Gripes about UI/UX of Android phones/tablets and so called "openness" that is nonsense to consumers.

If you also have an Android phone, you are welcome to email me your gripes as well. If you don't but you want to buy one, read this blog before you do it. :-)

-- A big fan of Google, not Android

  1.  

    Too many apps “live” in the notification panel

    AG’s notes: the following is an anonymous guest post from the same author who wrote “Inconsistent behavior with the ‘back’ button”. Once again, I cannot agree more with him. Apps in the notification panel are really annoying. Exactly like this author said, every app wants to do something there. For example, WeatherBug displays the current temperature in the panel. Lookout displays its icon in the panel even if “Everything is OK”. Gmail, Facebook, GTalk….. everybody sends notifications to the panel by default. Even after I install an app, a notification lives in the panel forever until I click it to start that app. Android, I don’t want to start an app from the notification panel, I want to start apps in the launcher. This is what my panel looks like, for most of the time. Notifications include app installation, Gmail, Drocap2, eBuddy, WeathBug and Lookout Mobile Security:


    The rule should be that if it’s something that indeed requires user’s immediate attention, e.g., a calendar reminder, pop up a dialoge; otherwise, show the notification in a polite and decent fashion. Maybe take a look at how iOS does it?

    This is less of a gripe about Android itself and more about Android app culture, but nonetheless valid imho. The notification panel in Android has become a bit like the notification area of the Windows taskbar. Every developer feels that their app is important enough to have some crap living there.

    The notification bar should only be used when a program, well, is capable of sending notifications to the user. The user then drags down the bar to deal with the notification. Keeping a persistent icon in the notification bar is rude and uglies up my phone.

    Update (04/29/2011) A new way to use the notification panel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXNA6tabKNA.

    1. jettero reblogged this from android-gripes and added:
      Heh. The funny thing...way to get my tumblr messages to
    2. tgadget reblogged this from android-gripes
    3. nikreiman submitted this to android-gripes