The Simplicity of the iPod Touch
Posted on November 11, 2009 by LJ
Wednesdays are simplicity days at SimpleProductivity blog.
One of the things that impresses me about the iPod Touch is its simplicity. The device is easy to use, the programs are straightforward, and it flows much better than the Palm.
Simple Software Design
Without an exception, the iPod Touch applications I have looked at so far are simple interfaces with minimal fussiness. There are no complicated menus or shortcut keystrokes to memorize.
Example: the built-in calendar has a plus sign to add an event, and buttons at the bottom to switch to today, and from the three modes: list, day and month. If you tap on an event, you get the details, along with two buttons: one to return to the previous screen (which is shaped like an arrow) and an edit button. The interface is simple and shows one thing: events.
Simple Installations
One thing I disliked about the Palm was the necessity of installing a desktop application to get the software on the PDA. Handmark Scrabble, which did not have a desktop component, forced you to do a Windows install just to get the software on the device. Luckily most software was just a double-click and it would show up in the install screen, but you still needed to do a Hotsync to get the software to the device.
The iPod Touch allows you to install applications either via Wifi to the device itself, or via iTunes. The iTunes installs requires a sync, but the install directly works very well. Warning: It is VERY EASY to buy things directly to the Touch. And $0.99 here and there does add up!!!!!
Simple Syncing
Unless I had a paper copy of my information, I was stuck either tied to my home computer or my Palm for getting the information out. If I made a change, I had to consciously remember to get the information into the computer or Palm and then to sync the information.
My Touch, set to sync with Google Calendars, automatically does updates. Last night was the first time I had ever done a family calendar update without having to print anything out.
I’m still in the early stages of getting used to the new Touch, but I find I am liking it very well as a replacement to my PDA “brain”.
Photo by DeclanTM
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Comments (4)
I’ll be interested to find out how you organize yourself (GTD, AF etc) with the itouch. I still have my TX, but have just enough hassles with sync problems, crashes etc. that I no longer trust it and I’m mostly using paper now. Are your computers running Windows? I loved the Bonsai desktop and palm app combo, but it looks like it would be harder to find something like that for the itouch/windows – most of the good desktop apps seem to be mac only.
@Anthony : there’re many online GTD apps that have a iPhone dedicated app (most well-known : remember the milk and toodledo)
My fav GTD iphone app is Evernote. It syncs with the cloud and is accessible anywhere.
I agree with your comments about the iphone/touch. My 2 year old daughter has learned to use an iphone app called “doodle buddy” where she draws and makes funny pictures using icons and photos. I reckon that’s a good test for how intuitive a PDA/phone should be. Can a toddler use it? If yes, it’s probably pretty good (keeping in mind Murphy’s law: Build a system that even a fool can use, and only a fool will use it)
I have an iPhone and I love it. I’m constantly amazed by how simple and intuitive it is. And the apps really are addictive — I buy way too many!