Touchscreen and S60
You may recall Steve’s recent rant on the Smartphones Show against touchscreen phones, and you should listen to the Voice Of S60’s 2007 S60 Summit podcast, where the "crew" voices some thoughts on touchscreen coming to S60.
As Stefan noted, it was supposed to be shown off at the Summit, but got pulled at the last minute. However, this slide DID make it to the internet (of course).
Personally, I’m not 100% against touchscreen, but I am 100% against ONLY touchscreen. A while back I was able to get ahold of an SE P910a UIQ device. I haven’t written much on it, cause frankly, I’ve gotten cooler toys, but also because there’s not much to write home about…
Except for the form factor. The P910a, with the flip closed, looks and functions exactly like any other candybar phone. There’s a regular numberpad and a non-touchscreen interface. However, the real benefit comes when you flip down the keypad. It opens to reveal a longer touchscreen (actually just uncovers the rest of the main screen and activates the touch aspect) and on the reverse of the keypad is a VERY scrunched but somehow completely usable QWERTY keyboard.
Why is this the perfect way to implement touch? Because it allows you to use the device one-handed when you need it to. You can still use T9 to send out a quick text or browse the web and scroll through and all that. However, when you have more time to sit and use the phone and get more in depth, you have the convenience of a stylus and touchscreen. And that, as was noted by the guys in the S60 Summit podcast, is the key. Stefan likened it to the Treo’s popularity. Personally I prefer the P910a because the touchscreen is protected and there’s no way, with the flip closed, to accidentally touch and activate something.
But he’s got the right idea. So whereas previously I was dead-set against touchscreens, I can now say that I’m ok with it, and even *gasp* looking forward to seeing it. There are some things that are simply more convenient to do with a touchscreen, like scrolling and being able to "click and hold" to get a contextual submenu. Also dragging things and clicking links in a web browser.
What are your thoughts? Do you think a touch-S60 device is a good idea? Would you want something ALL-TOUCH, like the iPhone, or do you agree that the touchscreen should be an optional feature, only used when you want, but also being able to completely control the device from a numberpad?
Definitely with you on that, Ricky. A couple of months ago I was totally and I mean T.O.T.A.L.L.Y against touchscreens. The imate used to make me mad: “too much money for just a touchscreen” that was my point, especially knowing that s60 devices can pretty much get you through with basically all the functionnality you could want in a portable device, just like windows mobile.
But ever since I started using mobipocket and iSilo more often, reading medical books on a small screen and having to go through all the links on a certain page in order to get to the one I want to highlight is Plain Frustrating, especially if you’re looking for that one info right away. That’s when I started realising that touchscreens ain’t that bad after all, and they wouldn’t be bad if they were bigger than the screen on my 3250.
But one thing I am not willing to compromise is the “one-hand accessibility”. I would love to have a touchscreen, but to only use it when I need it, i.e for websites, reading texts, scrolling through links,… I definitely do not need a touchscreen when I’m trying to dial a number on my phone while driving, and I sure do not need to have a pencil with me all the time to use my phone. I tend to lose or drop things very often, where would that pencil end up?
So as you said, touchscreen when needed, candybar with keypad and T9 most of the time. Versatility. Exchangeability. That would be just perfect.
I believe if an S60 touch device was to hit the market, it would make all the other phones jealous.
I believe touchscreens will definitely be the ultimate user interface. simple to use, easy to personalize. more iphone-like. this is not new in any way, but now its closer to mainstream since the displays prices are coming down. as a matter of fact nokia too is in early stages of the all touchscreen interface. just check the nokia aeon in research and development:
http://www.nokia.com/A4136028
regards!
Luis S.
i am 100% agre the the people before i want a Touch Screen in S60 Nokia Nseries,,, some like N95 but with the Touch Screen as another feature and sometimes you can use with one hand the buttons and when you are sit the touch screen..
I would like some like N95 but with 3″ inch display Touch Screen