iPhone Apps Design Blunders
Alexander Komarov of Smashingmagazine.com writes that, "on average, only 3% of people who have downloaded an app use it after 30 days. Why? Because the majority of iPhone apps don't make any sense to users. The situation is similar to that of PC software a couple of decades ago. Have we not learned from our mistakes?"
Komarov looks at the reasons why many iPhone Apps just don't live on, despite being built by well-trained designers and developers.
Many applications share the same design problems that prevent customers from fully enjoying them. Recently, Komarov conducted a review of 100 apps from the App Store and identified the five most frequent iPhone design and usability mistakes, which are:
- Over-blown visuals.
- Neglecting technological limitations, such as slow Internet connection, slow processors and single-threaded OS architectures.
- Confusing navigation (flow, layout and taxonomy).
- Confusing the iPhone with a computer. Neglecting to use new iPhone interactions (fingers instead of the mouse; multi-touch gestures; turn, tilt and rotate) and technological features such as phone functions, built-in GPS and accelerometer.
- Disregard of context. A lack of understanding of how, when, where and why the mobile device is being used.
We encourage you to check out Komarov's post as he dives into these five usability mistakes.