The idea is simple. You have an Android app in the Market. You know that it could use some help with the user interface or with usability. Maybe it needs a LOT of help.
So starting today, I am accepting applications to have your app reviewed on this blog. But not just any old review — your app will get an interface tear-down. I’ll point out all the major “wtf” moments of your app (along with the more subtle “huh?” stumbles) that stop your app idea from shining through.
But here’s the bonus: I’ll give you actual concrete suggestions on how to make the user experience on your app better.
Awesome-sauce or what?
The rewards are great… Now why would I do this for free?
A frequent complaint that I hear about Android is that apps just aren’t as polished as iOS; this is true although the landscape is slowly changing as more of the bigger brands start targeting Android.
However I also think that there’s an important space for the independent developer in the Android market — that one guy or gal who just has a great idea and builds it for fun. They are not design experts so there’s definitely kinks but, because of the openness of the Market, they releases it to the public and hope that someone else can use it.
User interface design doesn’t have the same convenient ”View Source” option that code does so I hope that all Android developers will get to benefit from the public tear-down.
So read the fine print below and, if you fit the bill, send an email to pearl(at)androidsandsheep.com describing why I should pick your app to review.
FINE PRINT AND ELIGIBILITY
Your app must be published and available for free in the Market.
You are an independent developer and your app was not commissioned by a brand or company in which you received money to build.
Your app should work on a Nexus One (Android 2.2) or G1 (1.6) — if it doesn’t, I can’t actually review it.
Submitting an application to be reviewed does not guarantee a response; nor do I need to write a review by any set deadline.
FYI: this idea was mostly inspired by Wil Shipley’s “Pimp Your Code” blog series and was named as a homage.
There was a vision in KIN that not many tech pundits saw (as I noted in a previous blog post) but — having personally checked out KIN’s Facebook page on a semi-regular basis — there was genuine excitement for the phone from its niche audience. The KIN phone was an oddity in light of the upcoming Windows Phone 7 but only because Microsoft made it so, especially if we are to believe Engadget’s Life and death of Microsoft Kin: the inside story followup article posted today.
(Engadget’s article seems inline with a New York Times op-ed article by former Microsoft VP Dick Brass regarding Microsoft’s Creative Destruction published in February.)
The cancellation of the KIN so quickly after market release seems to spell trouble for Windows Phone 7 for three main reasons:
I’m in Canada so the Android mobile operating system can sometimes seem like a pretty obscure type of phone when I talk to non-techy friends. We don’t have big budget advertising campaigns like Verizon did for the Motorola Droid although Telus ads promoting their Android lineup have been ramping up.
“Is it like the iPhone?” I get asked. I like to answer with, “Sort of, except that it’s way better.” ;)
So because I am asked this question over and over again, I thought that I would post some thoughts about what appeals to me about Android versus iPhone.
Microsoft held a press conference today to unveil two new phones formerly only known under the codename “Project Pink”.
The KIN ONE is a pebble-shaped phone with a full qwerty slide-out keyboard and touch screen; the KIN TWO is more like typical slideouts on the market today and also has a touch screen.
What makes KIN phones special is that Microsoft spent a lot of time thoughtfully designing the user interface from the ground up for the social media addict. The layout is strikingly similar to Microsoft’s yet-to-be-released Windows Phone 7 Series and Motorola’s MOTOBLUR layer for Android phones.
Based on my skimming of blogs and Twitter posts, reactions to KIN have been fairly polar — either you love it or you hate it. And maybe this is an unfair sweeping assumption but it seems that most of the haters are spec-heavy, gadget-lusting men. Yes, Engadget and Gizmodo commenters, I’m talking about you.
Personally, I think KIN has the potential to dramatically turn around the perception of Microsoft as a lumbering beast in the mobile world. And all while gaining the key audience group most needed at the moment to keep business running in the future: teenager girls.
If you’re not with Rogers and you don’t have an HTC Dream, you can safely ignore this post.
For those that asked, this is the email I received from Rogers after I told them that I had Windows 7 and had troubles with the HTC Sync update.
Remember that it is for HTC Dream (with keyboard) handset only.
Also important, this update contains a “perfected SPL” (google this term for more info) which will make rooting your phone impossible at the moment.
For more info about Rogers and their bad implementation of Android handsets, visit iwantmyonepointsix.com. I’ll have more to say about this fiasco later….
Happy New Year everyone! Haven’t posted in a while but in celebration of Spoon‘s new album release here’s a classic video featuring Keepon, a dancing robot used to interact with autistic children.
And are you obsessed with the new HTC Hero yet?? I know I am.
The Rosie UI (officially called the HTC Sense™) is a UI layer built on top of the current Android 1.5 OS but has so many user workflow improvements to it that it almost feels like it should be Android 2.0, or a whole new OS!
