Comments on: Where minimalism fails: The problem with Apple's less-is-more approach http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/ The Fastest Way to Launch Successful Software Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:36:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sasha Dzeletovic http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8851 Sasha Dzeletovic Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:42:00 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8851 Excellent post Brian! No approach should become a goal in itself. If some technology has a lot of features, maybe it might need a lot of direct controls. Excellent post Brian!
No approach should become a goal in itself.
If some technology has a lot of features, maybe it might need a lot of direct controls.

]]> By: Mini Me http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8850 Mini Me Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:13:38 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8850 You can use iTunes to permanently adjust the volume level of songs that are too loud. Simply select the offending track, hit Cmd-I and go to the Options tab. There is a volume slider there which you can adjust to set it at a reasonable level. Next time you sync with your iPod, the tracks will be updated and you won't have the "too loud" problem again. The newer iPod Touch also has separate volume controls on the side (as well as the iPhone). You can use iTunes to permanently adjust the volume level of songs that are too loud. Simply select the offending track, hit Cmd-I and go to the Options tab. There is a volume slider there which you can adjust to set it at a reasonable level. Next time you sync with your iPod, the tracks will be updated and you won’t have the “too loud” problem again.

The newer iPod Touch also has separate volume controls on the side (as well as the iPhone).

]]> By: David http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8849 David Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:15:47 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8849 I agree with you about the mighty mouse. It used touch sensors and if your left finger was resting on the mouse when you clicked then it decided to do a left click. I had to try to retrain my finger to lift it off the mouse entirely when trying to right click which felt unnatural and was tiring. I *did* love the cool squeeze button though. I also share your skepticism of the single pushable track pad. This means I'll have to retrain my fingers again to only slide around with a certain pressure lest I accidentally click the whole pad down. I've never had a problem with Apple's "2 finger click means right click" on the trackpad. In fact, I find I have to contort my fingers much less to do right click than when using a pad with 2 physical buttons. It does make middle click impossible which is a shame. But I disagree with you about the iPhone interface. I find it much easier to do things than with my old Sony Ericsson phone. I like that the dialing touchpad is much bigger than a normal phone's physical buttons. And I find I have to hunt in menus much less than with my old phone, especially for call waiting and conference call manipulations. Those menus are particularly inspired in my opinion. I agree with you about the mighty mouse. It used touch sensors and if your left finger was resting on the mouse when you clicked then it decided to do a left click. I had to try to retrain my finger to lift it off the mouse entirely when trying to right click which felt unnatural and was tiring. I *did* love the cool squeeze button though.

I also share your skepticism of the single pushable track pad. This means I’ll have to retrain my fingers again to only slide around with a certain pressure lest I accidentally click the whole pad down. I’ve never had a problem with Apple’s “2 finger click means right click” on the trackpad. In fact, I find I have to contort my fingers much less to do right click than when using a pad with 2 physical buttons. It does make middle click impossible which is a shame.

But I disagree with you about the iPhone interface. I find it much easier to do things than with my old Sony Ericsson phone. I like that the dialing touchpad is much bigger than a normal phone’s physical buttons. And I find I have to hunt in menus much less than with my old phone, especially for call waiting and conference call manipulations. Those menus are particularly inspired in my opinion.

]]> By: Jared http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8848 Jared Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:10:29 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8848 The preference for hardware laptop buttons is personal, and (clearly) not a preference all people share. I, for one, am intrigued by the idea of the glass trackpad. Macbooks have long supported a buttonless trackpad experience (one finger = left click; two fingers = right click). The new trackpad isn't a huge leap beyond that. Besides, what if no one ever tried anything new? Conventions can be a rut. Apple designs fashion as much as they design function. It's always a trade-off. Someone will always be dissatisfied. Yes, your "crappy old Motorola phone" got certain things done faster than iPhone, but Apple products are not always about less clicks; they're about a better experience. I have more fun wasting time with iPhone clicks that I ever did doing anything with my crappy old Samsung. The preference for hardware laptop buttons is personal, and (clearly) not a preference all people share. I, for one, am intrigued by the idea of the glass trackpad. Macbooks have long supported a buttonless trackpad experience (one finger = left click; two fingers = right click). The new trackpad isn’t a huge leap beyond that. Besides, what if no one ever tried anything new? Conventions can be a rut.

Apple designs fashion as much as they design function. It’s always a trade-off. Someone will always be dissatisfied. Yes, your “crappy old Motorola phone” got certain things done faster than iPhone, but Apple products are not always about less clicks; they’re about a better experience. I have more fun wasting time with iPhone clicks that I ever did doing anything with my crappy old Samsung.

]]> By: Michael Whalen http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8847 Michael Whalen Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:52:02 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8847 Clearly a lot of people share your sentiment, as seen in the above comments, but I would just like to pipe in my $0.02. <strong>1) iPod Volume Controls</strong> Rarely do I run into this problem. I ran into it quite frequently when I was younger and pirated most of my music from shitty sources like Limewire where files lacked ID3 tags and had obscure filenames. For the most part all of my music is pretty normalized (slightly over 8000 songs) and if you consider the fact that 99% of the time you're not going to be facing the issue of one obscure extremely loud song coming on as you happen to be searching for another, the added benefit of one single interface to your device is entirely obvious. Also, with the iPhone/iTouch you can easily double-press the home button to bring up a dialog for your iPod while its playing, which lets you modify the volume, play, pause, etc... The volume toggle switches on the side also work to control the iPod's volume while it's in use. This is primarily directed at Larry above, because his comment suggested it was somewhat of a pain to get back to the iPod component. Double tap home button and make a quick adjustment, or once that double-tap activated dialog is up it also gives you quick access to the full iPod with one extra tap. <strong>2) The Mighty Mouse</strong> I too also feel that the mighty mouse is a great device. All around it fits nicely in the hand and works great! My one complaint is that the little nipple-ball scroller wheel gets full of finger gunk after a while and it's real hard to remove it (you have to fully disassemble the mouse). Aside from that, I really like the mighty mice. <strong>3) The iPhone</strong> If you have a hard time with the iPhone, then I can't help you. The iPhone is hands down the greatest phone out there. Every other PDA and Smartphone out there is an utter piece of shit. Most of them are scrambling to re-create the iPhones simplicity, efficiency and speed and their attempts are laughable. Apple is full steam ahead going after the enterprise market, and they will win. The iPhone will replace the Blackberry. Is a tap or two to access another menu really that much of a pain in the ass? My little sister can do everything on an iPhone faster than you or any other commenter on this blog could with any other mobile device, one handed, no debate. Clearly a lot of people share your sentiment, as seen in the above comments, but I would just like to pipe in my $0.02.

1) iPod Volume Controls
Rarely do I run into this problem. I ran into it quite frequently when I was younger and pirated most of my music from shitty sources like Limewire where files lacked ID3 tags and had obscure filenames. For the most part all of my music is pretty normalized (slightly over 8000 songs) and if you consider the fact that 99% of the time you’re not going to be facing the issue of one obscure extremely loud song coming on as you happen to be searching for another, the added benefit of one single interface to your device is entirely obvious.

Also, with the iPhone/iTouch you can easily double-press the home button to bring up a dialog for your iPod while its playing, which lets you modify the volume, play, pause, etc… The volume toggle switches on the side also work to control the iPod’s volume while it’s in use. This is primarily directed at Larry above, because his comment suggested it was somewhat of a pain to get back to the iPod component. Double tap home button and make a quick adjustment, or once that double-tap activated dialog is up it also gives you quick access to the full iPod with one extra tap.

2) The Mighty Mouse
I too also feel that the mighty mouse is a great device. All around it fits nicely in the hand and works great! My one complaint is that the little nipple-ball scroller wheel gets full of finger gunk after a while and it’s real hard to remove it (you have to fully disassemble the mouse). Aside from that, I really like the mighty mice.

3) The iPhone
If you have a hard time with the iPhone, then I can’t help you. The iPhone is hands down the greatest phone out there. Every other PDA and Smartphone out there is an utter piece of shit. Most of them are scrambling to re-create the iPhones simplicity, efficiency and speed and their attempts are laughable. Apple is full steam ahead going after the enterprise market, and they will win. The iPhone will replace the Blackberry. Is a tap or two to access another menu really that much of a pain in the ass? My little sister can do everything on an iPhone faster than you or any other commenter on this blog could with any other mobile device, one handed, no debate.

]]> By: Nobody http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8846 Nobody Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:04:13 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8846 Apple says "If you’re coming from a right-click world, you can right-click with two fingers or configure a right-click area on the trackpad." No arcane gestures needed - just click on the right side. Apple says “If you’re coming from a right-click world, you can right-click with two fingers or configure a right-click area on the trackpad.” No arcane gestures needed – just click on the right side.

]]> By: Adam Ierymenko http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8845 Adam Ierymenko Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:14:33 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8845 I love the minimalism, and totally disagree-- though I do somewhat agree on the Mighty Mouse. It's not Apple's best work. I *hate* pretty much every non-Apple laptop due to all the clutter and ugly bells and whistles they try to hang on it. Special buttons named after buzzwordy features that I'll never use, cluttery decorations, etc... really fugly. I love the minimalism, and totally disagree– though I do somewhat agree on the Mighty Mouse. It’s not Apple’s best work.

I *hate* pretty much every non-Apple laptop due to all the clutter and ugly bells and whistles they try to hang on it. Special buttons named after buzzwordy features that I’ll never use, cluttery decorations, etc… really fugly.

]]> By: yesbutnobutyes http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8844 yesbutnobutyes Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:22:00 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8844 I like how you go on and on about how much each piece of Apple hardware sucks, and then tell us how you're planning to buy several of them. I like how you go on and on about how much each piece of Apple hardware sucks, and then tell us how you’re planning to buy several of them.

]]> By: jimmy http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8843 jimmy Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:16:30 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8843 Down with software based volume control! Why do most laptops not have a hardware volume dial? The software often doesn't respond fast enough, and the overlays often break in games. Ever turned your laptop on in a lecture or meeting and drastically try to turn down the volume before the start up sound goes? you can press mute, but it may not be processed in time. I use my headphones as an "audio suppression plug", and even then windows will sometimes issue a system beep that bypasses the headphones. Down with software based volume control!

Why do most laptops not have a hardware volume dial? The software often doesn’t respond fast enough, and the overlays often break in games.

Ever turned your laptop on in a lecture or meeting and drastically try to turn down the volume before the start up sound goes? you can press mute, but it may not be processed in time.

I use my headphones as an “audio suppression plug”, and even then windows will sometimes issue a system beep that bypasses the headphones.

]]> By: tim http://pathfindersoftware.com/2008/10/where-minimalism-fails-the-problem-with-apples-less-is-more-approach/#comment-8842 tim Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:50:22 +0000 http://www.pathf.com/blogs/?p=1199#comment-8842 It seems a bit silly that you are criticizing something you've never tried. It seems a bit silly that you are criticizing something you’ve never tried.

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