Yesterday I read BGR’s impressively in depth review of the upcoming TMobile G1 (aka the GooglePhone (aka the HTC Dream)), which noted a few surprising hardware flaws. I mean, I always thought HTC was infallible, but apparently the device feels and acts like a prototype.
The two biggest surprises to me were a) the weakly implemented row of buttons on the front of the device, that are apparently so flush to the body that they are almost impossible to push. And conversely b) there is NO onscreen keyboard, requiring the user to pull out the QWERTY pad for even the slightest amount of input.
Here’s why these things seem strange to me: everyone is dropping buttons right now in favor of touchscreen-focused devices. Sure, Apple may have started the trend, but it’s not just the iPhone I’m talking about- recently Samsung launched its relatively buttonless Omnia, HTC’s Touch HD is almost entirely buttonless, Blackberry is heavily promoting its all-touchscreen Storm, and even Nokia’s new XpressMusic opts for touchscreen focused use (not sure how well that’s going to work with Symbian though…). HTC opted for buttons on the G1, but failed in making them truly useful. It forces the use of buttons sometimes, but then offers buttons that aren’t easy to use…
But on to the bigger point: why are we getting rid of buttons? Because the iPhone did it? If the iPhone jumped off a bridge, would you do it too? Ok, yeah, probably… but still- this is no reason to scrap the concept of buttons on phones.
As completely awesome as touch-focused user interfaces have become, buttons are still a simpler, quicker, and a more accurate navigation tool, and it’s frustrating to see that go away. Swiping your finger around to navigate is fun and easy, but it’s just not that practical. Blackberry hit the jackpot when it introduced the click-wheel (then again with its rollerball thingy) because it made navigating easier. Moving away from buttons makes it all seem only more difficult.
Flick through emails with your thumb?! Cool! Oh, whoops, I just flicked too slowly and now opened the wrong message… oops and now I flicked too far and have to go back… and now I just launched a that application that makes your phone look like it’s filled with beer… crap.
And look: I don’t care how fast you’ve gotten at typing on your keyboardless device, it’s not as fast or remotely as accurate as an actual keyboard. I’m sure that anyone can get pretty good at typing with onscreen keyboards - but I have NEVER seen anyone touchtype without a physical button underneath. You’re still required to look at every virtual key before sliding your finger to it. This might be fine for short text messages, but I cannot imagine a business device that will be used primarily for email have someone hunting and pecking for every letter (yes, I’m looking at you, Blackberry Storm).
Think about your TV remote. When you grab it to change the channel, do you need to look at where the “Guide” button is? Or to turn the volume down, do you first look and stare at it for a second (if “yes”, are you under 73 years old?). No. You can feel with your fingers where buttons are and you have tactile memory of button placement. This simply does not exist without phyiscal buttons. It’s incredibly difficult (impossible?) to slide your finger to the exact spot on a phone without looking, making it necessary to constantly stare at your device.
Alright, Yes. This is a heavily biased personal opinion: I prefer buttons. I want MORE buttons. My current device has a QWERTY pad, a click wheel, two multifunction buttons, a 4-way d-pad, 11 other hardware buttons… and a touchscreen. I use them all (plus, one opens a shortcut menu containing 12 onscreen quick launch apps). I also change songs while the phone is in my pocket, turn the volume down on loud calls without looking, type without staring at my fingers, and play games with buttons that don’t take up screen space.
The point is, ladies and gentleman, that buttons - for lack of a better word - are good. Buttons are right. Buttons work. And buttons - you mark my words - will not only save mobile devices, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.
October 17th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I couldn’t agree more, Zach. I had to get a new phone last month to replace my Treo and might have been the only person in the world to turn down such a golden opportunity to pick up an iPhone. My sole reason for doing so: no physical buttons. I already have an iPod touch and I detest typing on the thing. Raised keys and the tactile pushback is irreplaceable to type quickly, and even without looking. Not to mention, the highest percentage of garbled, misspelled text messages come from my friends with iPhones.
Long live buttons!
(Great Gekko reference BTW)
October 20th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Zach - what a fantastic post. First let me state that I completely agree with on the buttons. You can’t replace them, it’s impossible. I don’t need to restate all your points, but they were all right on. Here’s what I see as the rub though and I’ve mentioned it before and I’m sure I’ll mention it again (although it’s with a little twist this time) - the OS’s (yes the god damn iPhone) are so much better for touchscreen centered phones. I’m basing this assumption directly on the iPhone op and what I’ve seen of the HTC Touch op. Buttons are fantastic, but when the OS you are running runs so much slower than touchscreened based OSs it almost negates their superiority.
Touchscreen is all the rage right now so companies are focusing on those OSs b/c that seems to be what people want. I firmly believe though that once companies realize what you are talking about here and create a kick ass OS for button based phones their superiority will be seen.
October 21st, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I’ve got TMobile because it’s the only service that works in my apartment. I need them to come out with something better than the iPhone because I don’t feel like have the option to buy an iPhone :(
October 22nd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
First off- @Dale- just go buy a G1- you have the ability to develop and that thing is entirely open source… please go buy one then tell me all the cool things you did with it.
@Jaime and @Drew: you’ve collectively inspired an upcoming blog post on OS comparisons across the touch/non-touch spectrum. Thanks!
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