A New User Experience Bar for OSs

Much of the discussion regarding the user experience improvements with modern SmartPhones and tablets focuses on the touch interaction with and graphically rich rendering of the user interface. I've also pointed out here the dramatic improvement in installing applications on these devices, typically with a single click on one button. All of these are of course significant improvements. However, I just experienced another phenomenal improvement in these devices (at least those built by Apple) with regard to restoring the system. I was recently advised by Apple to restore my iPhone. It sounded to me like the advice I often hear on tech podcasts and also from PC company support staff. I dreaded having to backup all the data then reinstall the operating system and then reinstall all the apps, copying back the data, changing back settings/passwords, etc.

I pressed the "Restore" button on iTunes to restore my iPhone and waited. After it was done and I looked at my iPhone, I was absolutely shocked. Everything was back to normal, all apps, all data, all settings, all preferences, everything! I was delighted. I think this is the new user experience bar for restoring all operating systems. This is how it should be done everywhere. Period.

Comments

[Carole Briggs]

I waited up for hours to try and order the iPhone 4. When I finally thru on the website, white was not available! I want white and will wait. It's just as well, because all the bugs will be worked out by then -- maybe!

[Danny Rose]

This does not surprise me in regards to Apple products. Look at any history of the PC and you'll see that Apple has (almost) always made the end user experience a high priority. Apple has always been good at setting the bar as such, even back to the GUI approach to the OS. Yes, I know that they got the idea from Xerox, but Apple did make it a "must have" in regards to OS design from that point on.

I recently got my first smart phone and it was an iPhone 4. I looked at Android based phones as I like their philosophy and their "underdog" status, but in the end my need to stay with ATT basically made my decision for me.

What I'm curious to know is: will that design philosophy stay in light of recent developments in regards to the DMCA; one of which makes jailbreaking any smart phone a form of Fair Use? Will Apple make any adjustments in their design strategy to allow for this, or will they hold the course as they have in the past?

-D

[Karel Vredenburg]

I'm sure the white iPhone 4 will be beautiful when it comes out, Carole. From what I've heard, it'll still be a while but likely worth the wait. Danny, I agree that Apple tends to set the bar higher but I don't think they did with OSX with regard to restoring a system. MacBooks and iMacs, to my knowledge, still have to have the OS reinstalled, copying data back over, re-installing the applications, changing the settings, etc. I do think that Apple has set the bar way high with iOS4 for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. I don't think that Apple will change its design philosophy in response to any external threat and I hope they don't. They are in danger of again becoming the boutique player though in the SmartPhone market as they became in the personal computer one. However, there is always a place for a higher value product with superior design that can command a premium price despite occupying more limited market share. Enjoy your iPhone 4!