I agree that the Red Key is the fastest way to get “home” I've been told that by a few folks after authoring this article. It's nice to know, but it took me three years of daily Nokia use to discover. Does that make me stupid? Or does that make S60 unintuitive? How much training does the home key on an iPhone or G1 require? None. I'm asking Nokia to bring the Home button from the E-Series devices to all Nokia devices, because I agree that it makes more sense.

When I say I like the Android installer, I'm talking about Android as an OS, not the G1 implementation. I don't think the G1 is a bad device, but I think Android on a nicer handset would be even better. S60 might have been three years ago, but now there's the iPhone and Android to compare S60 to. The old S60 standards disappoint by comparison.

That said, I want the highest-end features, so I'm sticking with Nokia N-Series devices. I can't wait for the N97.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!
-matthew-

I agree that the Red Key is the fastest way to get “home” I've been told that by a few folks after reading this article. It's nice to know, but it took me three years of daily Nokia use to discover. Does that make me stupid? Or does that make S60 unintuitive? How much training does the home key on an iPhone or G1 require? None. I'm asking Nokia to bring the Home button from the E-Series devices to all Nokia devices, because I agree that it makes more sense.

When I say I like the Android installer, I'm talking about Android as an OS, not the G1 implementation. I don't think the G1 is a bad device, but I think Android on a nicer handset would be even better. S60 might have been three years ago, but now there's the iPhone and Android to compare S60 to. The old S60 standards disappoint by comparison.

That said, I want the highest-end features, so I'm sticking with Nokia N-Series devices. I can't wait for the N97.

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment!
-matthew-

I agree the 'back to homescreen' is pretty trivial, but awful connection point management, a lousy browser and inconsistent menu and settings layout have been present for several years…

As a developer with high standards I am exceptionally intolerant of technology. That's why my blood boils every time I have to use Microsoft (anything). And yet, I never find myself the slightest bit perturbed by Nokia based installs. Of course they're not perfect, but they always seem to work without any fuss, and really I don't mind a couple of confirmation clicks – and nor should any reasonable balanced person I'd say

And hitting every back and exit from a multi-level menu or app is just bonkers. Most of the known world just hits the end call key, with the same effect. I mean seriously – is that so difficult?

Please go on laying into Nokia when they deserve it – it's how things get changed (provided it's constructive). But also be aware that half the time you're just getting your knickers in a twist about not very much at all.

As for Android, I've done professional writeups on it and attended the developer days etc. It is a lovely architecture from a developer's point of view. But right now, the hardware it's deployed on is utter crap (HTC – no surprise), and it's on 0.0000000001% (or something) of deployed handsets compared to Nokias (for example). When it has significant deployed numbers (prefarably on good handsets), then I might give it some time.

i) You can already get back to the home screen on an N-series phone by pressing the red key.
ii) The Symbian button has already been replaced by a home button on the E-series phones.

I totally agree with you on the software install front. It needs to be easier. Infact, a lot of dialogs in S60 in general should be removed.

It's not all fun and games on Android though – a lot of people are complaining that you can only install software to the megre main drive on the G1. That space quickly runs out.

http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/12/13/thoughts…