anyone know if there is a way to scroll most lists without triggering items to open under Android? It's the one thing that drives me truly nuts about the phone.

Well, besides the aspect that "typing" on the virtual keyboard is an exercise in editing/correcting constantly.

[Peter Gibbons]

And the ABC news web site is one of the lovely ones that disable the zoom feature on mobile devices ...

Re: Keyboard
Hold the device in landscape mode. Don't feel shy to type with only your index finger.

Try Swipe - some people like it. I think it is installed by default on your phone.

[datagirl]

Hi, Mr. Gorn,

The support page for your phone is at http://www.lg.com/us/mobile-phones/mobile-support/mobile-lg-mobile-phone-support.jsp?displayModelCode=VM670&carrierCd=virginmobile

http://www.lg.com/us/mobile-phones/mobile-support/mobile-lg-mobile-phone-support.jsp?displayModelCode=VM670&carrierCd=virginmobile

Looking briefly at the owners manual, it seems like it is a question of touch and technique (light, quick movement between icons).  There may be a sensitivity setting somewhere.  I've never used a smartphone myself.  I'm living vicariously through your posts.   

I think I would probably like a smartphone to do quick lookups on trivia like "who is that actor playing that bit part in the show on my tv right now?"  These types of questions seem to come up after I've powered down the laptop and I'm snuggled in on the sofa or in bed.  I checked.  IMDB has a generic mobile site and versions for specific mobile OS's.

Any one finish that grocery shopping app yet??

Let us know what you figure out.
Regards,
-DG

[PhilFromNY]

Now, the aggravation: many applications that display items in a list - I include the news apps in this, but also the email application - make it virtually impossible to avoid clicking and opening list items when you simply want to scroll through the list to view it. The worst one is the ABC News app - it's virtually unusable on this phone. There appears to be no way to distinguish between a "sweep and scroll" motion and a "click on item" finger press.

Does anyone know if there is a way to scroll most lists without triggering items to open under Android? It's the one thing that drives me truly nuts about the phone.

Don't touch and move downward. Your finger should be moving downward when it touches the screen. Simplistic (and not meant to be condescending) idea is that you are trying to make a spinning toy wheel spin faster. If your finger isn't moving down when it touches the wheel you will stop the wheel.

FYI, I bought the phone yesterday. I like it a lot though I was surprised at how long it took to charge the phone completely.

On the typing difficulties, you may find it easier to type in landscape mode. It getting easier with use.

[The Gorn]

Phil, your explanation makes perfect sense.

Here's what I found when I tried it - on the one app that has the most sensitive response, the "ABC News" app. Landing while moving does not click, as you said, so that is a success.

The problem is that when the list is very long, the "spinning" action causes the list to scroll upward with inertia. When I use your technique I have the problem of *stopping* the list where I want. And it's moving too fast to see the items when they are moving, anyway. And when I stop the list, I am opening a random news story (again). Because the only way I know to stop is to touch the list while it is moving, and that is seen as a click.

The overall problem remains, although I will remember the technique of "spinning" for other apps.

You and a couple of others have mentioned the keyboard used sideways (landscape mode) and I already do that. I still have an obnoxious error rate.

I tried the "Swype" thing and it's very hard for me to master. It seems to have as much potential for mis-clicks, in different places.

[The Gorn]

So I've had the phone for a couple of months, plus two weeks or so.

I've found that the aggravation I documented in this thread: attempting to scroll through a list, but accidentally selecting list items, because my "flick" to keep the scrolling going was not light enough - has gotten much better.

I can usually control the ABC News application well enough to browse and view any item I like. When I first got the phone I was constantly triggering news items to pop up.

It seems that I have learned some very subtle hand-eye coordination that is necessary to do this.

I still reject the idea that a common device like a phone has to be this fussy and exceptionally sensitive just to use the basics.

Also, I think the screen interface for the actual phoning function is quite awkward. Example, if you call some number that requires you to touch tone digits into it, then you have to remember to open the dialing pad, then touch the keys. It's not real obvious unless you are a "smart computer person" and you think in terms of operational modes and you just know that keypad button means summon the keypad.

I can see a very old person (well, unlikely to buy a smart phone), or a person with coordination or cognitive problems, not being able to do much of anything with one of these devices, because the gestures and knowledge required are just so detailed and specific.

I guess the point of our system is to make anyone without perfect cognition and senses and coordination feel like a slow witted useless dumbass. It is "just not right" even though it is our reality.

This stuff has quite a bit of room needed for improvements, and I think the current UI is, frankly, mediocre. The Android UI epitomizes the mediocrity of all design compromise.

But, hey, $129 phone and $35 month plan. Cheeeeeeeeeep! 

[Richardk]

I still reject the idea that a common device like a phone has to be this fussy and exceptionally sensitive just to use the basics.

If I recall, a stylus doesn't work with your phone. I don't remember if you have a sliding keyboard or if it's only virtual. I'm glad to hear that with use, it's getting better.

I guess the point of our system is to make anyone without perfect cognition and senses and coordination feel like a slow witted useless dumbass. It is "just not right" even though it is our reality.

Things need to get better. Imagine the frustration I've witnessed when someone with a speech impediment was trying to make use of the voice recognition [in another device]. THIS was going to be the solution but it only made matters worse and made them feel like there's something wrong with them. There's little comfort in saying that the technology isn't all that good when it works for others.

[Walter Mitty]

Things need to get better. Imagine the frustration I've witnessed when someone with a speech impediment was trying to make use of the voice recognition [in another device]. THIS was going to be the solution but it only made matters worse and made them feel like there's something wrong with them. There's little comfort in saying that the technology isn't all that good when it works for others.

I think you've touched on something fundamental here.  There is a fundamental conflict between mass marketing and product customization.  Today's products are customizable from a trivial point of view, but often not from a functional point of view.  And if your needs or preferences don't match those of the mainstream market, there are few providers competing for your dollars.

[Carrie Cobol]

And worse, if you needs don't match what the mass market designs for, the other people seem to be condescending and make you out to be an idiot.   Not a comment on anybody here, just my observation from life.  If you can't program a VCR, the problem must be that you're dumb or blonde.  No, it's never admitted that the thing has a shitty interface.

I'm finding that the trackpad on my computer is a blessing.  It replaces the mouse and let's me use gestures like I use on the phone and iPad on my Mac.  The only issue I have is remembering when to use a two finger drag versus a three finger drag, but that's trivial, and if I guess wrong, it's not a problem.  One selects, the other scrolls.  It also gives me fine, natural control.  It's normal for humans to touch and hold something.  Swipe is good, but if I want to scroll slowly, I touch and swipe slowly, and hold it there while I look at it before slowly swiping some more.  This sounds like what gorn was trying to do.  Ill have to try it on my iPhone and see if it works like the android description.

[Walter Mitty]

And worse, if you needs don't match what the mass market designs for, the other people seem to be condescending and make you out to be an idiot.   Not a comment on anybody here, just my observation from life.  If you can't program a VCR, the problem must be that you're dumb or blonde.  No, it's never admitted that the thing has a shitty interface.

I have a hair trigger with regard to condescending remarks, or remarks that I take to be condescending.  It's something I'm trying to leave behind. 

A few years ago, I was trying to get the VCR working in somebody else's living room, and I was having trouble getting everything to work.  One of the other people there remarked, "I guess you must be technologically challenged."  I was so deeply offended by that that I couldn't even muster a reply. 

As it turns out, the person meant no harm.  That was the standard joking way of saying that you can't figure something out.  And she had not an inkling of the fact that I had made a living out of technology for close to thirty five years, or that I had gone to school at a university whose last name was "Technology". 

The "technology marketplace" declared me to be one of "yesterday's men" in about 2001.  After ten years,  I need to let that rest. 

Having said all that,  I agree with you Carrie that the people in the mainstream are quick to judge anybody with different preferences to be defective.